Baron Davenport's Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: Approximately £1 million
• Endowment Fund: Over £30 million
• Decision Time: 2-4 weeks for emergency grants; twice-yearly distributions for organisational grants
• Grant Range: £200 - £1,000 (organisational grants); £300 twice yearly (older ladies grants)
• Geographic Focus: Birmingham and West Midlands (within 60 miles of Birmingham Town Hall)

Contact Details

Address: The White House, 111 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4EU

Website: www.barondavenportscharity.org

Email: enquiries@barondavenportscharity.org

Phone: 0121 236 8004

Overview

Baron Davenport's Charity was established on 16 July 1930 with £100,000 from Davenport's Brewery in the Midlands. The charity became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on July 1, 2025. With an endowment fund that has grown to over £30 million and annual income of approximately £1 million, the charity provides grants in four categories: grants to organisations supporting children and young people under 25, grants to organisations supporting older people, twice-yearly grants to older ladies living alone, and emergency grants to single women and their children. The charity operates exclusively within the City of Birmingham and West Midlands counties, not extending beyond 60 miles from Birmingham Town Hall. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham serves as Patron, with eight Trustees including the Chief Financial Officer of the City of Birmingham as an ex-officio Trustee.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Children and Young People Organisations: £200 - £1,000 (occasionally larger amounts)

• Applications considered twice-yearly with fixed deadlines
• Grants support special projects, equipment, and running costs
• Applications for Spring distribution due by 15 March; Autumn distribution by 15 September
• Funding granted at end of May/beginning of June (Spring) and end of November/beginning of December (Autumn)

Older People's Organisations: £200 - £1,000

• Grants awarded for special projects, equipment, and running costs
• Same twice-yearly application cycle as children's organisations

Twice Yearly Grants to Older Ladies: £300 per distribution

• Grants distributed twice yearly (Spring in early June, Autumn at end of November)
• Applications for Spring due by 15 March; Autumn by 15 September
• Recipients must re-apply each cycle using a simplified re-application form (due 28 February for Spring, 31 August for Autumn)

Emergency Grants: Variable amounts

• One-off crisis grants for essential household items
• Applications assessed on rolling basis in date order
• Processing time: 2-4 weeks

Priority Areas

For Children and Young People Organisations:

• Uniformed groups (Scouts, Guides, Sea Cadets)
• Groups supporting disadvantaged children
• Organisations providing holidays for children
• Services supporting young people with learning or physical difficulties
• Organisations benefiting children and young people under 25

For Older People:

• Organisations supporting older people in their retirement
• Services for single ladies in retirement living alone

For Individual Emergency Grants:

• Essential household items for single women living alone or with their children
• Support for children and young adults under 25 without fathers

What They Don't Fund

Excluded Organisations:

• Statutory services including state schools and academies (unless specifically for pupils with disabilities)
• Local authorities, metropolitan districts, unitary authorities, county councils, or their affiliate organisations
• Prisons
• NHS hospitals or services
• Universities and further education colleges
• Nurseries and pre-schools
• Parent teacher associations

Excluded Purposes:

• General living expenses
• Energy bills
• Applications where public funding has not been exhausted first
• More than one item per successful emergency grant application

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by eight Trustees who come from a range of backgrounds. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham serves as Patron of the Charity. The Chief Financial Officer of the City of Birmingham serves as an ex-officio Trustee. The charity operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation as of July 1, 2025.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organisational Grants:

• Online applications through the charity's website (described as “the quickest and easiest way”)
• Must include: organisation's aims and activities, what funds are for, expected beneficiaries, project costs, money raised so far, how success will be measured, latest audited accounts, and bank details
• Applications must be received by 15 March (Spring distribution) or 15 September (Autumn distribution)
• The charity tries to visit as many applicants as possible each year, particularly first-time applicants

For Individual Grants:

• Applications are NOT accepted directly from individuals
• Must be made through a support worker from an approved referring organisation
• Accepted referring bodies include: charitable organisations, health care and advice services, tenancy support, education services, NHS and primary care trusts
• Online application system available

For Twice Yearly Grants (Older Ladies):

• Applications through support workers or by contacting the charity directly for assistance
• Re-applications required for each distribution cycle
• New applications due by 15 March (Spring) or 15 September (Autumn)
• Re-applications due by 28 February (Spring) or 31 August (Autumn)

Decision Timeline

Emergency Grants: 2-4 weeks (assessed in date order)

Organisational Grants: Funding decisions made and distributed in late May/early June (Spring) and end of November/beginning of December (Autumn)

Notification: All grant applications are acknowledged promptly and all applicants are notified of the outcome

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, the charity notes that they receive more applications than they have funds for and therefore are not able to assist in every case. Due to high numbers of applications and limited funding, there are some items they are unable to consider.

Reapplication Policy

After Unsuccessful Applications: Applicants may reapply in subsequent funding rounds. If follow-up queries are not responded to within four weeks, applications are automatically withdrawn and applicants must re-apply.

For Successful Applicants (Twice Yearly Grants): Recipients must complete a short re-application for each subsequent distribution to continue receiving grants.

The charity notes that “the decision whether to award a grant is at the discretion of the Trustees of the Charity and there is no guarantee that a grant will be made.”

Application Success Factors

Key Requirements:

• Exhaust all possible support from public funds before applying
• Provide complete information including correct contact details for potential site visits
• Read guidelines and Privacy Notice in full before applying
• Allow sufficient time (applications assessed in date order)
• Contact the charity if no response received within four weeks

Geographic Requirement: All beneficiaries must be within 60 miles of Birmingham Town Hall

For Twice Yearly Grants to Older Ladies, Specific Eligibility:

• Must live alone (widowed, divorced, separated, or single)
• Must be in receipt of State Pension and/or Pension Credit
• Must have lived in qualifying area for at least 5 years
• Income must be less than £250 per week
• Savings must be less than £10,000
• Must have a bank, building society, or post office account in their sole name capable of accepting BACS payments

Types of Projects They Support:

The charity has previously funded uniformed groups, groups supporting disadvantaged children, organisations providing holidays for children, and services supporting young people with learning or physical difficulties.

Important Notes:

• They can normally only assist with one item per successful emergency grant application
• First-time organisational applicants are likely to receive a site visit
• Applications are assessed in date order
• Use the online application system for fastest processing

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Specificity is Critical: Ensure all beneficiaries are within 60 miles of Birmingham Town Hall and can demonstrate this clearly
• Meet Fixed Deadlines: Organisational grants operate on a strict twice-yearly cycle (15 March and 15 September) - missing these means waiting months for the next cycle
• Exhaust Public Funding First: The charity explicitly requires that all possible public funding support has been exhausted before they will consider an application
• Prepare for Site Visits: First-time applicants should expect a potential site visit, so ensure contact details are accurate and staff are prepared to host trustees
• Manage Expectations on Grant Size: Grants typically range from £200-£1,000, with larger amounts rarely offered - don't request amounts outside this range
• Apply Through Proper Channels: Individual applications must come through recognised referring organisations, not directly from beneficiaries
• Use Online Applications: The charity states online applications are “the quickest and easiest way” - prioritise this method over postal applications
• Understand Competition: The charity receives more applications than they can fund, so applications must clearly demonstrate strong alignment with priorities and compelling need

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• P F Charitable Trust
• THE EVESON TRUST
• Souter Charitable Trust
• Welsh Government
• THE LINBURY TRUST
• AKO Foundation
• Charity of Sir Richard Whittington
• The National Garden Scheme
• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
• The Albert Hunt Trust
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY
• The John Armitage Charitable Trust
• THE ZOCHONIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• Copley May Foundation
• THE BARTLE FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE FOYLE FOUNDATION
• THE TOLKIEN TRUST
• THE CONSTANCE TRAVIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE SYNCONA FOUNDATION

References

• Homepage: https://www.barondavenportscharity.org/
• Organisation Grants Guidelines: https://www.barondavenportscharity.org/organisation-grants-guidelines
• Emergency Grants Guidelines: https://www.barondavenportscharity.org/emergency-grants-guidelines
• Twice Yearly Grants Guidelines: https://www.barondavenportscharity.org/twice-yearly-grants-older-ladies-guidelines
• About page: https://www.barondavenportscharity.org/about-baron-davenports-charity
• Who Can Apply: https://www.barondavenportscharity.org/who-can-apply-grants

1. Charity Commission Register - Baron Davenport's Charity (217307): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/217307

1. Get Grants - Baron Davenport's Charity profile: https://www.getgrants.org.uk/baron-davenports-charity/

1. Find that Charity - Baron Davenport's Charity: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-217307