The Drapers' Company
650 years ago, a group of woollen cloth merchants came together to support each other and further their trade. As trade flourished, supporting fellow Drapers and others in need became increasingly central to the Company’s purpose.
Drapers left money to the Company for schools, almshouses and the relief of their fellows who had fallen on hard times. By managing these endowments well and being good charity governors, our predecessors inspired others to leave trusts and charities to our care.
With several centuries of philanthropy behind us, the art of giving is now our raison d’etre. Our distinctive approach involves harnessing the collective power of our community of members. The Company gives them opportunities to share their expertise with causes they believe in and supports their volunteering with rigorous governance. Members also help to manage our endowments with care and vision, supporting grant-making that can afford to take the long view.
Above all, we try to listen, understand and collaborate with our beneficiaries as partners. We make our networks their networks. We focus on the causes and the people, not the limelight or the latest trend.
Like our predecessors, we believe in helping people in disadvantaged circumstances to have hope and find their way in the world. That is why 60% of our support goes into education and training, and the rest to prisoners, homeless people, ex-service personnel, those with disabilities, and people in need of food, clothes and shelter.
As you might expect of the Drapers’ Company, we also fund projects to do with the textile industry, textile conservation, military heritage and the history of London.
Chief Executive, The Poppy Factory
The Drapers' Company
We give significant sums each year to charities and individuals where we know our money will make the most impact. If you get a Drapers’ grant, you can expect more than just the money. We’ll be here to offer support in any way we can, through the varied expertise of our members, through our networks and associations and through our skills in good governance.
The Drapers' Company
You are welcome to apply for funds from one of our three charitable trusts.
Grants
Through this fund, we aim to improve the quality of life and expectations of people and communities in Greater London who are disadvantaged and socially excluded. If you are a charity working in education and training, social welfare (homelessness, prisoners, ex-service personnel, disability and mental health) or in textiles and heritage, we may be able to help you.
Grants
Sir William Boreman (c1612- 86) was a clerk to Charles II and oversaw the relandscaping of Greenwich park. In 1672 he founded a school in Greenwich which he bequeathed to the Drapers’ Company along with land and property. The school no longer exists but we use Sir William’s endowment to promote the education of young people from low-income or otherwise disadvantaged backgrounds in Greenwich and Lewisham.
Grants
This fund, originating from an endowment left to the Drapers’ Company in 1540 by a wealthy businessman, makes grants to schools, colleges and charities that relieve hardship, enhance education and broaden horizons for young people under 25 in North Wales.
The Drapers' Company
One of the key areas of focus for the Charities Committee is the support of prisoners with an emphasis on rehabilitation.
Prisons are full of some of the most difficult people we have in our society. All will have been convicted of a crime, but many come from broken homes where substance misuse (either theirs or a family members’) has impacted on them negatively. Some form of abuse may have been present, and many will have been affected by adverse childhood experiences. Many will be impacted by mental health issues that will have challenged their own behaviour and led to crime.
There are lots of problems that need to be addressed to meet one of the objectives of the prison system, which is to rehabilitate.
Projects can be delivered in prisons, through-the-gate or to ex-offenders in the community.
The Drapers' Company
Our commitment to giving wisely means that we really get alongside the charities we fund; we stick with them for the long run and working together do remarkable things. Here are some of them.
Providing Lifelines and Pathways to Stability in South London Spires is a frontline charity supporting....
The Drapers' Company
We support three almshouses in London (in Haringey, Greenwich and Southwark) and a retirement village in Surrey. The Company provides funding and governance and our members are active as visitors and friends.
Our first almshouses were for poor Drapers and Drapers’ widows but since the late 16th century we have provided security and community for any local person in need.
Almshouse
Walter’s Close in Brandon Street, off the Walworth Road was built in two stages in 1961 and 1971 for the poor elderly people of Southwark. The estate consists of 40 self-contained flats.
Almshouse
Built in 1818 on Greenwich High Road for the poor elderly people of Greenwich, Queen Elizabeth’s College provides 40 self-contained one-bedroom cottages.
Almshouse
A group of 20 volunteers from among our members foster a warm and vital connection between the Company and our almshouse residents.
