The cash came from a series of charitable endowment funds administered by Bristol Charities, many dating back hundreds of years.

Recipients of the 1,510 grants awarded in the year ending March 31 were men and women from all over Bristol ranging from teenagers to those aged 80-plus, while the majority of the money was paid out for household items such as white goods, furniture, carpet and bedding.
However, grants were also made to cover a wide range of other equipment and services including medical equipment, clothing, materials for repairing or decorating homes, educational equipment, resettlement and respite care.

David Jones, chief executive of Bristol Charities, said: “We are one of the few charitable organisations in Bristol to concentrate our relief efforts on individuals, rather than groups, helping them discreetly to preserve their dignity.”

Bristol Charities is an umbrella organisation administering dozens of charitable funds, many of which were established hundreds of years ago. Applications for grants are made via third party organisations ranging from Bristol City Council Social Services and Housing departments to hospitals and health centres, smaller charities and support organisations. Sums ranging from £50 to £400 for specific equipment or services are approved by Bristol Charities’ trustees.

“There is an interesting challenge of accurately defining what constitutes ‘need’ in modern times. Historically, it was much easier as there was no state network to help the poorest members of society,” said David Jones.

He continued: “One of our policies is that we do not award grants that would replace state benefits. Instead, we look to fill the gaps by helping people with items that most of us take for granted these days. Bristol has some of the most deprived wards in England, and there is plenty of scope to make a difference with relatively small value grants.”

While benefactors include many of Bristol’s early successful merchants, funds also come from latter-day individuals wanting to help the less well off in the city through donations and legacies in their wills.

David Jones said: “Bristol has a long and proud heritage of its wealthier citizens coming to the aid of those in need and that is something we hope to maintain through Bristol Charities. The names of many of the city’s early successful merchants live on through their enduring charitable legacies and we can show their modern day equivalents that any funds they leave will be run professionally to provide maximum benefit to their recipients.”