Bristol Charities administers a wide range of grant giving charities.

The majority of the grants were for household items such as white goods, furniture, carpet and bedding. However, grants were also made to cover a wide range of other equipment and services including medical equipment, clothing, materials for repairing or decorating homes, educational equipment, resettlement and respite care.

Funds come from a series of charitable endowment funds administered by Bristol Charities, whilst many date back hundreds of years, the most recent charity was created in 2003.

All applications for grants are sponsored by people such as social workers, housing and advice workers and other support organisations.

“There is an interesting challenge of accurately defining what constitutes ‘need’ in modern times. Historically, it was much easier as there was not state network to help the poorest of society. We do not award grants that would replace state benefits. Instead, we look to fill the gaps by helping with items that most of us take for granted these days. Bristol has some of the most deprived wards in England, and there is plenty of scope to make a difference, with relatively small value grants”