The Charles Burnett Memorial Fund, set up by the family of the late Charles Burnett from Lymington, will soon be offering grants to registered charities and not-for-profit organisations that are based and working in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This round of funding aims to focus particularly on organisations working within the New Forest.
Charles Burnett was locally very well known as the land-speed record holder for a steam-powered car and as a generous philanthropist enthusiastically supporting a wide range of charitable causes. After he died in 2018, Charles’s family established the £1 million legacy fund to continue his passion for supporting animal welfare, the wellbeing of servicemen/women, the environment, medicine and science, heritage, education, community cohesion and welfare issues.
From early next year, organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and in particular the New Forest will be able to apply for a minimum grant of £1,000, up to a maximum of £25,000, to support their charitable projects and services. Applicants can find out more and apply online from the 10th January 2022 via www.hiwcf.org.uk/grants/ before the closing date of 7th February 2022.
The grant programme is being administered by specialist grant-making charity Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF), with grant applications assessed by the Charles Burnett Memorial Fund advisory board, overseen by those who were close to Charles Burnett.
Jacqui Scott, HIWCF Chief Executive said “We would like to thank the family of Charles Burnett for their generosity in setting up this legacy fund with the Foundation, which is a fantastic tribute to the life and work of Charles Burnett. The fund provides a powerful force for change in helping to meet the needs in our communities and we urge local charities, community groups and voluntary organisations to apply for funding to support their vital local projects and services.”
In the last round of grant funding from the Charles Burnett Memorial Fund, Hythe Sea Scouts received £15,000 to provide new changing rooms, as the old rooms had become rotten and completely unusable. Girls and boys can now safely get changed in the warm and dry when taking part in their water based activities.
Chris Bench, Group Chairman of Hythe Sea Scouts added “This grant came at a vital time during the pandemic, when all of our fundraising activities had stopped and it has provided a massive boost to the group and our local community. We pride ourselves on offering amazing opportunities to local young people and this helps us to continue doing so into the future. I would like to thank the Charles Burnett Memorial Fund for this amazing grant and also HIWCF who administer the fund.”
An HIWCF memorial fund enables families to create a lasting legacy for their loved one, while providing vital financial support for local communities. Family members can tailor the themes, criteria and geography of the fund to best represent the causes they are most passionate about helping. To find out more about setting up a legacy with HIWCF, please email info@hiwcf.com or go to www.hiwcf.org.uk/legacy
Charles Burnett Memorial Fund – Exclusions for grant giving:
• Organisations NOT within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
• Grants towards political parties
• Proselytising activities i.e. promotion of religion or belief systems
• Public bodies such as local authorities or schools (except for out of school activities)
• National charities
• Applications from individuals
• For equipment that will actually or in effect become the property of a statutory body
