Who we are?

The Hertford British Charitable Fund - HBCF - is a UK-registered charity that is recognised in France as a foreign association, and which provides financial support to:

• British citizens living in France (and others with close affiliations to the UK*) who find themselves in dire need and have nowhere else to turn; in this instance, HBCF is the charity of last resort.
  (* for example, the spouse or child of a British citizen; or a French family returning to France after many years as expats in the UK).
  
  
• Charitable organisations in France or UK organisations with strong or direct links to France, which have a strong impact in areas that are aligned with HBCF’s charitable objectives (essentially well-being and the encouragement of Franco-British collaboration in medicine and care) seeking help with projects aimed at English speaking people in France.
  
  

Administration and governance
HBCF is a UK registered charity, incorporated in England as a company limited by guarantee and recognised in France by decree as a foreign association. 
It is administered by a Board comprising no more than 12 Trustees/Directors, one of whom is appointed as Chair. All the Board members are volunteers – each with a specific expertise - and the Board decides on short and long-term strategy, sets policies and procedures and supervises the management of day-to-day operations which are under the responsibility of a Director General (a salaried employee).
Trustees/Directors are appointed in an annual meeting for a period of 3 years, renewable twice. The Trustees/Directors appoint the Chair for a 3-year mandate renewable once

The Board has a number of committees, each chaired by a Trustee/Director:

• Welfare (helping those in need)
• Charitable giving (contributing to other charities or non-profit organisations)
• Finance 
• Investment
• Property
• Nominations

Each committee comprises at least two Trustees/Directors, complemented by subject matter experts who can be Supporters of HBCF or Trustees Emeriti (ex-Trustees/Directors appointed to the Trustee Emeritus college for a renewable 3-year term).
The co-ordination of these committees, as well as the day-to-day administration of HBCF, are managed by the Director General in close collaboration with the Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer. 

Funding

HBCF is funded by:

• rental income from properties on land originally purchased by Sir Richard Wallace in Levallois-Perret.
• donations from individuals and corporation.

If you are interested in contributing to the work of HBCF in France, please contact us! 

A donation is possible in France either directly to a “fonds de dotation” (BCF France) or through the Fondation de France’s Giving Europe programme details of which can be found here