About our trust

Our Trust was established in 1985 with the defined purpose of donating funds to help and support charities, both national and local, and other deserving causes, provided that direct benefit was forthcoming for people who live in Hull or the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Donations will not be made for education, political or religious purposes. Participation by young people under the age of 18 years, in UK or overseas visits or projects with a leading organisation will be considered. Requests for notable buildings with a good level of community use will be evaluated.

For significant community projects demanding major fund raising, support may be given by way of pledge, payment being conditional upon all other funds being sourced. Funding of both capital and revenue costs will be considered.

Our Aims

To support registered charities and community groups in delivering charitable projects that benefit the residents of Hull and the East Riding.

To support national charities with projects carried out that benefit residents of Hull & East Riding.

To support local young people under the age of 18 in participating in UK or oversea visits or to participate in projects by a leading organisation.

To support significant community projects demanding major funding, support may be given by a pledge, payment being conditional upon all other funding sources being agreed.

Although no minimum or maximum level of grant is specified, grants of between £100 and £5,000 have been awarded in the past. Larger projects may be considered with match funding or by way of pledge.

Our History

In 1933 George Henry Hollingbery founded Comet Battery Store in Dock Street, Hull employing two people who charged batteries for customers wireless sets. During the late 1930’s the business grew as it moved into radio rentals and was maintained over subsequent years.

Following his demise in 1958, George was succeeded by his son Michael John Hollingbery. Growth of the business continued apace with the first COMET superstore opened in Hull in 1968.

After acquisition of the business by British retailer, Kingfisher, the founding family shareholders in COMET were instrumental in signing a Trust Deed on the 12th September 1985 establishing The Hull and East Riding Charitable Trust.

Our Trustees

Adrian Mark Horsley

Chair, a Trustee since 1992

Adrian was born and bred in East Yorkshire and has spent his working life as an Architect in Private Practice in Kingston upon Hull. Passionate about improving Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire, he has been a Magistrate in Hull since 1982, High Sheriff of the East Riding of Yorkshire in 2010 and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire in 2013. He is also a Trustee of several other Local and National charities.

Matthew W. D. Fletcher

Trustee since 2018

Matthew was born and bred in East Yorkshire, progressing from school to a BA Hons Degree in photography, located in Blackpool but part of Lancaster University. After a period of freelance work, he decided to move to Japan spending three years teaching and a further three years in photographic business, returning to the UK in 2005. He then joined the Fletcher family business in property investment, working with his father David. He has just celebrated the birth of his first child, a daughter.

Victoria M Carver

Trustee since May 2019

Victoria (Tor) was born and brought up in Saltmarshe, East Yorkshire, progressing from school to a BSC Hons Degree in IT, Business & French at a College of Brunel University. Having worked in the European Parliament in Brussels, she sought a career in the media and spent a number of years working as a TV Producer/Director for international news organisations, in Brussels and London. She returned to Yorkshire and since 2010, has worked in the hospitality industry, opening a new tourism attraction in North Cave with her husband in 2017. She is a committed fundraiser for ‘The Bridges’ in Hull and a keen supporter of the Hull & East Riding Children’s University.

Our Secretary

Lynn Humphreys

Secretary and Administrator since April 2022

Lynn was born and raised in East Yorkshire. She started her career with Midland Bank before leaving to spend several years travelling. On her return she retrained for a career in IT, working for over 10 years for Dun & Bradstreet in High Wycombe. After relocating back to East Yorkshire, she decided to retrain and study for her Accountancy exams before specialising in charity finance in the Hull area, where she has worked for the past 20 years. She also works as the Finance Manager at Cornerhouse (Yorkshire). Lynn is also a Hey Volunteer.