Millfield House Foundation was founded in 1976 by the McClelland family 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 Laws Stores 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 projects which most other funding bodies cannot or will not support.
The current priority is to promote social change by funding projects that inform discussion and influence public policy, with the aim of reducing poverty and inequity.
The Trustees do not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Living Wage Funder
As a Foundation whose primary concern is to tackle social and economic inequality, MHF has always supported the concept of the Living Wage. Now the Living Wage Foundation has made it possible for us to show our support visibly and with commitment by setting up a scheme called Living Wage Funders.
Being a Living Wage Funder means that we ask all our grant holders to pay at least the Living Wage to all their employees. Our grants will reflect this desire.
We have been a Living Wage Funder since 2017 and are delighted to be among the growing group of trusts and foundations which have adopted a policy of advocating for and paying the Living Wage.
Read more about Living Wage Funders at www.livingwage.org.uk