Brewers’ Company Charitable Work Continues

We were very pleased that we were able to hold a Court meeting via Zoom at the end of April – certainly a first in our 582 year history! The key item of business at that meeting was to approve the 2019 accounts for the Brewers’ Company and its eleven administered charities. With this done, we are now in a position to make distributions from many of these charities – something that we are determined to do now more than ever, given the increased level of need among beneficiaries during the COVID-19 crisis.

Some of our charities are restricted on the timing of their grants, but the following will be making distributions imminently:

The Brewers’ Research and Education Fund (BREF) (part of the Brewers’ Company General Charitable Trust, charity number 1059811)

Although we have been forced to push back the date of the meeting of the Advisory Committee to the BREF, the charity will be making distributions this year to support projects which promote scientific research and education in the brewing industry. The Committee will meet in June to consider this year’s applications, including feasibility of projects in light of COVID-19, as well as discussing continued support for ongoing projects.

Charity of Alderman James Hickson (charity number 215542)

Three thirteenths of the income of this charity goes to supporting three almshouses in South Mimms were, we are pleased to report, our residents are coping with the lockdown very well. The remaining income has already been distributed to the Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation which continues to make grants to benefit the education of young people in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and the City of London.

Dame Alice Owen’s Foundation (charity number 312703)

The largest charity administered by the Brewers’ Company will once again be supporting Dame Alice Owen’s School in Hertfordshire and educational programmes for young people in Islington. Schools have been hit hard by the lockdown and students have borne the brunt of this with severe disruption to their education. This year’s grants from the DAOF will ensure that pupils will be able to get the most out of both their curricular and extra-curricular educational experience during the coming academic year.

Richard Platt Foundation (charity number 311055)

Another charity which supports education, the Foundation will be making grants to four London schools, as well as Aldenham School in Hertfordshire.