Capital and revenue grants averaging £1,000 are available for UK registered charities working in the UK and/or overseas.
The Alchemy Foundation was established as The Starlight Foundation in 1985. The name was changed to The Alchemy Foundation on 2 June 1987. The Foundation's Chair of Trustees is the songwriter, lyricist, musician and broadcaster, Sir Richard Stilgoe OBE DL.
The Trust is unusual in the sense that one of its priorities is to support the costs of fundraisers assigned to other charities through its flagship Alchemist Scheme.
The Foundation’s objectives are particularly focused on the following areas:
- Disability (particularly mobility, access, helplines and communications).
- Individual enterprise (by helping Raleigh International, Project Trust and similar organisations to give opportunities to young people according to need).
- Medical research and aid (especially in areas of blindness and disfigurement).
- Personal reform, penal reform (work with prisoners, especially young prisoners, and their families).
- Respite for Carers.
- Social welfare (inner city community projects, disaffected youth, family mediation, homelessness).
- The Alchemist Scheme (this is the Foundation's flagship scheme, whereby the it supports the costs of fundraisers assigned to other charities to assist with their fundraising efforts, especially Surrey Care Trust, Youth Music and Wateraid), and
- Water projects in the developing world.
Please note that the Foundation does not maintain a website. Further information is, however, available on the Charity Commission website and also in the Foundation's annual accounts.
Sir Richard Stilgoe OBE IDL and Lady Annabel Stilgoe OBE, who are both trustees, run the day-to-day activities of the charity. The Foundation meets regularly to review requests for grant support.
Applications may be made at any time in writing.