Charitable Activities
The early guilds were benevolent and religious societies and charitable giving has always been an important feature of livery companies. Membership of today's livery companies could neatly be described as '"fellowship with purpose" and that purpose is charity. Livery companies collectively donate around £80M a year to a wide variety of causes. The Barbers' Company is no exception, and charity lies at the heart of the Company.
Until the twentieth century charity in all but the richest Companies was dispensed largely to Company members, but nowadays the Company’s charitable objects reflect, in large part, its medical origins. They embrace education (particularly in the field of medicine), the relief of suffering and also the support of causes connected with London, particularly the City.
Charity Commission Registered Charity Numbers:
Barbers’ Company General Charities: 265579
Barbers’ Amalgamated Charities: 213085
The Haymarket Charitable Trust: 276231