Merseyside charities to benefit from landmark £25 million transfer from Pilkington Charities Fund

Charities and community groups in Merseyside will receive over £800,000 a year in funding, following the transfer of circa £25 million in assets from the Pilkington Charities Fund to the Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside.

The donation is the largest single trust transfer donation in the UK Community Foundations network history, of which there are 47 across the country. The fund will support projects tackling poverty and ill health, with priority given to organisations based in St Helens—the birthplace of  the Pilkington legacy. 

This July, the Pilkington Charities Fund will offer grants of up to £20,000, including support for core costs—an area of funding often difficult for charitable organisations to  secure.  

This landmark agreement follows three years of detailed conversations and rigorous  due diligence by the Trustees of the Pilkington Charities Fund. Their decision to transfer  the fund ensures a lasting commitment to the region, under the stewardship of the  Community Foundation—known for its strong local knowledge, community insight and  robust due diligence. 

The Pilkington name is deeply woven into the fabric of St Helens. Founded in 1826, the  Pilkington glass company grew from a modest operation into a global industry leader,  pioneering the Float Glass process and becoming the UK’s sole manufacturer of plate  

glass by 1901. Generations of the Pilkington family not only shaped the economic  identity of the town but also gave back, supporting local charities and people facing  hardship. This transfer ensures that philanthropic legacy continues. 

Rae Brooke, CEO of the Community Foundation for Merseyside, said:

“We feel incredibly honoured to be trusted with this historic legacy and are committed  to using it to deliver lasting, tangible impact. At a time of increasing need, this level of  investment will be transformational—across St Helens and Merseyside, where the  Pilkington story began.” 

Neil Jones, Chair of the Pilkington Charities Fund, said: 

“As Trustees, we are acutely conscious of the Pilkington heritage and of the region that  the Trust was established to support. With the demands and complexity of today’s  voluntary sector, we believe that the skills and focus of the Community Foundation for Merseyside will ensure that the Trust’s purposes will be met with renewed vigour.” 

Pilkington Charities Fund will be permanently and predominantly ringfenced for  charitable activity in Merseyside, with former Trustees continuing to have input.

For charities interested in applying, full guidance is available on the Community Foundation for Merseyside website.

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