Trusthouse Charitable Foundation

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation provides grants to charitable and not-for-profit organisations in the UK for small, local projects working to address community issues in areas of extreme Urban Deprivation or remote, socio-economically deprived rural areas.

The Foundation supports charities and not-for-profit organisations, including CICs, social enterprises, not-for-profit registered companies and voluntary organisations whose projects address the Foundation's two target areas:

1. Rural Isolation & Poverty - applications are accepted from organisations which are addressing issues in rural areas which are classified as being in the lowest 50% in terms of the latest government Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Rural in this context means cities, towns, villages and areas with 10,000 or less inhabitants. For example:
o Projects providing transport for the elderly, disabled or disadvantaged;
o Contact networks for the young disabled;
o Projects which encourage a sense of community such as community centres and village halls;
o Employment training schemes especially those promoting local, traditional crafts; or
o Projects addressing issues such as drug/alcohol misuse or homelessness.

2. Urban Deprivation - Applications are accepted from local or national charities or not-for-profit organisations which are working with residents of urban areas (ie more than 10,000 inhabitants) which are classified in the latest government Indices of Multiple Deprivation as being in the lowest 20%. For example:
o Youth clubs;
o Training schemes to help people out of unemployment; or
o Drop in centres for the homeless.

Within these two overarching themes, the Charity is interested in the following three areas:

(a) Community Support, for example: 

o Work with young people;
o Community centres and village halls;
o Employability programmes;
o Volunteering;
o Healthy eating and living;
o Support for young carers;
o Respite services;
o Older people’s projects;
o Befriending;
o Intergenerational projects;
o Luncheon clubs;
o Help for refugees;
o Family support;
o Community transport;
o Sports projects;
o Rehabilitation of ex-offenders;
o Alcohol and drug misuse projects; or
o Domestic violence prevention and aftermath;

(b) Disability and Healthcare, for example:

o Projects in deprived areas for people of all ages with physical and/or sensory disabilitie;
o Support for people with mental health issues;
o Hospices;
o Projects for ex-service personnel;
o Community awareness and integration; or
o Music therapy projects.

(c) Arts, Education and Heritage, for example:

o Arts projects for people with disabilities;
o Performance or visual arts with a clear and strong community impact;
o Alternative education projects;
o Supplementary teaching;
o Heritage projects in marine or industrial areas which involve local people and have a demonstrable community benefit.

(d) Hospices

Trusthouse is interested in supporting capital projects at hospices throughout the UK. Applicants will need to have secured a minimum of 50% of the total cost of the project and to identify a specific element of the project which a grant from Trusthouse would cover. Priority will be given to projects that benefit patients, rather than visitors or staff. Trusthouse does not give grants for hospice running costs. Although Trusthouse waives the need for hospices to comply with the requirement that applicants should be based in areas of extreme urban deprivation or remote rural districts, preference will still be given to such areas, as the possibilities of local fundraising are more limited.

(e) Themed Grants Programme

Trusthouse runs three-year programmes focussing on a specific issue of interest to the Trustees. The next themed grant programme 'will probably' open in late 2017. Grants are available for covering overheads and salary costs are available capital projects, for one-off expenditures such as equipment and new builds are also available.

The Foundation offers the following levels of support:

o Small Grants: of between £1,000 and £6,000;
o Standard Grants: of between £6,001 and £12,000;
o Large Grants: of between £10,000 and £50,000 for capital projects only.

With effect from 1 July 2017, the maximum amount that applicants can request for Large Grants, Hospices, Village Halls and Community Centres was increased from £45,000 to £50,000. These grants are only for one-off capital projects where the total cost of the project is under £1 million (apart from hospices where there is no maximum total cost limit).

There is a 50% match funding requirement for all projects.

During the year ending 30th June 2016 the Foundation made grants of £2.86m (2015: £2.37m) to 300 applicants from 971 applications made (2015: 342 awards from 1,140 applications made). The success rate is therefore around 32%,

The following conditions apply:

o Groups with a total annual income of up to £100,000 can apply for Small Grants of up to £6,000 for revenue costs such as core costs, salaries, overheads, project costs. Decisions are made within four to six weeks;
o Groups with an income over £100,000 and under £250,000 can apply for Small Grants of up to £6,000 for one-off capital cost for new buildings, repairs and improvements, or the purchase of equipment. Decisions are made within four to six weeks.
o Groups with a total annual income of over £250,000 and under £500,000 can apply for Standard Grants of between £6,001 and £12,000 for revenue or one-off capital costs. The total cost of capital projects must be less than £1 million. Decisions are made quarterly.
o Groups with a total annual income of over £500,000 and under £5 million can apply for Large Grants of over £10,000 and up to £50,000 for one-off capital costs only. The total cost of the project must be for less than £1 million. Buildings must be owned by applicant or leased for a minimum of five years. Decisions are made quarterly.
o Village halls and community centres with any income up to £5 million can apply for village hall and community centre capital grants of between £1,000 and £50,000 for new builds, repairs, improvements or extensions. Decisions are made quarterly.
o Hospices only can apply for capital grants of between £6,000 and £50,000 for new builds, repairs, improvements, extensions and equipment purchase. Decisions are made quarterly.

All grants are for one year only. Funding is available for general running costs including salaries, core costs and overheads and capital expenditure on buildings or essential equipment.

The Foundation operates a rolling programme and groups can apply at any time throughout the year.

Grants Committee meetings are held in February, late April/early May, July and late October/early November.

Applications need to be received at least six weeks before a meeting to be included on the agenda.

Small Grant applications can be made at any time through the year and will receive a final decision within six weeks.

The guidelines can be found on the Trust's website and applicants are urged to read the guidelines before starting the application process.

They should also use the online eligibility checker which will lead to the application form. Applicants will be taken through a short questionnaire to identify which type of grant is most suitable.

All applications should be submitted by post. For further information, visit the Trusthouse Foundation’s website.

Contact details for the Foundation are:

Judith Leigh
Grants Manager
The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
65-68 Leadenhall Street
London EC3A 2AD
Tel: 020 7264 4990

or

Marie Hale
Grants Officer for Small Grants
The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
65-68 Leadenhall Street
London EC3A 2AD
Tel: 020 7264 4990  

(Source: GRIN)