Bindya Amin from The Old Enfield Charitable Trust on the help the charity offers locally

The ancient parish of Enfield was once the largest in Middlesex, dating back before the Domesday Book and covering over 15,000 acres – more than half the present borough of Enfield.

From Tudor times until the mid-19th Century, the parish and its vestry acted as the local authority, caring for the poor and maintaining roads and bridges.

Enfield was remarkable for its generosity. By the late 18th Century nearly 40 local charities had been founded – more, it is said, than in any other Middlesex parish. Many benefactors left land or money to provide bread, clothing and relief for the poor. In 1772, the growing list of gifts was recorded on two large boards in St Andrew’s Church, which can still be seen today.

Over time, several smaller charities were merged to simplify administration. In 1888, seven were united as the Enfield Parochial Charity, later joined by others to support both welfare and education. The final public vestry meeting was held in 1979, and in 1994 The Old Enfield Charitable Trust was created, combining the Enfield Parochial Charity and the 100 Acres Trust.

Today, the trust continues its centuries-old mission to support local people in need. We are fortunate to be self-funded through income from property, investments, and by Enfield Market, which is owned by the trust. This enables us to help individuals and organisations without the need for regular fundraising.

Following a recent review, our grant-giving criteria have been updated, and we now provide support to individuals and organisations living in the EN1, EN2 and EN3 postcode areas.

Our personal grants are for individuals facing financial hardship and typically used for essential items such as white goods, furniture, or clothing.

Our community grants are for local organisations running initiatives that benefit our community – while we do not usually fund individual schools or religious groups, we welcome applications from projects with a broader community impact.

Finally, our educational grants support access to vocational training and education, particularly for those not eligible for state funding or loans. We may also assist with related costs in certain cases.

Since April, the trust has awarded community grants to local organisations such as Love Your Doorstep; 1159 Edmonton Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets; One to One Enfield; Enfield Christmas Parade of Light; 11th Enfield Boy’s Brigade; Learning for Life Charity; Happy Days Children’s Charity; and Cooking Champions.

For our personal grants we regularly receive referrals from agencies such as social services, health visitors and the Citizens Advice Bureau, but we would like to reach even more people who could benefit from our support.

For more information:
Call 020 8367 8941
Email [email protected]

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