Boots Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £451,160 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2-4 months
• Grant Range: £100 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (with 50% allocated to Nottinghamshire)
• Average Grants per Year: Approximately 50

Contact Details

Website: https://www.boots-uk.com/environmental-social-governance/what-we-do/caring-for-healthier-communities/boots-charitable-trust/

Email:

• Bootscharitabletrust@cafonline.org
• feelgoodworks@boots.co.uk

Phone: 0115 959 1285

Registered Office: 1 Thane Road West, Nottingham

Charity Number: 1045927

Overview

Established in 1970, the Boots Charitable Trust is an independent registered charity wholly funded by Boots UK Ltd. Since its founding, the Trust has donated over £10 million to important causes, primarily supporting communities in its home base of Nottinghamshire. The Trust funds charities and voluntary organisations working in the areas of health, lifelong learning, community development, and social care. With an annual income of £491,023 and expenditure of £451,160 (2024), the Trust averages approximately 50 grants per year. In 2023, the Trust expanded its reach from Nottinghamshire to across the UK, though it maintains its commitment to its hometown by allocating 50% of its funding to projects supporting Nottinghamshire. The Trust is currently reviewing its funding strategy for FY25 and FY26 following unprecedented interest and application volumes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: £100 - £10,000

• Available to registered charities and small voluntary organisations
• Applications accepted quarterly through online portal
• Four application windows per year
• Organisations with income/expenditure under £5,000 per year can apply for up to £5,000 (even if not registered with Charity Commission)

Priority Areas

1. Health

• Community healthcare
• Homecare or support for sufferers of medical conditions
• Health education and prevention initiatives

2. Lifelong Learning

• Local literacy projects
• Numeracy projects

3. Community Development

• Supporting councils in providing voluntary services
• Community activities and schemes

4. Social Care

• Personal, social or community activities
• Community care schemes

Cross-Cutting Priority: A particular focus within each priority area is how projects demonstrate a commitment to improving diversity, equality and inclusion within the community.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Organisations that are not registered charities (with income/expenditure over £5,000 per year)
• Organisations with reserves or income over £1 million
• Redistributive charities seeking funds to redistribute to other charities
• Projects for which there is a legal statutory obligation
• Large building or construction projects (although minor structural improvements and refurbishments would be considered)
• Projects with ongoing maintenance costs that would be dependent on Boots Charitable Trust funding for delivery to continue

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by a board of seven trustees, none of whom receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The board meets quarterly in January, April, July, and October to review nominations.

Current Trustees (as of 2025):

• Andrew Richard Thompson - Secretary (appointed October 2015)
• Michael John Benford - Director (appointed October 2023)
• Rebecca Louise Hitchings - Director (appointed June 2025)
• Jennifer Elizabeth Moffat - Director (appointed October 2023)
• Jenny Ann Rose - Director (appointed June 2025)
• Kyle John Rowe - Director (appointed November 2025)
• Beneeta Shah - Director (appointed November 2022)
• Adam Sebastian Wiles - Director (appointed November 2025)

Previous leadership included Lucy Reynolds, Vice President and Director of Communications, CSR and Sustainability, who served as Chair.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: Applications are currently closed. The Trust is reviewing its funding strategy for FY25 and FY26 following unprecedented interest and high application volumes. Updates about reopening will be posted on the Trust's website.

When Applications Reopen:

• Apply through online portal: https://www2.grantrequest.co.uk/application.aspx?sid=53&fid=35868
• Four quarterly application windows per year
• Applications only accepted during the quarterly windows
• Example window: 21 November - 19 December (for Nottinghamshire projects)

Funding Can Cover: Most expenditure items, including salary and running costs.

Decision Timeline

• Applications reviewed quarterly by board of trustees
• Trustee meetings held quarterly (January, April, July, October)
• Typical timeframe: 2-4 months from submission to decision
• Approximately 2-month gap between application deadline and trustee meeting
• Example: Applications submitted 21 November - 19 December 2025 would be reviewed at February 2025 trustee meeting

Success Rates

The Trust does not publicly disclose specific success rates or total application numbers. However, the Trust averages approximately 50 grants per year. In recent years, the Trust has experienced “unprecedented interest” and “significant volumes of applications,” leading to a temporary closure to review strategy.

Reapplication Policy

Organisations can only reapply after 12 months from the date of the last donation or rejection. This means unsuccessful applicants must wait a full year before submitting another application.

Application Success Factors

Matched Funding: The Trust likes to see evidence that applicants have sought and secured matched funding for their project. This demonstrates broader support and sustainability for the proposed work.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion: Applications should clearly demonstrate how projects show a commitment to improving diversity, equality and inclusion within the community. This is a particular focus across all priority areas.

Strategic Alignment: Ensure your project fits clearly within one or more of the four priority areas (health, lifelong learning, community development, social care). Be specific about how your work aligns with the Trust's definitions of these categories.

Grant Size Appropriateness: The Trust encourages applications from organisations where grants of up to £10,000 can make the biggest impact. Consider how the requested amount will make a significant difference to your work.

Financial Eligibility: Be clear about your organisation's financial status:

• If you're a registered charity, ensure reserves/income don't exceed £1 million
• If you're an unregistered organisation, confirm income/expenditure is under £5,000 and apply for no more than £5,000

Nottinghamshire Connection: While the Trust now funds UK-wide, 50% of funding is allocated to Nottinghamshire projects. Organisations based in or serving Nottinghamshire communities may have enhanced prospects.

Sustainability: Avoid projects with ongoing maintenance costs dependent on continued Trust funding. Demonstrate how the project will be sustained beyond the grant period.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Wait for Reopening: Applications are currently closed while the Trust reviews its strategy. Monitor the website for updates on reopening dates.
• Demonstrate Impact: With grants averaging 50 per year and high application volumes, emphasise where up to £10,000 can make the biggest difference to your work.
• Match Funding Matters: Secure and evidence matched funding before applying - this is explicitly valued by the Trust.
• DEI is Central: Don't treat diversity, equality and inclusion as an afterthought - demonstrate genuine commitment across your project design.
• Time Your Application: With four quarterly windows, plan ahead to submit during the appropriate window and factor in 2-4 months for decision-making.
• 12-Month Rule: If unsuccessful, you must wait a full year before reapplying, so make your application count.
• Geographic Strategy: If based in Nottinghamshire, emphasise local community impact; if elsewhere in UK, recognise you're competing for the remaining 50% of funds.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE JONES 1986 CHARITABLE TRUST
• J N Derbyshire Trust
• Dunn Family Charitable Trust
• The Charles Littlewood Hill Trust
• LILIAN FRANCES HIND BEQUEST (TRUSTEES OF LADY HIND)
• The Thomas Farr Charity
• Sir John Eastwood Foundation
• Star Trust (East Midlands) Ltd
• The Jessie Spencer Trust
• THE DROMINTEE TRUST

References

1. Boots UK - Boots Charitable Trust official page: https://www.boots-uk.com/environmental-social-governance/what-we-do/caring-for-healthier-communities/boots-charitable-trust/

1. Charity Commission - Boots Charitable Trust (1045927): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1045927

1. Companies House - Boots Charitable Trust Officers: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03039665/officers

1. Supporting Communities - “Boots Charitable Trust Extends Grants Programme to Support Local Communities across the UK”: https://supportingcommunities.org/funding-news-1/2024/1/18/boots-charitable-trust-extends-grants-programme-to-support-local-communities-across-the-uk

1. Nottingham CVS - “Funding for local charities from Boots Charitable Trust”: https://www.nottinghamcvs.co.uk/news-and-events/news-articles/funding-local-charities-boots-charitable-trust

1. Boots Charitable Trust Giving Policy: https://www.boots-uk.com/media/6440/bct_giving_policy_may2023.pdf

1. Multiple CVS and funding directory sources confirming eligibility criteria, application process, and funding priorities