Charities Of Thomas Wade And Others

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £260,000 (approx, based on 2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 3-4 months (depends on grant meeting cycle)
• Grant Range: £300 - £5,000+
• Geographic Focus: Leeds (within pre-1974 city boundaries, roughly LS1-LS17)

Contact Details

Address: 69 Holgate Road, York, YO24 4AA

Phone: 01904 619740 (office) / 01904 702384

Email: info@wadescharity.org

Website: www.wadescharity.org

Pre-application support: Charity Adviser available to discuss potential applications before submission

Overview

The Charities of Thomas Wade and Others is one of Leeds' oldest charitable trusts, established in 1530 during the reign of King Henry VIII by Thomas Wade's will and later enhanced by bequests from Alice Lodge, Henry Ambler, Richard Simpson, and others. With annual expenditure of approximately £260,000, the charity serves a dual mission: providing grants to Leeds-based charities and community groups, and managing significant green spaces including Middleton Park, Gotts Park, Beckett Park, and Gledhow Valley Woods. The charity operates with 16 trustees and maintains a strong commitment to supporting recreational activities and open spaces within the pre-1974 Leeds city boundaries. The trust receives more applications than it can support each year but commits to giving every eligible application a full and fair hearing.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme: £300 maximum

• Administered by Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL)
• Open year-round, subject to fund availability
• Rolling basis - apply when ready
• For organisations with annual income under £10,000
• Application via VAL at www.doinggoodleeds.org.uk

Main Grants Programme: £2,000 - £5,000+ (typical range based on recent awards)

• Considered at trustee meetings in March, July, and November
• Fixed decision dates - apply well in advance
• For larger projects and organisations with higher income
• Direct application to Wade's Charity via email

Priority Areas

Wade's Charity funds projects that meet one or both of their two core charitable objectives:

1. Recreational Facilities: Providing opportunities for recreation, amusement, entertainment, and general social intercourse for citizens of all ages in Leeds
2. Open Spaces: Providing and maintaining open spaces within the pre-1974 Leeds city boundary for the benefit, recreation, or health of Leeds inhabitants

Specific areas funded include:

• Youth groups and holiday playschemes
• Community centres and church halls (capital improvements)
• Arts and cultural activities (dance, theatre, opera)
• Environmental projects and habitat improvements
• Sports and physical activities
• Parent and toddler groups
• Support for people with disabilities and learning difficulties
• Projects in disadvantaged communities (priority consideration)

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations primarily involved in education
• Organisations primarily involved in health
• Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Projects outside the pre-1974 Leeds city boundaries (roughly LS1-LS17 postcodes)
• Individuals (grants only to charitable organisations)
• Projects that have already been completed
• Groups with annual income over £10,000 (Small Grants Programme only)

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Governance and Leadership

Board: 16 Trustees, including:

• John Douglas Pike - Chair (appointed 2012)
• Judith Mary Pike - Trustee
• Councillor Dan Cohen - Trustee
• Rev Paul Maybury - Trustee

The charity operates transparently with no paid trustees and consistently submits annual returns and accounts on time to the Charity Commission. The trustees take their stewardship seriously, going to “considerable lengths to ensure that every appeal for funding within their stated charitable objectives receives a full and fair hearing.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Small Grants Programme (up to £300):

1. Download application form from Voluntary Action Leeds: www.doinggoodleeds.org.uk
2. Complete form with supporting documents
3. Send to: Voluntary Action Leeds, Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street, Hunslet, Leeds LS10 2QW
4. Important: Do NOT send applications directly to Wade's Charity
5. For assistance, contact VAL Project Workers: kaye.wilson@val.org.uk

Main Grants Programme (£2,000+):

1. Optional: Contact Charity Adviser for pre-application discussion (recommended)
2. Email Word document to: info@wadescharity.org
3. Apply well in advance of when funding is needed

Required supporting documents for both programmes:

• Copy of latest bank statement (less than 3 months old)
• Copy of latest signed annual accounts (or budget/cashflow forecast for new organisations)
• Applications cannot be considered without these documents

Decision Timeline

Small Grants: Applications processed on a rolling basis throughout the year; notified “as soon as possible” after review

Main Grants:

• Trustee meetings held in March, July, and November
• Processing takes time - apply as early as possible
• If application meets three key criteria (Area, Activity, Organisation), charity arranges a visit to discuss further
• Some successful grantees receive follow-up visits after grant is awarded

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. However, the charity notes that it receives more applications than it can support each year, indicating competitive selection. The trustees emphasize that all applications within their charitable objectives receive “a full and fair hearing.”

Reapplication Policy

Wade's Charity welcomes reapplications from previously unsuccessful applicants. However:

• The charity does not provide feedback on individual applications due to high volume and desire to minimize administrative costs
• Instead, they encourage applicants to contact the Charity Adviser to discuss future applications before submission
• The charity believes “investing time in clarifying questions about future applications is likely to be more beneficial than discussing previous applications”

Application Success Factors

Based on Wade's own guidance and funded project examples, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Value for Money

All successful applications show they “offer value for money.” Recent awards suggest the charity considers both project scale and community impact:

• £3,000 for Mencap to support multiple groups (siblings, two youth clubs, holiday playschemes)
• £2,000 for 30 weekly youth dance sessions reaching 11-18 year-olds
• £5,000 for environmental improvements benefiting entire communities

2. Responding to Real Need

Applications must demonstrate genuine community need. Successful examples:

• Project Hope's parent and toddler group addresses isolation and supports child development
• SNAPS Superhero Challenge creates “accessible, inclusive events where families can participate without feeling judged”
• Yorkshire Dance builds “creative confidence and technique” for young people in Seacroft

3. Clear Alignment with Objectives

Projects must explicitly explain how they meet one or both charitable objectives (recreation OR open spaces). Strong applications:

• Use the charity's language: “recreational opportunities,” “public open space,” “recreation or health of inhabitants”
• Demonstrate community benefit and accessibility
• Show how activities wouldn't happen without the grant

4. Projects in Disadvantaged Communities

The Small Grants Programme specifically prioritizes “projects working in disadvantaged communities,” suggesting this is a positive factor across all programmes.

5. Capital Support for Community Buildings

"Supporting community buildings including church halls, community centres and such like has been a feature of Wade's grant making for many years and is specified within the Charity scheme" - indicating this is a historical priority area.

6. Complete Documentation

Applications must include required financial documents (bank statement, accounts). Incomplete applications cannot be considered.

7. Early Submission

The charity explicitly advises applying “well in advance” as processing takes time. Don't wait until funding is urgently needed.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic restriction is strict: Only organisations operating within pre-1974 Leeds city boundaries (roughly LS1-LS17) are eligible - confirm your postcode area before applying
• Use the charity's two objectives as your framework: Structure your application explicitly around providing “recreational opportunities” and/or “open spaces” - these are the only fundable purposes
• Demonstrate three things: Every successful application shows value for money, responds to real need, and fulfills a charitable objective
• Don't skip the pre-application conversation: The Charity Adviser is available to discuss proposals before submission - use this resource to strengthen your application
• Small grants have a specific income cap: If your organisation has annual income over £10,000, apply through the Main Grants Programme instead
• Apply early in the cycle: For Main Grants, apply well before the March, July, or November meetings - late applications may be held over to the next cycle
• Unsuccessful applicants should reapply strategically: Rather than requesting feedback, contact the Charity Adviser to discuss how to reshape future applications for better alignment

References

• Wade's Charity official website: https://www.wadescharity.org
• Wade's Charity About page: https://www.wadescharity.org/about-wades-charity/
• Main Grants Programme information: https://www.wadescharity.org/main-grants-programme/
• Small Grants Programme information: https://www.wadescharity.org/small-grants-programme/
• Grant Making overview: https://www.wadescharity.org/grants-making/
• Projects Supported: https://www.wadescharity.org/projects-supported/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=224939
• Doing Good Leeds - Wade's Charity Small Grants: https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/wades-charity-small-grants/
• Charity Commission full details: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/224939/full-print