Barnsbury Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £176,868 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales, with special concern for Oxfordshire

Contact Details

Address: 26 Norham Road, Oxford, OX2 6SF

Alternative Address: 23 Lloyd Square, London WC1X 9AJ

Phone: 01865 554821 or 020 7278 5899

Email: hmrbrunner@gmail.com or magnusbrunner@gmail.com

Charity Number: 241383

Overview

The Barnsbury Charitable Trust, registered in 1965 and governed by a settlement dated 22nd October 1964 (as amended 19th March 1968), is a private family trust that makes grants to environmental and charitable organizations. With annual expenditure of £176,868 (2024) and income of £129,931, the trust is currently spending from reserves to support its grant-making activities. The trust operates under the leadership of the Brunner family, with connections to Oxfordshire's philanthropic community through Sir Hugo Brunner's legacy as former Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire (1996-2008). The trust's focus has evolved over time from general charitable giving with concern for Oxfordshire to a specific emphasis on addressing climate change through environmental grant-making, particularly supporting regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices. The trust also supports architectural history education through partnerships with organizations like the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not publish specific grant programs or funding tiers. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations aligned with the trust's priorities.

Priority Areas

• Climate Change Mitigation: Environmental organizations addressing climate change
• Regenerative Agriculture: Projects focused on regenerative agriculture practices
• Sustainable Farming: Initiatives promoting sustainable farming methods
• Architectural History: Educational activities including PhD scholarships and research grants (through SAHGB)
• General Charitable Purposes: Organizations benefiting communities, particularly in Oxfordshire

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private family trust with a focused environmental mission, it is unlikely to fund projects outside climate change, sustainable agriculture, architectural history education, or Oxfordshire-based charitable work.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2023):

• Magnus Brunner - Trustee (appointed 03 October 2023)
• Samuel Brunner - Trustee (appointed 03 October 2023)
• Isabel Mary Sharp - Trustee (appointed 13 March 2016)

The trust is governed by three trustees, all members of the Brunner family. Isabel Sharp (née Brunner) is the daughter of Sir Hugo Laurence Joseph Brunner KCVO KStJ JP (former Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire) and Mary Rose Catherine Brunner (née Pollen). The trust operates with no paid staff, and no trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

The Brunner family has a long history of philanthropic engagement in Oxfordshire, with Sir Hugo Brunner's involvement in various charitable and civic organizations providing context for the trust's geographical focus and commitment to the county.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Barnsbury Charitable Trust operates as a private family trust where grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees. There is no open application portal, published guidelines, or rolling deadline system for unsolicited applications.

Grants appear to be made through:

• Trustee identification of organizations aligned with the trust's priorities
• Existing relationships and networks in the environmental and Oxfordshire charitable sectors
• Partnership arrangements with established grant-giving bodies (such as SAHGB)

Organizations seeking funding should note that the trust does not accept unsolicited applications through a formal process.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this trust, success in securing funding is likely dependent on:

Alignment with Current Priorities: The trust has clearly defined its focus on climate change mitigation through regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming. Organizations working in these specific areas are most likely to be considered.

Connection to Oxfordshire: While the trust operates across England and Wales, it maintains “a special concern for Oxfordshire.” Projects benefiting Oxfordshire communities or led by Oxfordshire-based organizations may have an advantage.

Established Organizational Credibility: The trust's known beneficiaries, such as SAHGB, are established organizations with strong track records. New or untested organizations may find it more difficult to secure support without a proven history.

Environmental Focus: The trust's recent shift toward climate change and environmental work suggests that organizations demonstrating measurable environmental impact, particularly in agricultural sustainability, align with trustee priorities.

Architectural Heritage Alignment: For organizations in the architectural history field, the trust's ongoing support of SAHGB scholarships indicates interest in educational activities that preserve and promote understanding of architectural heritage.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This is a private family trust that makes grants at trustee discretion; unsolicited applications are not accepted
• Environmental focus is paramount: Current priorities center on climate change, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable farming practices
• Oxfordshire connection matters: The trust maintains special concern for Oxfordshire-based charitable work
• Limited transparency: Grant amounts, recipient lists, and decision-making processes are not publicly disclosed
• Architectural history niche: The trust supports educational scholarships in architectural history through SAHGB
• Spending from reserves: With expenditure exceeding income (£176,868 vs £129,931 in 2024), the trust is actively deploying capital for grant-making
• Family governance: All trustees are members of the Brunner family, suggesting grant decisions reflect family values and priorities

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “BARNSBURY CHARITABLE TRUST - 241383,” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=241383&subid=0
• Charity Commission, “Trustees, BARNSBURY CHARITABLE TRUST,” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/241383/trustees
• Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain, “Architectural History Funding,” https://www.sahgb.org.uk/funding
• NGO Explorer, “BARNSBURY CHARITABLE TRUST | NGO Explorer,” https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/241383
• Oxfordshire Community & Voluntary Action, “Trusts with an Interest in Oxfordshire,” https://ocva.org.uk/trusts-with-an-interest-in-oxfordshire/
• Wikipedia, “Hugo Brunner,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Brunner