‘Alma Beacon’ Named Inaugural Recipient of the John Handcock Award, presented by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Over £130,000 funding given to 50+ local charities and good causes across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in 2025

November 2025: The John Handcock Award, established by The Prince Philip Trust Fund to recognise and honour an organisation that has significantly supported local residents in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, has been presented to its first-ever recipient: Alma Beacon. This charity, based in Alma Road in Windsor, has been recognized for its incredible and urgent outreach work for some of the most vulnerable members of the local community through its three core projects; The Windsor Homeless Project, Windsor Foodshare and Windsor Street Angels.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh presented the Award to Alma Beacon Trustees Geoff Hudson, Jeremy Crame, Maria Hindmarsh and Mark Player.

This Award is created in the memory of John Handcock (1930 -2021) who was one of Windsor’s most prominent citizens. He was instrumental in the creation of the Prince Philip Trust Fund in 1977, Captain of the Lay Stewards of St George’s Chapel, and heavily involved in the civic life of Windsor through its many organisations and societies. He was also the Clerk of the Royal Albert Institute for decades until his death.

Nominees for the John Handcock Award are shortlisted by the Trustees of the Prince Philip Trust Fund whereby the successful recipient would be recognisably delivering excellence in its area of operation, goes above and beyond its remit in order to deliver for local residents, and focuses on a particular current or urgent need in the local community. This Award is presented every two years, alternating with The Prince Philip Award.

Alma Beacon runs three main projects. The Windsor Homeless Project has, from the outset in 2013, supported the homeless and vulnerable of Windsor by offering a safe space through a local day centre based initially in Windsor Baptist Church and then in Holy Trinity Garrison Church. They provide hot meals, a shower, laundry facilities, clothing provided together with access to healthcare, professional and housing/tenancy advice with the aim not only of addressing immediate needs but also providing a good starting place for life rebuilding skills. From December 2024, since moving premises to Alma Road, they have also been able to provide a night shelter during the winter months for up to fifteen homeless people

Windsor Foodshare was brought under the Alma Beacon Umbrella in 2016 and is now providing food for approximately 150 people per week. At a similar time, Windsor Street Angels came into being given there was a growing awareness of the need to provide support and help to anyone on the streets of Windsor at night time. Although the focus has been to help teenagers and young adults when they emerge from the pubs and clubs at the weekend and are vulnerable due to intoxication, the Street Angels have helped anyone in need whom they come across in their patrols which take place every Friday and Saturday night from 9.30 pm to 4.00 am. It is estimated that, since the first shift in 2012, Windsor Street Angels have helped over 30,000 people.

Chris Aitken, Secretary and Trustee of The Prince Philip Trust Fund, said:

“The importance of the work undertaken by Alma Beacon cannot be overstated. As a young charity on the front line, supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community, they have achieved remarkable progress — recruiting and coordinating an outstanding team of volunteers and professional service providers, engaging deeply with the local community, and expanding their operations to reach even more people in need

“Through their tireless efforts, Alma Beacon ensures that those at risk have access to food, shelter, and protection at the times they need it most. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and compassion, and in presenting Alma Beacon with the inaugural John Handcock Award, we hope to recognise the extraordinary difference they are making in the lives of local people during their most challenging moments.

Geoff Hudson, Chair of the Alma Beacon Board of Trustees, said:

“It was a great honour for Alma Beacon to receive the John Handcock Award. I and my fellow Trustees were delighted to be able to accept it on behalf of our wonderful volunteers who give so freely of their time, our dedicated staff who achieve so much and our many supporters corporate and otherwise who make it all work financially. Most importantly, we were humbled to be able to accept this on behalf of our guests who are at the heart of all we do. We feel encouraged by the recognition that winning this Award has brought and look forward to working even harder with the whole community to help the most vulnerable within Windsor.

The Prince Philip Trust Fund, which meets twice a year to consider applications for grant funding, recently awarded an additional £81,000 in funds to 34 local charities, projects and good causes, bringing the combined total of funds awarded in 2025 to over £130,000

Some of the local charities and community projects to benefit from this current funding round include:

• No 22 Counselling – for after school counselling sessions for 12 young people in Windsor
• Family Holiday Charity – to send four families from low income families in RBWM facing tough and challenging times on respite holiday
• St Michael’s Church, Maidenhead – for electrical improvements
• Windsor Boys’ School Boatclub – for First-Aid Training and walkie talkies
• Cookham Rise Primary School and Oakfield Fist School – for the provision of outdoor learning environments for children
• Thames Hospice – to support six children and family events to help bereaved families
• Citizen’s Advice East Berkshire – for additional debt advisory support services

Applications for grant funding are open now for 2026 and can be made online at
https://theprincephiliptrustfund.org/