GUIDELINES FOR APPLICANTS

The Trustees have, for some years, grouped appeals and grants for statistical purposes in 22 categories. These are set out below, with an indication by each as to whether or not they are priority areas of interest at present.

If a field of activity is designated as non-priority, but grants have been made to charities in that field over a number of years (including the most recent year), this means simply that the Trustees do not expect to make any new or further grants in that field. It does not mean that recent recipients of grants are no longer eligible to re-apply.

Arts                                                     Not a priority

Blindness/visual impairment               Research aspect a priority

Carers/the elderly                               Not a priority

Children/young people                       Not a priority

Christian or other faith                       No grants

Churches                                             No grants, except                                                                        in respect of built heritage aspect 

Deafness/hearing impairment            Research aspect a priority

Disabled                                              Not a priority

Drugs/alcohol abuse/counselling        Not a priority

Education/schools                              Not a priority

Environment/wildlife/animals             Priority

General community                             No grants

Hospices                                              Priority

Housing/homelessness                        Not a priority

Individuals/year-out students             No grants at all – not eligible

Medical conditions/research/             Research a priority, but no substitution Hospitals                                              of NHS spending                                          

Mental handicap                                  Not a priority

Mental health                                      Not a priority

Museums/galleries/heritage                Priority, especially heritage buildings

Overseas aid/international                  Unlikely to extend

Sports                                                  Not a priority

Village Halls                                          Not a priority

Sadly, it is a fact that many charities do not carry out up to date research as to the activities and current status of this trust and, no doubt, many others. The correspondent is aware, for example, that appeals are still being sent to him at an address that he left more than ten years ago. Moreover, many charities repeatedly submit applications without ever making any enquiry either by telephone or e-mail as to the likelihood of success.

It is hoped that, if in doubt, charities will make such a preliminary enquiry rather than spending scarce and precious resources on paper and postage on an appeal that is unlikely to succeed.  This should not be construed as an encouragement or a requirement to make a preliminary enquiry.  Such enquiries should be made only if the foregoing statement of priorities leaves applicants in any doubt as to their eligibility or the likelihood of a worthwhile application.

Following their 2009 meeting, the Trustees are supporting a major project over the next two or three years.  As they experienced the anticipated substantial reduction in income in 2009, they do not expect to be able to support many new applicants in the next year or so.