In the Autumn of 2021, the Company announced the launch of its inaugural Charity Marketing Grants Programme, supported and funded by The Marketors' Trust. The initiative aims to inspire and empower smaller charities in launching impactful marketing campaigns in support of their respective causes. The total fund is £30,000, comprising two top grants of £10,000 and four grants of £2,500 each.
In the fourth year of this program, The Marketors’ Trust is proud to award a total of £30,000 in grants to six extremely deserving charities.
The top grants of £10,000 each have been awarded to London Search and Rescue and Warrington and District Deaf People, while Park Yoga, Spark Foundation, Long Covid Support and Jewish Action for Mental Health, Teach receive £2,500.
Professor Ian Ryder, Master of the Worshipful Company of Marketors, commented:
"The Charity Grants Programme offers smaller charities an invaluable opportunity to elevate their marketing efforts, increasing their visibility, particularly in the areas of fundraising and volunteer recruitment. By raising awareness and driving donations, these charities can secure long-term sustainability and continue their important work.”
Joint Winners of the 2024 award of £10,000 each
London Search and Rescue (LonSAR) supports the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police in locating vulnerable missing individuals, helping to prevent avoidable loss of life. As a charity, their professionally trained volunteers provide life-saving services 24/7, year-round, regardless of the weather. They assist despondent, suicidal, elderly individuals, and those experiencing severe mental health challenges or dementia.
However, LonSAR faces challenges including low public awareness and a limited understanding of its dependence on charitable funding. This restricts our ability to secure the donors, volunteers, and resources required to address London's growing number of missing persons.
LonSAR’s will be using their grant to create a marketing campaign focused on creating a more inspiring, engaging and impactful way to raise awareness, funding and support; both online, and in the community. It will allow LonSAR to deepen their engagement, and grow their profile, income and operational capability to support the emergency services to the extent that London requires.
The Warrington & District Society for Deaf People is dedicated to empowering the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Warrington and its surrounding areas. Our mission is to enrich the lives of deaf individuals by providing a wide range of services and activities that foster inclusion, promote education, and celebrate cultural engagement.
WDSDP will use their grant to create a comprehensive campaign designed to provide the Deaf community and their families with a centralized hub for guidance and accessible information. This initiative aims to enhance the physical and mental well-being of individuals while fostering a stronger, more connected community that supports and celebrates deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in our area.
A key focus of the campaign is to reduce the isolation and segregation experienced by many Deaf people, offering them a safe and supportive environment where they can thrive. By bridging the gap between the Hearing and Deaf worlds, the campaign seeks to promote a fully inclusive and cohesive society.
Winners of the awards of the 2024 award for £2,500 each
The Spark Foundation supports young people aged 25 and under who are, or have been, in care and live in England or Wales. Their mission is to empower young people from the care system to advance and enrich their lives, ensuring they have access to the same opportunities and support typically available to their non-care-experienced peers.
The foundation will use their grant to produce a powerful video showcasing the profound impact small grants can have on the lives and opportunities of young care leavers. This initiative not only promotes their services but also celebrates their 21st anniversary of providing dedicated support to care leavers.
Park Yoga was established in Dorset in 2017 to offer free outdoor yoga sessions on Sunday mornings from May to September, with the goal of improving participants’ health and wellbeing. Since its inception, it has grown into a national charity with 48 venues across the UK. Open to everyone—regardless of experience, age, or gender—Park Yoga partners with local organisations to engage communities, fostering an inclusive atmosphere that encourages ongoing yoga practice and a deeper connection to nature.
Park Yoga currently attracts a diverse group of participants, with 92% women, 21% aged 65 and older, 10% from culturally diverse communities, 22% living with disabilities or life-limiting health conditions, and 14% residing in areas of deprivation. Recognising the potential to expand their reach, Park Yoga is committed to engaging even more individuals, including inactive participants, to join and benefit from their sessions.
The Marketors’ grant will support Park Yoga’s outreach programmes, enabling the charity to extend its positive impact on health and wellbeing in local communities.
Long Covid Support is a national, user-led charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by Long Covid across the UK. The charity focuses on three key areas: advocacy, research involvement, and peer support.
They will used their grant to support the Long Covid Awareness Day: an initiative aimed at raising awareness and celebrating the work of Long Covid Support.
Central to the campaign is a collaborative art project led by an artist from Wimbledon College of Art who has personal experience with Long Covid. This project involves creating a banner featuring the charity’s name, adorned with personalized ribbons contributed by members of the charity’s Facebook support group, which boasts 65,000 members. Each ribbon will represent a unique story, symbolizing the collective experiences of those affected by Long Covid while showcasing the charity’s significant reach and impact.
The banner will take centre stage at an event hosted at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. Additionally, a film capturing the banner and its creation will form the foundation of a social media campaign, further amplifying awareness and support for the Long Covid community.
Jewish Action for Mental Health (JAMH) exists to provide culturally sensitive mental health support tailored to the unique needs of the Jewish community. Their mission is to ensure that individuals facing mental health challenges receive the care, guidance, and resources they need in an environment that respects their cultural and religious practices.
They will use the grant to is to raise awareness and support for JAMH’s 2025 fundraiser, which seeks to sustain and expand vital mental health services.
The campaign will use a variety of channels, including social media, email, newsletters, and events, to reach a wider audience. It aims to raise visibility by showcasing JAMH’s essential work, boost donations through impactful storytelling, and inspire community participation to expand their network of advocates.
How it works
Applications are invited from charities registered with The Charity Commission for England and Wales, which have an annual income of between £10,000 and £200,000 and whose main charitable activities are focused in the UK.
There is a total grants fund of £30,000, which will be awarded as follows:
- Two top grants of £10,000 each
- Four grants of £2,500 each
These grants are for the purpose of funding marketing campaigns and are not available for staff costs, capital investment, hardware or infrastructure work or ongoing SEO/PPC activity, although the campaign can include an element of PPC or SEO. Examples of campaign proposals that would be eligible include:
- general fundraising campaigns
- activities aimed at increasing regular donations
- proposals for the recruitment of volunteers
- campaigns to raise awareness of the charity’s activities.
- Campaign proposals must be for a discrete activity that is time limited to no more than six months and which will be completed by the end of 2024.
All applications will be screened for adherence with the eligibility criteria.
A Programme Information Sheet giving full details of the Programme is available to download. Please read this before completing the Application Form.
There is also a Programme Flyer available to download.
Valid applications will be considered by a judging panel, which will shortlist a maximum of six for the two top grants of £10,000 and a maximum of six for the four smaller grants of £2,500.
Short-listed charities will be invited to attend virtually a meeting of the judging panel to present their proposals personally.
Darren Bayley with Jackie Barker and Juliet Kenney of Surrey Search and Rescue – plus Rosie the search dog