Grants for community projects, primarily in places where significant numbers of Clark's employees, pensioners and their families are likely to live and work. Most of their grants go to projects based in and around towns and villages where there used to be Clarks factories. This includes Street, Shepton Mallet, Weston-Super-Mare, Bridgwater, Yeovil, Minehead, Bath, Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Warminster, Castle Cary, Ilminster, Plymouth, Barnstaple and Kendal.
The Clark Foundation is an independent Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) that gives grants for capital projects, equipment and ‘start ups’. It awards around £400,000 to some 60+ organisations and community groups each year.
The following grants are available:
- Community Grants (£1,000 – £100,000+) – to not-for-profit organisations operating in places where Clarks employees live and work). The grants are awarded by a committee that meets quarterly.
- Small Community Grants (£250 – £1,000) available to the same groups as above, but for a lower amount. These are decided by the Trust Manager, all year round, on a case-by-case basis. Typically, they might be for equipment or an urgent repair to a community asset or building. Clark's employees based in retail stores in the UK can also apply for a small grant for a community group that they have a close connection to.
They give to a huge range of projects that help local organisations to improve the lives of their communities - this can include schools and local councils as well as community groups and charities.
Applications may be made at any time.