The annual Women in Philanthropy network event is attended by 300 female business leaders from across the North East, showcasing charitable projects that help women reach their full potential.
The annual Women in Philanthropy network event is attended by 300 female business leaders from across the North East, showcasing charitable projects that help women reach their full potential. Image: Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland

Barbour Foundation

Supporting a wide spectrum of North East charities
Founded: 1988

Charity Details

Full Name: The Barbour Foundation  
Founded: 1988
Type: Corporate
Where Operates: North East England
Headquarters: Jarrow, NE32 3EG
Charity No: 328081

History and Activities

Barbour is a country-wear fashion brand with a rich history. It was established in 1894 in South Shields and has since grown into a multi-national, multi-million-pound organization that has been awarded three Royal Warrants from Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales. The 5th generation, family-owned business continues to operate from its headquarters in South Shields, Tyne & Wear.

The Barbour Foundation was established by Dame Margaret Barbour, Chairman of J Barbour & Sons, in 1988, endowing it with 2.7% of the company’s equity. From time to time Dame Margaret makes large personal donations to the Foundation, which has made grants worth £20 million since its inception. A wide range of causes is supported. In the financial year 2016/17, 552 grants were made totalling £845,315, with the main beneficiaries clustered in community services (49.8%), health (26.8%), arts, culture and heritage (8.8%), education (6.5%) and environment and animals (4.0%). The largest grants were made to Westfield School (£62,500), Hospitality and Hope South Tyneside (£50,000), the Sage Gateshead (£50,000), and Maggies (£50,000).

In 1999 Dame Margaret established the Women’s Fund at the Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland with an initial donation of £250,000. An annual Women in Philanthropy network event is attended by 300 female business leaders from across the North East, showcasing charitable projects that help women reach their full potential, and boosting the Women’s Fund. In 2000, in memory of her mother in law, Margaret set up The Nancy Barbour Award, an annual award within the Women's Fund that was originally to recognise organisations helping women to play a more active part in the community, particularly those who work with a disability.  The fund now makes awards to local charitable organisations recommended by Dame Margaret.

The Barbour Foundation has been a major supporter of medical research and education at Newcastle University, most recently in 2014 through a £2 million donation to the Future Fund of the Centre for Childhood Cancer, funding 19 cancer researchers. Judiciously combining large, one-off grantmaking with regular year-by-year support for North East charities is a policy that has served the North East well.

Vital Statistics (year to 05/04/2017)

Total Income:
£255,880  
Voluntary Income:
£0  
Investment Income:
£255,880      
Employees:
2      
Total Expenditure (TE):
£1,009,680  
Grants to Beneficiaries (GR):
£845,315
GR as % of TE:
83.7%  
Investments at Year End:
£11,773,648  

Contact

Email: barbour.foundation@barbour.com
Telephone: 0191 42744221

References

Charity Commission (2017). The Barbour Foundation, Available here (Accessed: 23/07/2018).

Nelson, B. (2012). Million pound grant from Barbour Foundation to boost medical research, The Northern Echo, Available here (Accessed: 23/07/2018).

Wikipedia. (2018). J Barbour and Sons, Available here (Accessed: 23/07/2018).