Castle Cavendish Foundation

Charity Number: 1119003

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £455,000+
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified (simplified application process for quick response)
  • Grant Range: Small grants available (specific amounts vary by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Nottingham (primarily Radford, Hyson Green, Arboretum, Castle wards, plus Basford, The Meadows, and other Nottingham areas)

Contact Details

Website: www.castlecavendish.org.uk

Email: info@castlecavendish.org.uk

Phone: 0115 964 8351

Address: Castle Cavendish Works, Dorking Road, Nottingham

Area Partnerships Manager: Van Henry

Overview

Castle Cavendish Foundation (Charity Number: 1119003) was established as a charitable organization supporting the vibrant communities of Radford and Hyson Green in Nottingham. Operating as a certified social enterprise with over 15 years of experience, the foundation is committed to long-term regeneration, reinvesting proceeds from its £2.8m property portfolio into better services, infrastructure, and quality of life for local communities. As the Lead Organisation appointed by Nottingham City Council for Area 4, Castle Cavendish distributes area-based grants and invests over £455,000 annually in community projects. The foundation's total income for 2024 was £1,093,208, with total expenditure of £1,169,246 on charitable activities. Their vision is to help create a better Nottingham where places and spaces thrive.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Holiday Activity & Food Programme: Over £300,000 annually supporting children and young people through holiday provision including healthy meals and enriching activities for those eligible for free school meals.

Area-Based Grants: Distributed on behalf of Nottingham City Council to community and voluntary sector organizations across nine areas of Nottingham including Basford, Hyson Green, Radford, The Meadows, Arboretum, and Castle wards.

Small Grants Programme: Simplified application process designed to provide seed funding to grassroots groups. Historical examples include £80,000-£82,000 made available for community projects.

Locally Identified Needs Grants: Supporting delivery partners across the area with grants ranging historically from £14,000 to £26,000 per ward area.

Application methods: Online via Castle Cavendish website; rolling basis with streamlined process to respond quickly to local needs.

Priority Areas

  • Children and Young People: Play and youth provision, youth clubs, sports activities, educational support, dance classes, mentoring, and summer activity programs
  • Tackling Loneliness and Isolation: Community reconnection initiatives post-pandemic
  • Food Insecurity: Food parcel delivery services and community meal programs
  • Digital Inclusion: Supporting communities with technology access and skills
  • Employment and Training: Schemes to support unemployed people and advance education and training
  • Active and Healthy Lifestyles: Programs through Haydn Road Sportsground
  • Community Heritage Projects: Working with residents to deliver local heritage initiatives
  • Capacity Building: Increasing capability of voluntary and community sector organizations

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly listed, but the foundation focuses on organizations serving their geographic areas (Nottingham communities, particularly Area 4 wards).

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Jay - Vice-Chair (appointed 25 July 2019, became Vice-Chair 15 November 2023). Previously led his own creative agency and co-founded UNiDAYS in Nottingham, playing a crucial role in scaling it to the top-10 fastest growing tech companies in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100. Currently Founder and Director at Bold Perspective (Limited).

Natalie (appointed 15 November 2023) - Volunteering Partner for national homelessness charity Crisis, leading on engagement and communication.

Zane - Senior marketing professional with experience leading marketing programmes across Europe and the Middle East in global market-leading businesses.

Andrew - Runs a management consultancy providing support to the healthcare sector, previously held positions in the NHS, holds a PhD on promoting gender equality in management positions.

The foundation has 9 trustees in total. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

Staff

The foundation employs 13 people, with one employee earning between £60,000-£70,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are available through the Castle Cavendish website at www.castlecavendish.org.uk. The foundation emphasizes a “very simple and straightforward” application process with “as much of the red tape as possible” stripped away.

Contact the Area Partnerships Manager, Van Henry, for guidance on applications.

Decision Timeline

The foundation states they aim to “respond quickly to meet local needs” with their streamlined process, though specific timeframes are not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. Historical data shows the foundation worked with 16 delivery partners in 2014/15 (increased from 8 previously) and engaged over 600 young people with 40,000 hours of supported activity at a cost of £1.39 per person per hour. In 2015/16, all but one provider “successfully passed their performance review.”

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available. Contact the foundation directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Simplified Process: Castle Cavendish explicitly states they have stripped away red tape to enable quick responses to local needs. This suggests they value practical, straightforward applications over bureaucratic complexity.

Seed Funding Approach: The foundation describes their grants as “seed funding” designed to allow grassroots groups to develop ideas and grow. This indicates they're open to supporting early-stage initiatives.

Holistic Support Model: Beyond financial grants, Castle Cavendish offers comprehensive support including:

  • Planning and promoting events
  • Ensuring groups have proper policies and procedures
  • Identifying and connecting to other support networks
  • Encouraging volunteer recruitment
  • Staff training

Geographic Focus: Priority is given to organizations serving the Radford, Hyson Green, Arboretum, and Castle ward areas, as well as other Nottingham communities.

Recent Funded Projects Examples:

  • Growing Forward: Continued service delivery support (2023)
  • Mesopotamia charity shop in Basford: Community launderette creation and food parcel delivery van
  • Multiple youth clubs, sports activities, and educational support programs across Nottingham wards

Performance Expectations: The foundation conducts performance reviews of funded providers, indicating they expect accountability and results from grant recipients.

Partnership Working: As the Lead Organisation for Nottingham City Council's Area 4 grants, Castle Cavendish values organizations that can work collaboratively with local authority and community partners.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic alignment is critical - Castle Cavendish focuses specifically on Nottingham communities, particularly Radford, Hyson Green, Arboretum, and Castle wards
  • Streamlined applications are valued - The foundation prioritizes simplicity and quick response times over complex bureaucracy, so keep applications clear and concise
  • Think beyond just money - Leverage their holistic support model including training, planning support, and network connections
  • Focus on children and young people - This is a primary funding priority with significant investment (£300,000+ in HAF programme alone)
  • Demonstrate community need - Priority areas include loneliness/isolation, food insecurity, and digital inclusion
  • Be prepared for performance monitoring - The foundation conducts reviews to ensure funded activities are delivering results
  • Start small to grow - The seed funding approach suggests they support grassroots groups to develop and expand over time

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