We continue to welcome applications that fulfill our normal criteria but will only consider projects that demonstrate a thorough consideration of and adherence to any ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
Application process
The Trust receives between 300 and 400 applications of some kind each year. Six out of ten fail immediately because the applicant has not provided sufficient information for the Trustees to make an informed decision, or because the proposal is outside the limited scope of the Trust’s work. Half of the complete applications also fail, often because they are neither well considered nor clearly expressed. The remaining twenty percent, some 60-80 applications per year, are considered in detail by the Trustees. Your chances of being among those that are considered are greatly increased by checking carefully whether what you propose is actually something that we support, as set out on the What we support page.
Decision process
Trustees meet three times a year to consider applications. Under normal circumstances a minimum of 6 months can elapse before the Trust both makes a decision and has sufficient funds in its budget. In most financial years (April-March) almost all funds in the current budget are committed by the Summer, so it is generally advisable to think at least half a year ahead when putting together applications.
All successful applicants will be notified as soon as possible after the meeting.
In order to keep administration costs to a minimum, however, the Trust does not automatically inform unsuccessful candidates of the decisions made.