Buzzacott Stuart
Defries Memorial Fund
About the fund
Established in 2003 in memory of Stuart Defries, Buzzacott Partner, our charitable fund is central to our community engagement programme. For more than 20 years, it has helped us make a meaningful difference in our local community by supporting small charities that work with children and young people in and around the City of London.
organisations supported
£k+
donated since 2003
years in operation
Our funding priorities
We offer grants to registered charities, voluntary bodies (including Community Interest Companies), and statutory organisations that work with children and young people, primarily focusing on education, wellbeing, and opportunities for those who need them most.
Young people
We support charities that work with children and young people under the age of 25.
London-based projects
We support organisations working in London boroughs with the highest levels of child poverty, particularly those neighbouring the City of London.
Disadvantaged communities
We fund projects that make a real difference for people in disadvantaged or low-income areas.
Education, safety, and wellbeing
We prioritise initiatives that promote education, prevent homelessness and poverty, reduce youth crime, improve online safety, and support mental health and wellbeing.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the most common questions we’re asked about our grants, who can apply, and how the process works. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please get in touch.
Making sure your organisation is eligible to apply is the first step and can save a lot of time. To be considered for funding, your charity must be actively engaged in initiatives aligned with our objectives.
Our main grant making objectives are to:
- Benefit young people under the age of 25
- Support organisations based in Greater London boroughs experiencing high rates of child poverty, particularly boroughs adjoining the City of London
- Support those in disadvantaged socio-economic areas or communities
- Concerned with promoting educational opportunities, seeking to prevent homelessness, poverty and destitution, prevention or rehabilitation of youth crime, online safety, and mental health and wellbeing.
Hear from our trustees
Since becoming a trustee in 2014, the Fund has continued to broaden engagement with the local community in a variety of ways. We’ve paid close attention to the issues impacting the lives of people living across London, and have engaged organisations that are making a tangible difference by tackling deprivation and unequal access to opportunities.
Katharine Patel
Partner and Trustee of BSDMF
I became a trustee over 10 years ago, and it is incredible to see how much the fund has evolved since then. As the firm has grown, we have received more annual funding which means we are able to support more organisations and increase the amounts of funding we offer. Being a trustee means I can help identify charities that support young people in our community, and I’m proud of the range of charities we have been able to support.
Scott Barber, Partner and Trustee of BSDMF
Becoming a trustee in 2024 was driven by my desire to make a meaningful difference beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of my work. There are some amazing local organisations out there providing essential services to some of the most vulnerable young people in our community, and seeing how they transform lives is truly inspiring.
Simon Wax
Partner and Trustee of BSDMF
Since becoming a trustee in 2014, the Fund has continued to broaden engagement with the local community in a variety of ways. We’ve paid close attention to the issues impacting the lives of people living across London, and have engaged organisations that are making a tangible difference by tackling deprivation and unequal access to opportunities.
Katharine Patel
Partner and Trustee of BSDMF
I became a trustee over 10 years ago, and it is incredible to see how much the fund has evolved since then. As the firm has grown, we have received more annual funding which means we are able to support more organisations and increase the amounts of funding we offer. Being a trustee means I can help identify charities that support young people in our community, and I’m proud of the range of charities we have been able to support.
Scott Barber, Partner and Trustee of BSDMF
Becoming a trustee in 2024 was driven by my desire to make a meaningful difference beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of my work. There are some amazing local organisations out there providing essential services to some of the most vulnerable young people in our community, and seeing how they transform lives is truly inspiring.
Simon Wax
Partner and Trustee of BSDMF