Sir George Earle Benevolent Fund
The Sir George Earle Benevolent Fund supports former Blue Circle and Lafarge UK employees and their families through individual grants and community projects that improve quality of life, independence and work to reduce loneliness for older people across the UK.
The Sir George Earle Benevolent Fund
The Sir George Benevolent Fund is named after its principal benefactor, the late Sir George Earle. The fund was established in 1974 and was transferred to UKCF in 2018 to support local projects supporting older people facing loneliness and isolation.
Today, it supports former employees of Blue Circle and Lafarge UK and their families through targeted grants. It provides financial support for individuals to maintain independence and also supports local community projects that support older people, particularly by reducing loneliness and isolation.
There are two funding streams available for the fund:
Grants for individuals
Support for former employees (and their families) of Lafarge UK and Blue Circle to access essential equipment and home adaptations that improve daily living and independence.
Grants for organisations
Funding for community groups working with older people to reduce isolation and loneliness, respond to local needs and increase access to social activities.
Annual Statement: March 2026 (updated annually)
The capital value of the fund at 03.03.2026 is £4,417,920.
Donations made to the fund in the year to 03.03.2026 were zero (the programme was on pause this year).
The amount transferred from the grants for individuals to the grants for organisations in the whole year to 03.03.2026 was £135,204.
Grants awarded for the whole year to 03.03.2026 were £12,040 (we only awarded grants to individuals this year but have now reopened grants to organisations).