Benny Walker Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1189443

Annual Expenditure: £2.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2,944,263 (FY ending March 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Significant multi-year grants (£1.4 million+ over 5 years)
  • Geographic Focus: Cumbria, particularly Allerdale and Copeland

Contact Details

Charity Number: 1189443

Phone: 1900823547

Website: Not publicly available

Email: Not publicly available

Note: The trust does not appear to have a public website or openly advertised application process. Contact through the phone number provided or via the Charity Commission register.

Overview

The Benny Walker Charitable Trust is a UK-registered charity (established 2020, charity number 1189443) focused exclusively on the Cumbria region. With total expenditure of £2.94 million in the financial year ending March 2024, the trust makes substantial, transformational grants to organizations working in music education, civil engineering education, heritage conservation, and youth development. The trust operates with 2 trustees, no paid staff, and derives its income from donations and investment returns (£1.88 million total income in 2023-24). The trust is known for making large, multi-year commitments including “the most significant philanthropic donation” ever received by the Royal Northern College of Music, demonstrating a strategic approach to creating lasting impact in targeted communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust makes substantial grants typically structured as multi-year commitments:

  • Multi-Year Strategic Grants: £1.4 million+ over 5 years for transformational projects
  • Heritage Conservation: Significant contributions toward capital appeals (e.g., church organ restoration)
  • Youth Programs: Five-year commitments supporting 300+ young people annually

The trust appears to favor large-scale, multi-year partnerships over smaller one-off grants, focusing on projects with measurable long-term impact.

Priority Areas

Music Education in Cumbria

  • Music education programs for children and young people under 18
  • Professional development for music teachers
  • Access to world-class tuition regardless of background
  • Partnership programs with nationally recognized institutions

Civil Engineering Education

  • Promotion of civil engineering education in Cumbria
  • Youth engagement with engineering careers

Heritage & Religious Buildings

  • Conservation and preservation of buildings of religious, historic, or architectural importance
  • Carlisle Cathedral and churches in Allerdale and Copeland
  • Restoration of significant cultural assets (pipe organs, historic structures)

Young People in Allerdale and Copeland

  • Programs for 15-18 year olds not in education, employment, or training (NEET)
  • Outreach in Workington, Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, Frizington, and surrounding areas
  • Vocational training and skills development
  • Community social action initiatives with business mentorship
  • Supports at least 300 young people annually through funded programs

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the trust's charitable objects clearly limit funding to:

  • Projects based in or benefiting Cumbria only (particularly Allerdale and Copeland)
  • The specific areas of music education, civil engineering education, heritage conservation, and youth development

Projects outside these geographic or thematic boundaries are unlikely to be considered.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 2 trustees (names not publicly disclosed in available sources)

Staff: No employees with benefits over £60,000

Remuneration: No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity

Leadership Quotes:

Rhiannon McKay-Smith (RNCM Director of Development) stated about the trust's RNCM grant: “We are so thankful to have received what is the most significant philanthropic donation the RNCM has received in recent history.”

Professor Jennie Henley (RNCM) noted: “This funding will enable us to increase the impact of this work, addressing barriers to musical education.”

Father Philip Conner (Our Lady Star of the Sea & St Michael's Church, Workington) expressed gratitude “to the Benny Walker Trust and a number of other very significant donations to the project,” highlighting the trust's role in community-wide heritage projects.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Benny Walker Charitable Trust does not appear to operate an open application process with published guidelines or an online portal. Based on available evidence:

  • No public website or application forms available
  • Contact via phone: 1900823547
  • May operate on an invitation-only or relationship-based model
  • Grant recipients identified include organizations with strong regional presence in Cumbria

Recommendation: Prospective applicants should contact the trust directly by phone to inquire about funding opportunities and application procedures. Given the size and strategic nature of grants awarded, the trust likely engages in detailed discussions with potential partners before committing to multi-year funding.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the scale of multi-year commitments (5-year programs), decision-making likely involves substantial due diligence and may take several months.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of funded projects, the following factors appear critical:

Scale and Transformational Impact

The trust favors projects described as “transformational,” “hugely significant,” and capable of creating lasting change. The RNCM project was called “the most significant philanthropic donation” in the institution's recent history.

Multi-Year Strategic Partnerships

All identified grants are structured as 5-year commitments, suggesting the trust seeks sustainable, long-term impact rather than short-term interventions.

Geographic Specificity

Strong focus on Allerdale and Copeland (now part of Cumberland), particularly towns like Workington, Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, and Frizington. Projects must demonstrate clear benefit to these specific communities.

Partnership and Collaboration

Funded projects involve partnerships between multiple organizations (e.g., RNCM with Cumbria Music Hub, Cumbria Youth Alliance with local businesses). The trust appears to value collaborative approaches.

Reaching Underserved Populations

Projects explicitly address barriers to access—whether in music education (“irrespective of background or personal circumstance”), youth employment (targeting NEET young people), or cultural heritage (community-wide engagement).

Measurable Outcomes

The Breaking Barriers project commits to reaching “at least 300 young people annually”—suggesting the trust values clear, quantifiable impact measures.

Alignment with Charitable Objects

Projects must clearly align with one or more of the trust's specific purposes: music education, civil engineering education, heritage conservation, or youth advancement in targeted geographic areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Think big and long-term: The trust makes substantial multi-year commitments (£1.4 million over 5 years). Proposals should match this strategic, transformational scale.
  • Geographic specificity is essential: Your project must benefit Cumbria, particularly Allerdale and Copeland. Clearly demonstrate local impact in these specific communities.
  • Multi-year partnerships are preferred: Frame proposals as 5-year strategic partnerships rather than one-off projects. Show sustainability beyond initial funding.
  • Focus on access and barriers: Emphasize how your project removes barriers for underserved populations—economically disadvantaged youth, geographically isolated communities, or those lacking access to quality education/cultural resources.
  • Collaborate: Projects involving partnerships between established institutions and local organizations appear strongly favored. Show how you'll work with others.
  • Expect relationship-based grantmaking: Without an open application process, building a relationship with the trust is likely necessary. Direct engagement and alignment with trustees' vision appears key.
  • Measure and report impact: Be prepared to demonstrate clear, quantifiable outcomes (numbers reached, skills gained, barriers overcome).

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