Billericay Round Table Charitable Trust Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £111,467 (financial year ending 31 March 2024)
• Recent Donations: £44,000 to 31 local causes (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Assume unsuccessful if no response within 6 weeks
• Grant Range: Varies (£2,000 documented for specific projects)
• Geographic Focus: Billericay and surrounding areas in Essex

Contact Details

Address: C/o BBW CVS, The George Hurd Centre, Audley Way, Basildon, Essex SS14 2FL

Alternative Address: 34a Stock Road, Billericay, CM12 0BE

Phone: 01277 623155

Email:

• General enquiries: chairman@billericayroundtable.co.uk
• Funding applications: funding@billericayroundtable.co.uk

Website: www.billericayroundtable.co.uk

Funding Page: www.billericayroundtable.co.uk/funding.html

Overview

Billericay Round Table Charitable Trust Fund (registered charity 1050363, founded 2 November 1995) is a local grant-making charity operated by Billericay Round Table, a social club for men aged 18-45 in Essex. With total income of £123,243 and expenditure of £111,467 in the financial year ending 31 March 2024, the charity funds local causes and community projects through major fundraising events including their annual fireworks display at Lake Meadows, which attracts over 15,000 attendees and is recognised as the biggest fireworks display in Essex. The charity is operated by 2 trustees and 50 volunteers, with no employees receiving remuneration. As part of the wider UK Round Table movement, which raises over £3.3 million annually for local charities, Billericay Round Table emphasises having fun while supporting local communities through various events including bonfire nights, beer festivals, and Santa sleigh collections. In recent years, they donated £44,000 to 31 local causes, demonstrating their commitment to grassroots community support across Billericay and surrounding areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Billericay Round Table operates a single grant program for local causes:

• Community Grants: Open funding for special persons or groups in and around Billericay
• Application method: Online funding form or email submission
• Decision-making: Applications reviewed by Round Table members at monthly meetings
• Recent documented grants include £2,000 for toys for Basildon Hospital children's wards

Priority Areas

Based on documented funding activities, the charity supports:

• Healthcare and wellbeing: Hospital equipment and children's services (e.g., toys for Basildon Hospital)
• Community welfare: Support for vulnerable individuals and those facing isolation (e.g., Christmas dinner program for 70+ attendees)
• Local community groups: Clubs, sports organisations, and community projects
• Youth activities: Projects supporting young people and children
• Special needs support: Equipment for disabled children, trips for needy children
• Addiction support: Donations to addiction groups

The charity focuses exclusively on the Billericay area and immediate surroundings in Essex.

What They Don't Fund

The charity's website does not explicitly list exclusions, but the geographic restriction to Billericay and surrounding areas is clear. Each application is reviewed by members at monthly meetings, with decisions made collectively.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 2 trustees (names not publicly disclosed on Charity Commission register)

Volunteers: 50 active volunteers

Historical Leadership:

• Neil Campbell served as Chairman (as of October 2022)
• Gary Tilley served as Media & PR Officer
• Kyle McGill served as Vice-Chairman (mentioned in 2024)

Governance Structure:

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The organisation operates with complete transparency, with all fundraising proceeds reinvested into community donations. Members vote on donations to the local community at their monthly meetings, ensuring democratic decision-making.

Organisational Values:

The charity describes its mission as “Do More, See More, Be More” and emphasises "having fun with a great bunch of mates & supporting local communities." The organisation prides itself on community involvement, personal development, friendship, networking, and leadership skill building.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications for funding must be submitted through one of the following methods:

1. Online Form: Complete the funding form on their website at www.billericayroundtable.co.uk/funding.html
2. Email Submission: Download and complete the attached form, then email to funding@billericayroundtable.co.uk
3. Initial Contact: For enquiries, contact chairman@billericayroundtable.co.uk or call 01277 623155

Application Requirements:

• Must be for a special person or special group in the Billericay area in Essex
• Applications reviewed only by Round Table members
• Applications will not be shared externally
• No specific eligibility restrictions mentioned beyond geographic focus

Decision Timeline

• Review Process: Applications are reviewed at monthly member meetings
• Decision-making: Members vote on donations collectively
• Notification: If you haven't heard back within 6 weeks, you can assume your application was unsuccessful (general Round Table guideline)
• No Formal Notification: The charity does not appear to provide formal rejection letters; silence after 6 weeks indicates an unsuccessful application

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the charity notes that “Round Tables get lots of requests from good causes,” suggesting competitive demand for limited funds. In a recent year, 31 local causes received funding totalling £44,000, suggesting an average grant of approximately £1,400, though individual amounts vary considerably.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented. Applicants who are unsuccessful are advised to assume their application was unsuccessful after 6 weeks and may wish to contact the charity directly about reapplication possibilities.

Application Success Factors

Based on the charity's documented funding activities and organisational ethos, the following factors appear important:

Geographic Alignment:

Applications must demonstrate clear benefit to the Billericay area and immediate surroundings. The charity's focus is exclusively local.

Community Impact:

The charity has funded projects with visible community benefit, particularly those supporting vulnerable individuals (isolated elderly, children in hospital, those with disabilities). Demonstrating how funding will directly impact local residents appears important.

Practical, Tangible Outcomes:

Documented grants have focused on concrete deliverables - toys for children, hampers for Christmas dinners, equipment for disabled children. Applications should clearly articulate what will be purchased or delivered with the funds.

Alignment with Fundraising Values:

The charity emphasises fun, community engagement, and giving back. Projects that resonate with these values - particularly those supporting people who might otherwise go without - appear to align with their approach.

Reasonable Grant Size:

With an average grant of around £1,400 from their recent £44,000 distribution to 31 causes, applications should be realistic about funding amounts. The charity appears to favour spreading funds across multiple beneficiaries rather than making large single grants.

Local Visibility:

Given that members vote on applications at monthly meetings, applications from organisations with local visibility or connection to existing members may benefit. The charity's active involvement in community events (fireworks, Santa sleigh, community markets) suggests they value organisations that are part of the local fabric.

Responsiveness to Immediate Needs:

Examples like providing Christmas dinners for isolated individuals or toys for hospitalised children suggest the charity responds well to applications addressing immediate, pressing community needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic specificity is essential: Only apply if your organisation or beneficiaries are clearly within the Billericay and immediate surrounding area in Essex.

• Keep grant requests modest: With an average of approximately £1,400 per grant based on recent distributions, requests should be realistic and well-justified. The charity prefers to support multiple causes rather than making large single grants.

• Assume silence means rejection: If you haven't heard within 6 weeks, your application was likely unsuccessful. Don't wait indefinitely for a response.

• Emphasise tangible, practical outcomes: The charity has funded concrete items like toys, hampers, and equipment. Be specific about what you'll purchase or deliver with their funding.

• Demonstrate community benefit: Show how your project will directly impact local residents, particularly vulnerable groups like children, elderly, disabled, or those facing isolation.

• Applications are peer-reviewed: Your application will be read and voted on by Round Table members aged 18-45 at their monthly meetings. Write in an accessible, engaging style that will resonate with this demographic.

• Leverage local connections: If you have existing connections to Round Table members or have participated in their community events, this may help your application. The charity values being part of the local community fabric.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Round Table Charitable Trust Fund
• Great Dunmow and District Round Table Charitable Trust
• Ilkley and District Round Table
• THE TOWN LANDS
• Charles S French Charitable Trust
• The Geoffrey Watling Charity
• THE HARLOW HEALTH CENTRES TRUST LIMITED
• FOWLER SMITH AND JONES TRUST
• The Stevenage Community Trust
• Sir John Evelyn's Charity

References

• Charity Commission Register - Billericay Round Table Charitable Trust Fund, Charity Number 1050363. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1050363

• Billericay Round Table Official Website - Funding Page. https://www.billericayroundtable.co.uk/funding.html

• Billericay Round Table Official Website - About Us. https://www.billericayroundtable.co.uk/aboutus.html

• Billericay Round Table Official Website - Homepage. https://www.billericayroundtable.co.uk/

• CommunityAd - “Billericay Round Table donates £44,000 to 31 local causes.” https://www.communityad.co.uk/exclusives/billericay-round-table-donates-44000-to-31-local-causes/

• Round Table Great Britain and Ireland - Table Finder and Funding Guidelines. https://www.roundtable.co.uk/

• Funding Scotland - Round Table Great Britain and Ireland Profile. https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000000Ng84EAC/round-table-great-britain-and-ireland

• Billericay Fireworks Official Website. https://billericayfireworks.co.uk/