Chippenham Borough Lands Charity

Charity Number: 270062

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £300,000 (average)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 8 weeks after deadline
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000 (organisations); variable for individuals
  • Geographic Focus: Chippenham parish only
  • Founded: 1554 (470 years of community support)

Contact Details

  • Website: www.cblc.org.uk
  • Email: admin@cblc.org.uk
  • Phone: 01249 658180
  • Address: Bank House, Bath Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2AS
  • Pre-Application Support: Free weekly funding advice sessions every Wednesday, 10am-3pm at Chippenham Community Hub (no booking required)

Overview

Chippenham Borough Lands Charity (CBLC) is one of the UK's oldest charities, established in 1554 when Queen Mary granted a Royal Charter giving Crown Land to Chippenham. After being rediscovered and properly established as a charitable trust in 1990, CBLC now manages over 70 acres of Borough Lands in central Chippenham. The charity's mission is “improving the welfare and wellbeing of our community through grants, guidance and great places.” With investment income generating approximately £600,000 annually, CBLC distributes around £300,000 in grants each year. In 2024, the charity awarded over £290,000 to support individuals and organisations across Chippenham. Led by CEO Beth and a team of dedicated staff, CBLC takes a hands-on, relationship-based approach to grantmaking, offering free weekly advice sessions and conducting personal visits for individual applicants to ensure support is tailored to genuine community needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Organisational Grants (three funding rounds per year with fixed deadlines):

  • Small Grants: Up to £3,000 - Reviewed by staff team, faster processing for straightforward applications aligned with internal criteria
  • Larger Grants: £3,000 - £10,000 per financial year - Reviewed by Grant Committee and trustees for decision
  • Multi-Year Funding: Available for up to 3 years for core or project funding (recent examples include £30,000 over 3 years)
  • Application Methods: Online application portal following eligibility check; three fixed deadline dates per year
  • Maximum per organisation: £10,000 per financial year

Individual Grants (rolling basis, open all year):

  • Variable amounts based on need assessment
  • Funding for white goods, furniture, food vouchers, bankruptcy fees, mobility aids, education costs, transport, enrichment activities
  • Personal visit made to all applicants to discuss application thoroughly
  • Applications considered monthly by trustees

Education Grants (annual automatic funding):

  • £14 per head for primary school children
  • £7 per child for secondary schools
  • Must be spent on direct activities and experiences that enhance the curriculum (50% minimum requirement)
  • Cannot fund First Degrees

Priority Areas

  1. Health and Wellbeing: Counselling services, therapy, mental health support, stroke recovery, crisis support
  2. Community Cohesion: Events, activities promoting community connection, folk festivals, community hubs
  3. Welfare Support: Essential items for individuals experiencing financial hardship, bankruptcy support, mobility aids
  4. Education Enrichment: Curriculum enhancement activities, outdoor learning, musical instruments, educational trips
  5. Environmental and Cultural Projects: Wildlife events, eco initiatives, cultural celebrations
  6. Inclusive Services: Activities supporting isolated individuals, families affected by substance misuse, elderly residents

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects or individuals outside Chippenham parish boundary
  • Applicants who have not lived in Chippenham for at least 2 years (individual grants)
  • First Degree courses (education grants)
  • Direct relief of rates, taxes or other public funds (though they can supplement public provision)
  • Education funding where less than 50% goes to direct curriculum-enhancing activities
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Governance and Leadership

Staff Team

  • Beth - CEO: Provides operational leadership and direct management of the staff team
  • Laura - Education and Arts Officer: Manages community grants and arts-related work
  • Katie - Marketing and Communications: Handles all communications for CBLC and One Chippenham website
  • Faye - Land Manager: Manages CBLC's 70 acres within Chippenham
  • Ben - Administrative Support: Provides admin support and facilities management

Trustees

The charity currently has 7 volunteer trustees who make strategic decisions about the charity's work. Trustees serve an initial term of up to four years with a maximum of two full terms, after which they retire but may reapply after two years. Notable trustees include Annette Foster (solicitor, appointed 2020), Geraldine McKibbin (appointed 2019), and Linda Candy (appointed 2020). All trustees serve without remuneration, payments, or benefits.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organisations:

  1. Complete an online eligibility form at www.cblc.org.uk
  2. If eligible, proceed to full online application form
  3. Submit by one of three annual deadlines
  4. Applications reviewed by staff (under £3,000) or Grant Committee (over £3,000)
  5. Can apply for core, capital, project, or event costs

For Individuals:

  1. Call 01249 658180 or email admin@cblc.org.uk to request application form
  2. Provide financial details with evidence of financial need
  3. Detail what you need help with and estimated costs
  4. CBLC staff will arrange a visit to discuss application thoroughly
  5. Applications can be submitted any time (rolling basis)

Pre-Application Support:

  • Free weekly funding advice sessions every Wednesday, 10am-3pm at Chippenham Community Hub, 1 Gladstone Parade, Timber Street, Chippenham SN15 3BS
  • No booking required - informal one-on-one conversations with Grant Managers
  • Guidance on identifying suitable funding opportunities and completing applications

Decision Timeline

  • Organisational Grants: Decisions announced approximately 2 months (8 weeks) after submission deadline, though aim to respond sooner where possible
  • Individual Grants: Applications considered monthly by trustees
  • Notification: Applicants contacted directly with decision

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the charity takes a personalized approach with home visits for individuals and notes that “every application is considered on its own merits.” The charity distributed over £290,000 in 2024 across numerous individual and organisational grants, indicating substantial funding availability.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Organisations can apply for up to £10,000 per financial year, suggesting annual reapplication is possible. For clarification on reapplication after rejection, contact CBLC directly.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

The charity emphasizes that “every application is considered on its own merits” and conducts thorough assessments. For individuals, “a visit will be made to everyone who applies and their application form will be discussed thoroughly.” They note that "sometimes the charity will help with things that aren't mentioned in the application because a shortfall has been discovered" - suggesting openness to identifying additional needs during assessment.

The charity also states “many people will be put in touch with the appropriate agency first and helped to find solutions from the Council or other organisations,” indicating they take a holistic approach to supporting applicants even if direct funding isn't the right solution.

Recently Funded Projects (2024 Examples)

  • Chippenham Community Eco Hub: £30,000 over 3 years for core funding for inclusive activities addressing isolation
  • Families Out Loud: £30,000 over 3 years for project supporting families affected by substance misuse
  • Doorway Wiltshire: £30,000 over 3 years for core funding
  • Chippenham Folk Festival CIC: £18,000 over 3 years supporting free community elements
  • Help Counselling Services: £9,000 over 3 years expanding affordable counselling in Chippenham East
  • Hardenhuish School: £10,000 annually for mental health and wellbeing support
  • Waste Not Want Not: £10,000 annually for Fresh Start Scheme
  • Wiltshire Wildlife Trust: £5,000 for “Country Comes to Town” community event
  • Corsham Windband Association: £4,316 for free music lessons and instruments at St Mary's Primary School
  • Chippenham Hospital Radio: £2,820 for sound desk equipment upgrade
  • Sheldon Road Methodist Church: £1,000 for Christmas Day meal for isolated residents

Key Terminology and Language

CBLC emphasizes:

  • Community cohesion and inclusive services
  • Wellbeing and welfare support
  • Enrichment activities for education
  • Core funding for sustainable organisations
  • Supporting projects “designed in partnership with residents, groups, and local statutory bodies”

Standing Out

  1. Demonstrate clear Chippenham benefit: Evidence how your work directly benefits Chippenham parish residents
  2. Show community connection: Partnerships with local groups, resident co-design, addressing identified local needs
  3. Seek pre-application advice: Use the free weekly Wednesday sessions to refine your application
  4. Be thorough but open: Provide detailed information but be open to discussing additional needs
  5. Multi-year thinking: Consider applying for multi-year funding if you need sustainable core support
  6. Evidence of need: For individuals, provide clear financial evidence; for organisations, demonstrate demand for your service
  7. Alignment with priorities: Focus on health/wellbeing, community cohesion, education enrichment, or supporting vulnerable groups

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is absolute: You must serve Chippenham parish residents who have lived there 2+ years - no exceptions
  • Take advantage of free support: The weekly Wednesday advice sessions provide invaluable guidance and relationship-building opportunities
  • Multi-year funding is possible: Don't limit yourself to single-year requests; strong core organizations can secure 3-year commitments up to £30,000
  • Small grants move faster: Applications under £3,000 may be processed by staff outside committee meetings for quicker decisions
  • Personal relationships matter: The charity conducts home visits for individuals and values face-to-face conversation - this is a relationship-based funder
  • Think holistically: CBLC may identify additional needs or connect you with other support - they're problem-solvers, not just funders
  • Three chances per year: With only three organisational grant rounds annually, timing matters - plan ahead and don't miss deadlines
  • Every application is unique: Success isn't formula-based; they genuinely assess each case on merit and circumstances

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