Bird Song Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £2.5m - £4m
• Success Rate: Not currently accepting applications
• Decision Time: Not yet established
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: UK and Netherlands
• Application Status: Launching programmes in late autumn 2025

Contact Details

• Website: https://birdsongtrust.org.uk/
• Email: hello@birdsongtrust.org.uk
• Phone: 020 7203 5000 (also listed as 020 7099 5419)
• Address: We Work, 30 Churchill Place, London E14 5RE

Overview

Bird Song Trust (charity number 1191572) is a recently-established family foundation founded in 2020 by a Dutch family living in the UK. Previously known as the Vogelgezang Charitable Trust, the organization hired its first staff member in 2024 to run day-to-day operations. The trust awards grants totaling between £2.5 million and £4 million annually, with significant room to grow. In the financial year ending April 2025, the trust had total income of £1.66 million (primarily from investments) and charitable expenditure of £1.34 million. The foundation is motivated by the founders' strong Christian faith and focuses on two primary areas: advancing understanding and treatment of eating disorders, and supporting families to break cycles of deprivation. The trust works closely with the Vogelgezang Foundation in the Netherlands and has already made significant contributions to eating disorder research through partnerships with organizations like the Medical Research Foundation and Beat.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust has two main funding streams:

1. Eating Disorders Programme

• Focus on research, campaigns, and researcher development
• Supports development of treatments and therapeutic interventions for eating disorders (including anorexia nervosa)
• Funds organizations primarily in the Netherlands and UK
• Has contributed to Medical Research Foundation's Launchpad Grants programme (over £700,000 total investment across 8 projects)
• Supports school-based prevention resources and early intervention initiatives

2. Deprivation Programme

• Funds organizations supporting and strengthening families
• Tackles homelessness
• Equips young people for valuable roles in society
• Many funded projects have Christian organizational connections
• Focus on breaking cycles of deprivation

3. Arts & Culture (Limited)

• Advancement of education and learning through scholarship in early Judeo-Christian art and culture and its impact on European society

Priority Areas

Eating Disorders:

• Research into triggers, causes, and common characteristics of eating disorders
• Development of person-centered prevention and treatment
• Campaigns to raise awareness and improve understanding
• Researcher development and capacity building
• Partnerships with eating disorder charities like Beat

Family Support & Deprivation:

• Organizations that support thriving families
• Homelessness prevention and support services
• Youth development and preparation for employment/community roles
• Faith-based organizations working in these areas

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not yet published, but based on their stated priorities:

• Organizations outside the UK and Netherlands (except for arts/culture scholarship)
• Projects unrelated to eating disorders, family support, homelessness, or early Christian art and culture
• Individual applications (organizational focus)

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Governance and Leadership

The trust has 6 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The organization employs 2 staff members as of 2024. Specific names and backgrounds of trustees have not been publicly disclosed.

The trust operates with a hybrid work model centered around Canary Wharf in London. Job postings indicate a genuine occupational requirement that certain staff members are practicing Christians, reflecting the faith-based values that motivate the founders.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: Bird Song Trust is not currently accepting unsolicited grant applications. The trust plans to publish details of their programmes and application processes in late autumn 2025 on their website.

Getting on Their Radar

Since the trust does not currently have a public application process, consider these approaches:

• Monitor their website: Check birdsongtrust.org.uk for programme launch announcements expected in late autumn 2025
• Medical Research Foundation partnership: The trust has demonstrated willingness to fund through established intermediary organizations like the Medical Research Foundation. Organizations working on eating disorder research may benefit from applying through such partnerships
• Beat partnership: The trust has supported Beat (UK eating disorders charity) campaigns and research initiatives. Organizations in the eating disorders sector may wish to explore collaborative opportunities with Beat
• Faith connections: Given the Christian faith motivation of the founders and their preference for many funded projects to have Christian organizational connections, organizations with faith-based backgrounds working on homelessness and family support may wish to ensure they're on the trust's radar once applications open

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines have not yet been established as the trust is still developing its formal grant programmes. The organization hired its first staff member in 2024 and is in the process of building operational capacity.

Success Rates

Not yet available as the trust has not opened to public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not yet established. Information will likely be available when programmes launch in late autumn 2025.

Application Success Factors

While the trust has not yet published detailed application guidance, the following insights can be drawn from their current activities and stated priorities:

For Eating Disorders Projects:

• Research focus: The trust values projects that “build a greater understanding of these conditions, of the triggers and causes” of eating disorders
• Researcher development: They support building research capacity, not just individual projects. The Medical Research Foundation partnership specifically aims to help researchers “build their networks, acting as a launchpad to securing larger funding in the future”
• Prevention emphasis: The trust has supported school-based prevention resources that are “user-friendly” and “flexible,” suggesting they value practical, accessible interventions
• Partnership approach: Working through established organizations (Medical Research Foundation, Beat) suggests they value credible partnerships
• Person-centered approaches: Dr. Marie-Christine Opitz, a researcher they supported, emphasized “person-centred eating disorder prevention and treatment,” indicating this is a valued approach

For Deprivation/Family Support Projects:

• Breaking cycles: The founders are “passionate about seeing thriving families equipped to break cycles of deprivation” - demonstrating long-term impact beyond immediate relief
• Youth focus: Projects that “equip young people” for “valuable roles in society” align with their priorities
• Christian connections: “Many projects have Christian organizational connections,” though this is not an absolute requirement
• Comprehensive family support: They value organizations that “support and strengthen families” holistically

Strategic Positioning:

• The trust awards between £2.5m-£4m annually “with room to grow,” suggesting they may be open to larger, ambitious projects
• They are in an expansion phase, having just hired staff in 2024, which could mean opportunities for organizations to help shape their programmes
• Their work spans UK and Netherlands, indicating comfort with international (European) partnerships

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Wait for programme launch: Do not submit unsolicited applications now. Monitor their website for programme announcements in late autumn 2025
• Faith-motivated but not exclusive: While Christian faith motivates the founders and many funded projects have Christian connections, this is not an absolute requirement for all grants
• Dual focus areas: Position projects clearly within either eating disorders OR family deprivation/homelessness - these are distinct programmes
• Research and practice: For eating disorders work, they fund both research and service delivery, with emphasis on building understanding and capacity
• Long-term impact: Demonstrate how your work breaks cycles and creates lasting change for families and young people
• Consider intermediary routes: Until direct applications open, explore whether organizations like Medical Research Foundation or Beat might provide partnership routes to funding
• Significant resources: With £2.5m-£4m annual giving and room to grow, this is a substantial funder worth building a relationship with for the long term

References

• Bird Song Trust website: https://birdsongtrust.org.uk/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1191572
• Medical Research Foundation: “New launchpad grants to address alarming rise of severe eating disorders” https://www.medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk/news/new-launchpad-grants-to-address-alarming-rise-of-severe-eating-disorders
• Giving is Great Charity Factsheet: https://www.givingisgreat.org.uk/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1191572