Makers of Playing Cards Charity

The Makers of Playing Cards Charity, established in 1943 as the Cutler Trust and rooted in the 1628 Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards, is a City of London livery company charity dedicated to advancing education, health, and wellbeing for people under 25, while relieving hardship among livery company members and their dependants. Its distinctive ethos blends longstanding traditions of the playing card trade community with a personal, integrity-driven commitment to tangible individual support, evolving from trade-specific aid to broader youth and community needs across England and Wales.

It prioritises grants for educational advancement (e.g., courses, equipment), health and wellbeing initiatives, hardship/emergency relief, and poverty alleviation, favouring projects or direct aid that demonstrably benefit young people under 25, financially distressed individuals, or livery-connected families. Funding supports both individuals and organisations, with an emphasis on grassroots efforts rather than large-scale operations, including core/unrestricted aid for urgent needs.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, community groups, academic institutions, and individuals, with a preference for smaller entities working at community level; no strict income thresholds or religious restrictions apply, and geographic focus is England and Wales without local limits. Unsolicited applications are welcomed via email or post (no online form), requiring clear details on purpose, budget, beneficiaries, and impact; submit by end of March for May review or end of September for October, with decisions in 4-6 weeks. Typical grants range £250-£1,000. It avoids broad organisational overheads without direct individual benefit, standing out for its livery heritage and focus on personal, high-impact interventions.