Purpose of The Harris Charity:

The Charity through its Trustees, can assist throughout Lancashire, though Preston District has special priority. Its aims are to provide for the benefit of persons under the age of 25 who have permanent residence in the County:

(a)	in relieving the need, hardship or distress of such persons;
(b)	in promoting the education, including social and physical training of such persons;
(c)	In providing financial assistance, outfits, clothing, tools, instruments, equipment or books to enable such persons on leaving school, university or other educational establishment to prepare for, or to enter, a profession, trade of calling;
(d)	in apprenticing such persons to some useful profession, trade or calling;
(e)	in providing or assisting in the provision for such persons of facilities for recreation to other leisure-time occupation in the interest of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life for such persons;
(f)	in making grants or donations to charitable institutions or organisations having for their object the benefit of such persons.

The Trustees are not authorised to apply income of the Charity directly in relief of rates, taxes or other public funds, but may apply income as supplementary relief or assistance provided out of public funds.

Policy:

Grants made by the Trustees will be directed towards implementing the purpose of the Charity. It will not be the practise to make grants to finance course fees, supplementary living expenses, meet salary costs or make general grants to groups travelling overseas. Expenditure incurred prior to the grant approval will not be reimbursed.

Applications made by individuals must be accompanied by supporting references from responsible referees (viz - Schools, Colleges, Social Services, Vicar, Priest, Minister, or such authority as the Trustees may decide to accept)

Applications from charities must indicate the official registration number as issued by the Charity Commission. Also, the Trustees will require to see evidence from the Chief Inspector of Taxes, Claims Branch, as to exempt charity status from Income Tax.

All applications must set out in Section 4 of the application form what other fundraising and self help they have achieved or hope to achieve.

The Trustees advertise in the local press twice yearly in March and September for applications. The half yearly dates by which the applications must be submitted are 31 March and 30 September. Successful applicants are notified in July and January respectively following the closing date each year. Each request for a grant must be made on an official application form.

The Trustees may at their discretion insist on a full reporting back procedure to ensure that grants have been expended in accordance with the application.