Building a better society
MHF's Trustees seek to use the Foundation's resources to help build a better society, one more equal and less divided. The emphasis is on tackling the causes of poverty and other social ills rather than alleviating the symptoms, and on doing so where possible by empowering the most disadvantaged, in the first instance in the Foundation's own home conurbation and region.
About Millfield House Foundation
The Millfield House Foundation (MHF) was founded in 1976 with shares in Laws Stores Ltd, a Tyneside-based food retailing firm founded in Byker in 1907 by Arthur McClelland (1884-1966). The Foundation only had significant income after the firm was sold in 1985.
Most of MHF's grants between 1985 and 1996 were to relatively small local projects seeking to improve the conditions of the most deprived people in Tyne and Wear. In 1996 the Trustees decided to concentrate resources on objects which most other funding bodies can not or will not support. The current priority is to promote social change by funding projects that inform discussion and influence public policy and attitudes, with the aim of diminishing social deprivation and empowering communities. For further details of MHF's policy see Grants policy.
MHF has seven Trustees, six of whom live in the North East. The Trustees meet twice a year, usually in May and November. The part-time Administrator is based in Newcastle.
MHF’s Trustees may be involved in various capacities in other organisations in the North East. Consistent with MHF’s risk policy, the Trustees maintain a register of interests and have adopted procedures for declarations of interests at meetings.
For further information about grant applications see Applying for a grant.
This website, including details of current and recently funded projects, is amended twice a year following the Trustees' meetings. We aim to make our website user-friendly and hope that potential applicants and other enquirers will find it easy to obtain the information they require.