The Kettering Charities for the Poor are a collection of charities providing help for local people. They are now administered by the Town Council on behalf of the Trustees.

The Town Council appoints four Trustees. These are currently

Cllr Andy Byatt

Cllr Dez Dell

Cllr Gemma Harvey

Cllr Michelle Slater

The Rector of SS Peter and Paul Church in Kettering is an ex-officio member of the charities.

The Trustees can appoint up to four other persons to be trustees and the following people have been appointed:
Mrs Anne Ireson

Mr Larry Henson

Mrs Maggie Don

Mr Lloyd Bunday

The charities comprise three main elements:-

The William Martin Charity

a) The William Martin Charity exists to provide housing for elderly people without independent means. The charity owns a flat at The Lawns, Kettering, which is managed on its behalf by NNC Housing.

Kettering Charities (Apprenticing and Fuel Grants)

b) The Kettering Fuel Grants charity. This provides a grant to retired single people on a low income in Kettering and Barton Seagrave to help defray their fuel bills each year.

c) The Kettering Apprenticing Charity which provides grants to students and apprentices to meet unusual costs associated with their studies or to provide support and opportunities which are otherwise unavailable to individuals. This fund re-opened on 1st April 2025. Applications will be accepted in three tranches as follows

from 1st April - 15th May - with a determination date at the end of May

- from 1st June - 15th July - with a determination date at the end of July

and, (if there are funds left at the end of July)

- from 1st August to 15th September, with a determination date at the end of September.

Please contact the town council to request an application form.

Kettering Church and Town Allotment Charity

d) This distributes money to the other two charities and to the parish church of SS Peter and Paul

Fuel grants are awarded each December to people over state retirement age (66+) who live alone, and in the parishes of Kettering and Barton Seagrave.

Applicants MUST be on a low income of less than £335 a week.

Applications for this year will open on 1 October 2025. The closing date is 28 November 2025.

We aim to pay everyone who is eligible by Christmas.