Fifteen plain-English questions, all answered in a paragraph or two.

Households living within the civil parish of Farndon, in the county of Cheshire. We can also help households with a ‘substantial connection’ to the parish — born here, brought up here, attended Farndon Primary, or living in the parish for more than ten years. Where you are unsure, please write to us; the trustees can usually tell you within a day.

Write us a short letter, or send a short email to [email protected]. There is no application form. Tell us who you are, what is happening, and what specific cost you need help with. If you have already tried other funders, mention that. A neighbour or church warden may write on your behalf with your permission.

The trustees meet four times a year, in March, June, September, and December. Most applications are decided at the next meeting after we receive them. For urgent need, the chair may approve grants of up to £150 by chair's action within forty-eight hours, in consultation with the Clerk.

Most grants are between £40 and £300. We have never, in our records, made a grant larger than £750. If your need is greater, we will say so honestly and may suggest a larger funder — usually the Cheshire Community Foundation — that can help at a more useful scale.

Small one-off household needs: a winter coat, a school uniform shortfall, an essential white good, a quarter of oil, a fuel-meter top-up, an apprentice's kit list, a small course fee, a stair-lift battery, a hearing-aid replacement. Each application is read on its own merits; if you are unsure whether your need fits, ask.

Ongoing income; rent or mortgage in full; debt to a creditor where the creditor would receive the payment directly; statutory needs the welfare state should be meeting (we may help with the gap, but not the principal); private-school fees; vehicle purchases (we can sometimes help with bus or rail fare for training); or anything outside the civil parish of Farndon.

No. The 1962 Scheme directs us to the relief of individual hardship within the parish. We cannot fund community projects, parish council activities, or other charities. We are very glad to write a letter of support and to suggest other funders.

Yes. We do not publish names of grant recipients in any newsletter, on any website, or at the open meeting. The three trustees handle every application themselves; no part is delegated to a volunteer outside the named circle. Records are destroyed seven years after the relevant year-end in line with our retention policy.

Yes, where the need is genuine. Some households are helped two or three times across a difficult year, particularly under the Sick & Aged Fund. We do not have a fixed once-only rule. We do read each fresh application carefully and may, occasionally, ask gentle questions about how the previous grant was used.

An informal Advent appeal that runs each December. It tops up the historic Coal & Bread Fund and pays for a £100 fuel voucher and a small food allowance to older households on the parish list. In a typical year it raises £1,400–£2,200 from village neighbours. See the donate page.

If you are a parish neighbour, a church warden, a duty officer at Citizens Advice, a social-prescribing link-worker, or a district nurse, please write a short note to [email protected] or telephone the Honorary Clerk on 01829 270 847. We have a one-page referrer guide on the resources page.

Yes. We are a registered charity (no. 219005) and can reclaim 25p in basic-rate tax for every pound you give, at no cost to you, provided you are a UK taxpayer. The declaration is on the donate form and on the back of our paper response slip.

Under the 1962 Scheme, the chair is the incumbent of St Chad's ex officio, and the other two trustees are appointed by the parish meeting for four-year renewable terms. The current trustees are listed on the about page.

No. We have no employees and no premises beyond the kitchen table at 6 Plover Close and the vestry of St Chad's. The trustees claim no expenses other than postage and the occasional ream of paper.

Many of our funds began as a parish legacy. The standard wording for a will is on the donate page. We are very glad to talk with you and, if you wish, your solicitor — please email [email protected] or telephone 01829 270 847.