Squires Foundation
Could Squires Foundation be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.
- Typical grants
- £1,000 – £10,000
- Applications
- By invitation only
- Decisions
- As needed
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
Check fit free · no card
register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.ukAbout Squires Foundation
The Squires Foundation is a family-led charitable trust established in 1989 by John Squires and Stephen Raymond Squires, originally as The Benfield Motors Charitable Trust. Rooted in North East England, its mission centres on advancing social welfare by relieving hardship, distress and need among vulnerable groups. The Foundation values local investment, tangible quality-of-life improvements and hands-on philanthropy, driven by family discretion and longstanding relationships. It maintains a low public profile and does not have an official website. The Foundation supports frontline services addressing social exclusion, healthcare, end-of-life care and community initiatives for disadvantaged people in the region. Distinctively relational and regionally loyal, it focuses exclusively on embedded, impactful local work to foster inclusion and welfare.
What Squires Foundation funds
The Foundation funds frontline services that tackle social exclusion, healthcare, end-of-life care and community initiatives for disadvantaged people. Specific areas include youth programmes, elderly care, hardship relief and support for local hospitals and hospices. Grants can cover project work, core operational costs and occasional capital projects. The Foundation prioritises small to medium-sized organisations delivering direct benefits to vulnerable groups, including those experiencing poverty. Geographically, it concentrates on Tyneside and Northumberland, investing in grassroots efforts rather than national causes. The Foundation's funding character is one of local investment, aiming for tangible quality-of-life improvements through embedded, impactful work.
Who can apply
Eligible organisations are UK-registered charities and community groups with a strong local presence in Tyneside and Northumberland. The Foundation supports small to medium-sized organisations that work directly with vulnerable groups, including children, young people, the elderly and those facing hardship or poverty. It prefers organisations with modest incomes and a proven track record of delivering direct benefits in the region. There is no religious restriction; the Foundation considers organisations of any faith or none.
What Squires Foundation doesn't fund
The Foundation does not fund organisations based outside Tyneside and Northumberland, nor large national charities. It rarely supports non-local bodies or causes that are not embedded in the region. National campaigns or large-scale initiatives are not within its scope. The Foundation focuses exclusively on grassroots, locally rooted work.
How they like to fund
Grants are typically awarded as one-off or recurrent awards to grassroots efforts. The Foundation supports both project costs and core operational costs, and occasionally capital projects. Trustees invite proposals based on local knowledge and alignments; unsolicited applications are not accepted. The Foundation maintains a low public profile and does not have an official website. Its funding is relational and driven by family discretion.
How much does Squires Foundation give?
Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.
When to apply, and how long their decisions take.
Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.
Good to know
How to apply to Squires Foundation
Squires Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.
- A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
- If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.
- Decisions are typically as needed.
What you can do here
- 1Check fit. See if your project aligns with Squires Foundation.
- 2Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
- 3Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.
See if Squires Foundation could be a fit — then find open funders like them.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Squires Foundation provide?
Squires Foundation typically provides grants of £1,000 - £10,000.
Where does Squires Foundation fund charities?
Squires Foundation funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Squires Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Squires Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
How do I apply for funding from Squires Foundation?
Squires Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
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