A J H Ashby Will Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £47,000 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Variable - at trustee's discretion
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Registered Address: Ludlow Trust Company (Southampton) Ltd, 1300 Parkway, Whiteley, PO15 7AX

Phone: 023 8212 2700

Application Portal: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com

The trust does not maintain a dedicated website or public email address for enquiries.

Overview

The A J H Ashby Will Trust is a small grant-making charitable trust registered in May 1990 (Charity Number: 803291). Managed by Ludlow Trust Company (Southampton) Ltd as corporate trustee, the trust distributes grants to charitable institutions throughout England and Wales. With annual expenditure of approximately £47,000 (2023-24), the trust operates with “general charitable purposes” and has broad discretion in selecting beneficiaries. The trust manager reviews grant applications as received, with awards made at the trustees' discretion. The trust is part of the Ludlow Trust Company portfolio, which manages over 275 charitable trusts and provides a centralized online application portal for registered charities seeking funding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant program with applications reviewed on an ongoing basis. Applications are submitted through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway, an online portal that matches charity applications with relevant trusts.

Application Method: Online via the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway (rolling basis)

Priority Areas

The trust's objects state: “the promotion of charity” with distribution “to such charity or charities and in such amount or amounts as it shall in its absolute discretion think fit.”

This broad remit means the trust:

• Has general charitable purposes without specific sector restrictions
• Operates throughout England and Wales
• Supports “other defined groups” as beneficiaries
• Awards grants at trustee's discretion based on applications received

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented. However, the trust only awards grants to registered charitable institutions, not individuals.

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Governance and Leadership

Corporate Trustee: Ludlow Trust Company (Southampton) Ltd

The trust operates with a single corporate trustee model, with no individual trustees receiving remuneration, payments, or benefits. Ludlow Trust Company manages the day-to-day administration, including reviewing grant applications and making recommendations.

The trust maintains governance policies including risk management, safeguarding, and conflict-of-interest procedures.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway at https://funding.ludlowtrust.com

The portal offers two application routes:

1. Specific Application: Apply directly to the A J H Ashby Will Trust if you believe there is strong alignment
2. General Application: Submit a general application that will be matched to relevant trusts in the Ludlow portfolio

Eligibility: Only registered charities in England and Wales may apply

Required Information:

• Details about your charity
• Information about the work requiring funding
• Alignment with charitable purposes

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not fixed. Applications are:

• Reviewed by the trust manager as received
• Shared with trustees at times they request to make funding decisions
• Considered “in the usual course of their decision making process”

There are no published application deadlines or fixed trustee meeting dates.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The trust does not file detailed Part B returns with the Charity Commission, so information about grant recipients and numbers of applications is not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented. Given the rolling application process, unsuccessful applicants may likely reapply, though timing guidance is not provided.

Application Success Factors

With limited public information about funded projects, applicants should consider:

General Guidance:

• The trust has very broad discretion, so clearly articulate how your work delivers charitable benefit
• Applications are matched via the Ludlow portal, so ensure your submission accurately describes your charitable activities and geographical reach
• The trust operates throughout England and Wales, so local projects anywhere in these regions may be considered
• With annual expenditure around £47,000, expect modest grant sizes rather than major funding awards

Application Strategy:

• Use the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway's matching system by completing a thorough application
• Consider applying via the “general application” route if you're unsure about alignment, as this allows matching across multiple trusts
• The portal eliminates guesswork in selecting trusts and reduces paperwork

Financial Considerations:

• The trust has operated with deficits in recent years (spending more than income), which may indicate they're drawing down reserves
• Annual expenditure has ranged from £47,000 to £93,000 in recent years, suggesting variable grant-making capacity

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Broad Discretion: The trust has general charitable purposes without specific sector restrictions, giving wide latitude in funding decisions
• Online Portal Required: All applications must go through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway - there is no alternative application route
• Rolling Basis: No fixed deadlines, but also no fixed decision timelines - be prepared for variable response times
• Small Trust: With expenditure around £47,000 annually, this is a small trust likely making modest grants
• Limited Transparency: The trust does not publish lists of funded organizations or detailed grant information
• Registered Charities Only: You must be a registered charity in England and Wales to apply
• Consider General Applications: If alignment is uncertain, use the general application route to be matched across the Ludlow portfolio of 275+ trusts

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: A J H Ashby Will Trust (803291). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=803291&subId=0 (Accessed: 2025)
• Giving is Great: A J H Ashby Will Trust Charity Factsheet. Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/charitydetail/?regNo=803291 (Accessed: 2025)
• Ludlow Trust Company: The Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway. Available at: https://www.ludlowtrust.com/insights/the-ludlow-funding-enquiry-gateway/ (Accessed: 2025)
• Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway Portal: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com (Accessed: 2025)