Philanthropy is the thread that runs through the heart of The Haberdashers’ Company. Whether that’s through its programmes with each Haberdasher school, or through the grant-making function of the Company, the outworking of our purpose is fundamental to our work.

That purpose is to empower young people from every background to fulfil their potential. 

Every year the grant-making foundations of the Haberdashers’ Company are proud to distribute around £1 million in grants to support that purpose. With strategic focus areas and geographies relevant to the wider Haberdasher family, the Company distributes grants that aim to achieve a safety net for young people.

Our Focus Areas

The Company’s grants support young people between the ages of 0-30. A small number of key focus areas seek to maximise impact:

• early years (0-5 foundation years)
• young people who experience disadvantage
• young people with experience of custody
• young people who experience homelessness

Geographies

The charitable endeavours of the Company seek to nurture and support communities in and around its schools and churches. These are:

• London boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley and Hackney
• Telford, Shropshire
• Forest of Dean
• Bunbury (Cheshire)
• Wigston (Leicestershire)
• Chertsey (Surrey)

In reality the concentration of grant-making takes place in areas of multiple deprivation, including Southwark, Lewisham, Hackney and Telford.

Our ancient art

The ‘ancient art’ of haberdashery is the foundation of the Company today. This traditional trade remains a vital part of our heritage and is reflected in the grant-making to fashion and textile institutions today.

These grants help establish young people in the fashion and textile industry, through education and training at London College of Fashion, Royal College of Art and Cockpit Studios.

Ways of working

The Haberdashers’ Company is an Open and Trusting funder, committed to improving and simplifying its grant-making processes for the benefit of its partner charities and the communities they serve.

The Company operates in the Funder Plus space, seeking to add meaningful value to our partner charities through the time, talent and treasure of its membership. Combined, these offer a ‘multiplier effect’ of positive impact.

We publish our grant-making data on 360 Giving in order to offer full transparency of all grant-making activities.