What kind of charities do you support?
We support UK registered charities working to enhance local communities, alleviate poverty and support vulnerable groups in society with a primary although not exclusive focus on projects in Somerset and Lincolnshire. This spans projects operating within a wide range of sectors from education to healthcare – for the full list, see the first page of our online application form.
As such, we donate directly to local organisations and services such as universities, schools and hospitals, to community charities but also to many other registered grant making organisations with similar priorities to our own. Our general ethos is to try and spread our funding across lots of smaller charity organisations working within local communities, for whom our grants will have a transformative impact. This is why we keep the vast majority of our grants within the £5,000 to £15,000 bracket.
Examples of some of the projects we have supported in the past can be found on our featured projects page.
What are the key priorities for you when assessing a grant application?
Charity applicants must clearly demonstrate why there is a need for their work and how they are addressing that need. We like to know what impact the work is likely to have and how the charity plans to assess the outcomes, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
We particularly favour charities using volunteers.
The application should include a forecast budget for the work demonstrating short and long-term sustainability and potential scalability.
Are there charities you will not support?
Applicants must be UK registered charities. Grants will not be awarded for charitable projects being carried out overseas – our focus is upon projects being carried out within the UK, particularly in Somerset and Lincolnshire. We are unlikely to support charities working outside our specific areas of interest.
We do not support individuals or animal charities. We do not sponsor competitions or events. We will not support educational institutions where only a privileged elite will benefit – we will however fund initiatives to further the education of those who need additional support.
For UK registered charities in need of funding for projects being carried out overseas, we recommend looking at our sister charity site, the Coles-Medlock Foundation, to see if you are eligible for their grant funding.
What is the best way of applying?
To apply for a grant, charities must fill in our online application form which can be found here. This will take you step by step through all the information we require. If there is a specific reason you cannot apply using the online form or need to send information or materials via other means, please get in touch to discuss this with a member of our team.
We will not be replying to applications through any other medium.
Will you support the same project over several years?
We are happy, where appropriate, to offer grants that are split over a course of up to five years. Ongoing annual payments are conditional upon the charity recipient demonstrating each year that it is successfully using the money to work towards its stated aims. We are also happy to offer grants to the same project over consecutive years but do try to spread donations across as many organisations and projects as possible for maximum impact.
Can the same charity apply for more than one grant in the same year?
We would not usually offer more than one grant to the same charity in one year, even if it is for a separate project. If an application is unsuccessful you must wait until the next financial year before re-applying. The Medlock Charitable Trust financial year end is 31st July.
What kind of follow up information do you want after sending a charity money?
It is very helpful if charities can provide immediate confirmation upon receiving a grant cheque. We also require a written signed receipt to be sent to us in the post or as an email attachment.
As previously stated, it is important for us to see a clear assessment of the project’s progress and outcomes. Outcomes should be measured against the charities original stated aims with a quantitative and qualitative assessment. Ideally, we would expect an update 12 months after providing funding and upon conclusion of the project. If our grant is spread over a number of years, we must see an annual progress report before committing to the next year of funding.
How often do the trustees meet?
The trustees review and approve all the applications on a monthly basis.
What is the biggest and smallest donation you offer?
We offer donations of between £500 and £50,000 with very rare exceptions. The vast majority of our grants are worth between £5,000 and £15,000. Our general ethos is to offer lots of smaller donations in order to spread them across more organisations for whom the money will make a really significant impact.
Who should I contact if I have an unanswered question?
If you have an outstanding query, please contact the Medlock Charitable Trust team by emailing [email protected].