Boost Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~£165,000 - £244,000 (based on recent years)
• Success Rate: Not disclosed (receive many more applications than they can fund)
• Decision Time: Up to 3 months
• Grant Range: £750 (Small Awards) to £12,000 (Large Awards typically £2,000 - £7,000)
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom (with some international work in Eswatini)

Contact Details

• Website: www.boostct.org
• Email: sarah.johnson@boostct.org
• Phone: 020 7078 1966
• Address: 5 St Bride Street, London EC4A 4AS
• Contact for Applications: Sarah Johnson

Overview

The Boost Charitable Trust (BOOST stands for “Building On Overlooked Sporting Talent”) was established in 2005 as a grant-giving charity with a mission to “fund and support inspiring programmes which help improve the lives of the disabled and disadvantaged through the power of sport.” Since inception, Boost has supported hundreds of organisations with grants totalling in excess of £2.7 million, with the majority focused within the United Kingdom.

The Trust believes that “sport is for everyone” and aims to work with individuals of all ages, races, colours, creeds and physical abilities to help them “fulfil their sporting ambitions, at any level.” Their grants have engaged with 75 different sports, demonstrating breadth of support across the sporting landscape. The Trust also maintains two longstanding programmes in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), a landlocked country in Southern Africa.

For the financial year ending September 2024, the charity reported total income of £254,974 and total expenditure of £244,088. In 2023, the Trust awarded 47 grants totalling £165,418.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Awards (up to £750)

• Considered through a shorter, expedited review process
• Suitable for smaller projects or initial funding

Large Awards (over £750)

• Considered by the full trustee body at the next trustee meeting
• Most recent Large Awards have been in the range of £2,000 to £7,000
• Maximum grants up to £12,000 have been awarded (e.g., to All out Africa/Eswatini in 2023)

Priority Areas

Boost focuses on five spheres of disadvantage:

1. Physical and Learning Disabilities - Supporting individuals with physical or cognitive challenges
2. Financial Hardship - Helping those facing economic barriers to sports participation
3. Mental Health - Using sport as a tool for mental wellbeing
4. Social Exclusion - Addressing isolation and community disconnection
5. Medical Research and Relief - Supporting medical aspects related to sport and disability

The Trust looks for:

• Real passion for improving people's lives through sport
• Clear evidence of disability or disadvantage and how the project addresses that need
• Genuine need for funding
• Longer-term impact potential
• Projects where Boost is a principal funder

What They Don't Fund

• Building or renovation projects
• Expensive equipment purchases (personalized equipment)
• International tournament travel
• Grants outside the UK (except in rare cases)
• Individual applicants (except in exceptional circumstances, and all applications must be supported by a non-profit organisation)
• Core funding

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (5 total)

• Robert Ian Houston - Chairman of Trustees
• Oliver Bartrum
• Alurie Maye Dutton
• Susan Gardner (appointed 22 April 2025)
• Richard Anthony Allcroft (appointed 18 July 2025)

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust is governed by a Trust Deed dated 30 September 2005.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This is a rolling programme with no fixed deadlines - applications may be submitted at any time by email or post. There is no formal application form.

Application Requirements:

Submit a letter to Sarah Johnson (sarah.johnson@boostct.org), limited to two sides of A4 paper maximum, including:

1. Organisation Details: Name of your organisation, what you do, and who your beneficiaries are
2. Project Description: Details of the project and why you need support
3. Criteria Alignment: How your project meets each of Boost's positive criteria (passion for sport, evidence of disadvantage, genuine need, long-term impact, Boost as principal funder)
4. Budget Information: The amount of funding requested together with a detailed budget

Decision Timeline

• Small Awards (up to £750): Considered through a shorter expedited process
• Large Awards (over £750): Considered by the full trustee body at the next trustee meeting
• The trustees aim to make a formal decision within three months
• Response time may take up to 2 months

Success Rates

The Trust does not publish specific success rates. However, they explicitly state: “Unfortunately, the Trust receives many more requests for funding than they are able to support, and they regret that they have to turn down many good proposals even though they meet their criteria.”

Due to high application volumes, the Trust is unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Reapplication Policy

If your initial application is successful for a small award (up to £500), your proposal may be discussed at the following Trustee meeting, with a potential meeting arranged to find out more about your organisation with a view to a larger grant being awarded. However, even if your proposal goes before the Trustees, there is no guarantee of success.

Application Success Factors

Based on Boost's published criteria, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Genuine passion for sport-based social improvement - Show authentic commitment to using sport to transform lives
2. Clear evidence of disability or disadvantage - Explicitly explain how beneficiaries face challenges and how your project addresses their specific needs
3. Legitimate financial need - Demonstrate why external funding is necessary and that other options have been explored
4. Potential for long-term impact - Show how the project creates sustainable change, not just a one-off benefit
5. Boost as principal funder - They prefer to be a primary funding source rather than a minor contributor to larger projects
6. Well-defined, specific projects - Avoid vague proposals; be concrete about activities, timelines, and outcomes

What to avoid:

• Applications exceeding two A4 pages
• Requests for building work, expensive equipment, or international travel
• Applications from individuals without non-profit support
• Vague or unfocused project descriptions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Keep it concise: Applications must be no more than two A4 pages - this is strictly enforced. Be clear and focused.
• Start small: Consider applying for a Small Award (up to £750) first to establish a relationship; this may lead to larger grants later.
• Sport is central: Your project must use sport as the vehicle for change - this is non-negotiable for Boost funding.
• Address the five areas: Clearly show how your project relates to one or more of their five focus areas (disabilities, financial hardship, mental health, social exclusion, medical research).
• Be a principal funder: Boost prefers projects where they are the main funder, not just one of many contributors.
• Expect competition: They receive far more applications than they can fund, so make your case compelling and unique.
• Rolling applications: No deadlines means you can apply when ready, but allow up to 3 months for a decision.

References

• Boost Charitable Trust Official Website -
• Boost Charitable Trust - Get Involved Page - Application guidance
• Charity Commission Register - BOOST CHARITABLE TRUST 1111961 - Financial data and trustee information
• Charity Commission Full Details - Complete charity record
• Devon Funding News - Boost Charitable Trust - Grant information
• Support Staffordshire - Boost Charitable Trust - Application details
• Active Together - Boost Charitable Trust - Funding criteria
• PAVO - The Boost Charitable Trust - Grant history and statistics