Babington's Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £53,473 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £62,639 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: Parish of Cossington, Leicestershire
• Registered Charity Number: 220069

Contact Details

Address: 14 Main Street, Cossington, Leicester LE7 4UU

Phone: 01509 812271

Website: No website available

Chairman: Helen McCague

Allotments Contact: Gary Drew (Tel: 07989 354737)

Overview

Babington's Charity was established around 1860 by Reverend John Babington and operates under a scheme dated 7 December 1993. This historic local charity serves the Parish of Cossington, Leicestershire, managing properties including allotments and using rental income to support residents in need. With an annual income of £53,473 and expenditure of £62,639 (2024), the charity has six trustees who receive no remuneration. The charity's primary mission is to relieve hardship, support education, and provide general benefits to Cossington residents, with particular emphasis on young people under 25 and supporting the local Church of England primary school.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates through trustee-determined grants rather than formal application rounds. Funding is provided through:

Individual Hardship Grants: Direct financial assistance to residents experiencing need, hardship or distress

• Purpose: Relief of immediate need through grants of money or provision of items, services or facilities
• Application: No formal application process

Educational Support for Young People: Support for residents under 25 years old

• Purpose: Assisting those preparing for, entering upon, or engaged in any profession, trade, occupation or service
• Covers: Outfits, fees, travelling expenses, maintenance expenses
• Application: No formal application process

Subsidized Housing: Below-market-rate property rentals

• Purpose: Letting charity-owned properties to persons in financial need at less than market value
• Application: Contact trustees directly

School Support: Special benefits for Cossington Church of England Primary School

• Purpose: Providing benefits not normally provided by the Local Education Authority
• Application: Through school/trustees

Organizational Support: Grants to institutions or organizations

• Purpose: Donations or subscriptions to organizations that provide items, services or facilities to eligible beneficiaries
• Application: No formal process specified

Priority Areas

The charity prioritizes support for:

• Residents of Cossington Parish experiencing need, hardship or distress
• Educational advancement of young people under 25
• Further education opportunities for eligible residents
• General benefit of parish inhabitants
• Cossington Church of England Primary School

What They Don't Fund

Based on the governing scheme:

• Individuals not resident in Cossington Parish (except in exceptional cases where trustees believe sufficient reason exists)
• Persons over 25 years old for educational/career preparation support
• Activities outside the parish of Cossington
• Support that duplicates Local Education Authority provision to schools

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by six trustees who operate under the scheme dated 7 December 1993. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Known Leadership:

• Chairman: Helen McCague
• Allotments Manager: Gary Drew (contact: 07989 354737)

The trustees exercise considerable discretion in determining eligibility and level of support, guided by the 1993 scheme which sets out their powers and the charity's purposes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The charity operates through trustee discretion based on local knowledge of residents' needs.

The 1993 scheme grants trustees wide discretion to:

• Let properties to those they consider to be in financial need at below market rates
• Make grants of money to relieve need, hardship or distress
• Provide or pay for items, services or facilities
• Support young people's education and career preparation
• Make donations to organizations serving eligible beneficiaries

Given the absence of a formal application process, potential beneficiaries should contact the charity directly:

• Phone: 01509 812271
• Address: 14 Main Street, Cossington, Leicester LE7 4UU
• Local contact: For allotment-related matters, Gary Drew at 07989 354737

Getting on Their Radar

As a small parish charity operating on local knowledge and trustee discretion, the following approaches may be relevant:

• For individuals in need: Contact the trustees directly by phone or letter explaining your situation and how you meet the charity's criteria
• For young people seeking educational support: Approach trustees with details of your educational plans and financial need
• For local organizations: Contact trustees to discuss how your organization serves Cossington residents in ways aligned with the charity's purposes
• Through the parish network: As the charity was established by the church, connecting through Cossington Church of England or the parish council may provide informal routes to the trustees' attention
• For school support: Cossington Church of England Primary School should liaise directly with trustees regarding special benefits

Decision Timeline

No formal decision timeline is published. As the charity operates on trustee discretion without application rounds, decisions are likely made on a case-by-case basis as needs arise within the parish.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the charity's expenditure (£62,639) exceeds its income (£53,473), suggesting active grant-making, and the small geographic area (single parish), eligible residents who approach trustees may have reasonable prospects if their need aligns with the charity's purposes.

Reapplication Policy

No published reapplication policy. Given the informal nature and local focus, residents with ongoing needs may be able to seek support multiple times, subject to trustee discretion.

Application Success Factors

Since this charity operates without a formal application process, success depends on:

Eligibility Requirements:

• Residency: Must be resident in the Parish of Cossington, Leicestershire (though trustees may make exceptions in exceptional cases)
• Age for educational support: Must be under 25 years old for career/profession preparation assistance
• Demonstrated need: For hardship relief, must be experiencing need, hardship or distress

Factors Trustees Consider:

• The 1993 scheme requires trustees to consider whether individuals are “in financial need” for subsidized housing
• Whether young people are “in need of financial assistance” for educational support
• The nature and extent of the need, hardship or distress
• Whether support would genuinely relieve the condition or advance education

Strategic Approaches:

• Be specific about how you meet the charity's criteria (resident of Cossington, experiencing need/hardship, or under 25 seeking educational advancement)
• Explain clearly what items, services, facilities or financial support would help
• For organizations, demonstrate how your services directly benefit eligible Cossington residents
• Contact trustees directly and be prepared to discuss your circumstances
• Understand that trustees have wide discretion and decisions are made on individual merit

Local Knowledge:

• This is a traditional parish charity where trustees likely have local knowledge of residents
• Being known within the Cossington community may help trustees assess eligibility and need
• Church connections or parish council awareness may provide indirect routes to support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No formal application: This charity does not have a public application process - approach trustees directly by phone or letter
• Hyper-local focus: Only serves residents of Cossington Parish - do not apply if you are not a resident
• Grants to both individuals and organizations: The charity can support organizations that serve eligible beneficiaries through donations or subscriptions
• Trustee discretion is paramount: Success depends entirely on trustees' judgment about eligibility and need
• Educational support age limit: Support for educational/career preparation is restricted to those under 25
• Active grant-making: Expenditure exceeding income suggests the charity is actively deploying funds
• Historic charity with property assets: Generates income from property rentals and allotments, providing sustainable funding

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Lady Elizabeth Hastings' Estate Charity
• Knowle United Charity
• John Bristow and Thomas Mason Trust
• Chippenham Borough Lands Charity
• Waterside Community Fund
• The Hornsey Parochial Charities
• The Whittlesey Charity
• THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY
• Barton Under Needwood and Dunstall Key Trust
• Clifford Chambers Relief in Need Charities

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - Babington's Charity (220069): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/220069
• Our Cossington Community Website - Village Life, Societies, Clubs & Organisations: https://www.ourcossington.org/societies/
• Charity Commission Full Print Record for Charity 220069, showing scheme dated 7 December 1993