Lloyd’s Veterans Charity was originally known across Britain simply as ‘The Patriotic Fund’, following its launch during a meeting in Lloyd’s Coffee-house on 20 July 1803. It was a focal point for charitable donations in support of injured veterans of the wars against France, which had restarted weeks before, and their widows and children.
£74,200 was raised in just nine days (about £10 million today), including £20,000 from Lloyd’s and £2,500 from the City of London. Individuals including J.J. Angerstein and Sir Francis Baring donated £1,000 each or more. The Fund’s Committee adopted a schedule of payments for injured veterans, their widows, and their children. It also bestowed silver vases, ceremonial swords, and medals onto individuals who displayed exceptional valour in battle. £25,765 was dispersed to the wounded at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, and all ship’s captains received a ‘£100 sword’. By 1815 the Fund had received £543,450, and disbursed more than £480,000 to 11,230 wounded, 2,352 widows, and 3,471 children and dependents.
Demands on the charity, which soon became known as the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, have been almost constant over the next 200 years, as brave men and women continued to serve, and in some cases fall. With the unceasing financial and administrative support from the Corporation of Lloyd’s, and the exceptional generosity of companies active in the London insurance market, the Lloyd’s Veterans Charity remains a proud, judicious, and powerful focal point for the insurance community’s gratitude to those individuals.
More information about LVC’s history is contained in Unbroken Service, the History of Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, 1803-2003, by Charles Messenger, and in Britons Strike Home, A History of History of Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, 1803-1988, by Jim Gawler.
Lloyd’s Veterans Charity was originally known across Britain simply as ‘The Patriotic Fund’, following its launch during a meeting in Lloyd’s Coffee-house on 20 July 1803. It was a focal point for charitable donations in support of injured veterans of the wars against France, which had restarted weeks before, and their widows and children.
£74,200 was raised in just nine days (about £10 million today), including £20,000 from Lloyd’s and £2,500 from the City of London. Individuals including J.J. Angerstein and Sir Francis Baring donated £1,000 each or more. The Fund’s Committee adopted a schedule of payments for injured veterans, their widows, and their children. It also bestowed silver vases, ceremonial swords, and medals onto individuals who displayed exceptional valour in battle. £25,765 was dispersed to the wounded at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, and all ship’s captains received a ‘£100 sword’. By 1815 the Fund had received £543,450, and disbursed more than £480,000 to 11,230 wounded, 2,352 widows, and 3,471 children and dependents.
Demands on the charity, which soon became known as the Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, have been almost constant over the next 200 years, as brave men and women continued to serve, and in some cases fall. With the unceasing financial and administrative support from the Corporation of Lloyd’s, and the exceptional generosity of companies active in the London insurance market, the Lloyd’s Veterans Charity remains a proud, judicious, and powerful focal point for the insurance community’s gratitude to those individuals.
More information about LVC’s history is contained in Unbroken Service, the History of Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, 1803-2003, by Charles Messenger, and in Britons Strike Home, A History of History of Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, 1803-1988, by Jim Gawler.
Grants from Lloyd’s Veterans Charity aim to support charities working with the military community specifically in the areas of employability and mental health. We support charities who value collaboration and champion the need to understand the gaps in current support. We want to work with charities to continue their vital work supporting the military community and are looking for projects where our funding will make a real difference.
Our Tier 1 grants programme is aimed at charities with an annual income of over £2.5million. Charities can apply for a maximum of £300k, for projects running over 3 years.
Our Tier 2 grants programme provides grants to charities with an annual income of £2.5million and below. Charities can apply for up to £100k for projects running more than two years.
The deadline for applications for funding in 2026 has now passed. A new funding round will be announced here in due course.
Governance of Lloyd’s Veterans Charity is extremely strong. With trustees selected from inside and outside the market community, including representatives from the Corporation of Lloyd’s, His Majesty’s Armed Services, and many of the most prominent leaders of managing agencies, broking firms, and market service companies, Lloyd’s Veterans Charity can be trusted to put our community’s charitable funds to work efficiently and effectively.
Our current Chairman, Brigadier Ed Butler CBE DSO, says: “The generosity of former members of the London’s insurance market allows us to give today with impact, confidence and scale. However, the demand for our support continues to grow. I ask that current members of our market community – individuals and companies alike – give what they can, so we can look after and do more for our veterans and their families in these very challenging times.”
Governance of Lloyd’s Veterans Charity is extremely strong. With trustees selected from inside and outside the market community, including representatives from the Corporation of Lloyd’s, His Majesty’s Armed Services, and many of the most prominent leaders of managing agencies, broking firms, and market service companies, Lloyd’s Veterans Charity can be trusted to put our community’s charitable funds to work efficiently and effectively.
Our current Chairman, Brigadier Ed Butler CBE DSO, says: “The generosity of former members of the London’s insurance market allows us to give today with impact, confidence and scale. However, the demand for our support continues to grow. I ask that current members of our market community – individuals and companies alike – give what they can, so we can look after and do more for our veterans and their families in these very challenging times.”
