Sir William Boreman's Foundation

Sir William Boreman's Foundation, established through the 1684 will of philanthropist Sir William Boreman—a Royal Household clerk and nobleman—originally funded a free school in East Greenwich for seamen's sons, evolving into a grant-making charity managed by the Drapers’ Company. Its enduring mission promotes educational opportunities and social mobility for young people under 25 residing in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham (with historic ties to former Woolwich areas in Newham), prioritizing those from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds, including males pursuing seafaring careers, Church of England members, and children of seamen, watermen, fishermen, or armed forces personnel. Rooted in inclusion and barrier-breaking, it supports a broad spectrum of educational and vocational pursuits, from further/higher education access and skills development to enrichment activities like school excursions, uniforms, and community projects fostering personal growth and employment pathways.

The Foundation funds both individuals (grants up to £3,000 for living costs, materials, travel, or childcare) and organizations—primarily UK-registered charities and academic institutions serving local youth—via one-off project grants up to £10,000 (typically £5,000–£10,000) for initiatives demonstrating clear educational benefits and inclusivity, such as bursaries at University of Greenwich/Goldsmiths, youth jazz programs, or support for disadvantaged students.

Eligible applicants must target permanent residents of Greenwich/Lewisham who are UK nationals or settled-status holders in financial need; no organization income thresholds apply, favoring small/medium local entities. Unsolicited email applications to charities@thedrapers.co.uk require project details, budgets, funding sources, and recent accounts, due three weeks before quarterly trustee meetings (next: 14 Jan 2025 for Feb; 13 May 2025 for Jun).

Exclusions include core costs, capital projects, statutory funding replacement, and repeat grants within three years. Distinctively, its hyper-local, historically seafaring-infused focus on transformative education sets it apart, ensuring grants align with Boreman's legacy of empowering overlooked youth.