About the Trust

Eleanor Rathbone (1872-1946) was the daughter of William Rathbone VI, an outstanding philanthropist dedicated to social reform. Among other achievements he established a District Nursing system in Liverpool which was adopted nationwide.

Eleanor was the first woman to be elected to Liverpool City Council and represented Granby ward from 1909 to 1934. In 1929 she was elected as an independent MP and continued in this position until her death in 1946. She was associated with many campaigns for social reform, particularly on issues affecting women. She is most often associated with the campaign to introduce Family Allowances, finally won in 1945, which has developed into Child Benefit. She was also involved with women's suffrage, human rights, and refugee issues.

The Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust was settled by Trust Deed (charity no. 233241) on February 4th 1947 by the late Dr. BL Rathbone with money left by his aunt Eleanor.

Guidelines for Applicants

The Trustees concentrate their support largely on the following:

Charities and charitable projects focused on Merseyside.
Charities benefiting women and unpopular and neglected causes but avoiding those with a sectarian interest.
Special consideration is given to charities with which any of the Trustees have a particular knowledge or association or in which it is thought Eleanor Rathbone or her father William Rathbone VI would have had a special interest.

International Grants

Due to a large increase in the number of applications from organisations working overseas, trustees recently undertook a review of the Trust’s policy.

They agreed that for 2005/6 they will only consider projects from Africa, the Indian Sub Continent, plus exceptionally Iraq and Palestine.
Applications will be considered only from small or medium sized charities.
Projects must be sponsored and monitored by a UK based charity.

They will benefit women or orphan children.
They will demonstrate local involvement in scoping and delivery, except where skills required are not currently available e.g. eye surgeons in remote rural areas.
They will aim to repair the damage in countries recently ravaged by international or civil war.
They will deliver clean water.

Exclusions

Donations will not be made:

in support of any activity which relieves a statutory authority of its obligations.
in support of an individual unless, exceptionally, it is made through a charity and it also fulfils at least one of the other positive objects mentioned above.
The Trustees do not generally favour grants for running costs, but prefer to support specific projects, services or contribute to specific items.

Grants

Most donations are on a one-off basis, although requests for commitments over two or more years are considered. Grants are made in the range £100 to £3000 and exceptionally higher. Grant Total £223,420 in 2003/2004.

Applications

Correspondence and applications to: Liese Astbury, Administrator, 546 Warrington Road, Rainhill, Merseyside L35 4LZ. Tel: 0151-430-7914 Email: eleanor.rathbone.trust@tinyworld.co.uk
We do not have an application form, but ask for a brief proposal for funding including costings, accompanied by the latest available accounts and any relevant supporting material. It is useful to know who else is supporting the project.
To keep administration costs to a minimum, receipt of applications is not usually acknowledged. Applicants requiring acknowledgement should enclose an SAE.
Trustees meet three times a year. Dates vary. Contact the Administrator for information on the latest deadlines.

Please note that the Miss EL Rathbone Charitable Trust (Elizabeth Rathbone Charitable Trust) is administered separately. Correspondence and appeals should be sent to: Barbara Pederson c/o Rathbones, Port of Liverpool Building, Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1NW. E-mail pedersen@cybase.co.uk