Church Burgesses Educational Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~£330,000 (expenditure 2024)
• Annual Income: £167,460 (2024)
• Grant Range: £500 - £10,000
• Decision Time: Quarterly (4 meetings per year)
• Geographic Focus: City of Sheffield only
• Number of Trustees: 7

Contact Details

• Website: www.sheffieldchurchburgesses.org.uk
• Phone: 0114 267 5588
• Law Clerk: Mr Ian Potter
• Email: ian.potter@wrigleys.co.uk
• Address: Derwent House, 150 Arundel Gate, Sheffield S1 2FN

Overview

The Church Burgesses Educational Foundation is a historic Sheffield charity with Tudor origins, founded following Queen Mary's Royal Charter of 1554. It operates as a sister charity to the Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust, specifically administering the educational funds of this ancient organisation. The Foundation promotes education for those under 25 years of age who, or whose parents, are resident in the City of Sheffield.

The Foundation makes grants to schools, educational organisations, and individuals. It has developed strong links with arts organisations and Sheffield Cathedral, supporting music education across the city. With annual expenditure of approximately £330,000 and income of around £167,000, the Foundation draws on its endowment to support a wide variety of educational activities. The Trust has served Sheffield for over 450 years, adapting to the needs of a modern city whilst maintaining its commitment to educational opportunity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Individual Educational Grants: £500 - £10,000
• Gap year expeditions and medical electives
• Sporting tuition and development
• Musical tuition and development
• Education support (usually below tertiary level)
• Support for those with special needs
• Support for gifted individuals with exceptional expenses in arts and sport

• Organisational Grants: £500 - £10,000
• One-off or special projects in schools
• Church-based youth and education work
• Educational organisations working with under 25s
• Church schools in Sheffield

Priority Areas

• Musical activities in schools and the community
• Sheffield Cathedral music programmes
• Church-based youth work
• Special educational needs support
• Arts and sports development for talented young people
• Primary and secondary education support

What They Don't Fund

• Non-residents: Applicants living outside Sheffield city boundary (even if attending a Sheffield school)
• Students who moved for education: Those who only live in Sheffield for university purposes
• University/tertiary level education: Generally excluded except in exceptional circumstances
• A-Level students: Only supported in extreme circumstances
• Postgraduate students: Generally excluded unless retraining for good reason
• Full school fees: Would only be considered in wholly exceptional circumstances

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by 7 trustees who do not receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust functions through a committee structure, with all Burgesses meeting four times a year to consider the work and business of the Trust.

The day-to-day administration is handled by the Law Clerk, Mr Ian Potter of Wrigleys Solicitors LLP, who is the main point of contact for applicants. Ian Potter specialises in advising permanently endowed grant-making charities with all aspects of their asset management, grant-making processes, governance, and administration.

Quote from Ian Potter, Clerk to the Trustees:

"I hope the work of the cathedral music department enriches the lives of many children and helps to improve music education generally across our city and helps to further the Cathedral's outreach to young people."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Submit to the Law Clerk by the deadline

Decision Timeline

Applications are considered quarterly. Completed application forms and all supporting papers must be received by the Law Clerk before the beginning of the second week of:

• December
• March
• June
• September

Applicants should expect a decision within a few weeks of the quarterly meeting.

Grant Conditions

Virtually all grants have some conditions applied (though not onerous), and there will be a requirement for a report back on how the funding was used.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's documented guidance:

• Demonstrate Sheffield residency: The qualification requirement is residence in the City of Sheffield for at least 3 years (applicant or parent). This is strictly enforced.

• Focus on below-tertiary education: The Foundation primarily supports primary and secondary school-aged young people. Higher education applications face significant restrictions.

• Provide comprehensive supporting evidence: Include references, course confirmations, and detailed information about your educational activity.

• Show discrete educational benefit: For organisations, demonstrate a clear and identifiable element of work promoting education for under 25s in Sheffield.

• Consider church-based alignment: The Foundation has strong links with Church of England education work and Sheffield Cathedral, though secular applications are also considered.

• Be realistic about school fees: Full school fee funding would only be considered in “wholly exceptional circumstances.”

Recent funded example: Sheffield Cathedral received funding for a schools singing programme delivering inclusive music sessions to children in deprived communities, demonstrating the Foundation's interest in widening access to educational opportunities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Residency is paramount: The Sheffield city boundary residency requirement is strict and non-negotiable. Verify eligibility before applying.

• Primary focus is pre-tertiary: The Foundation focuses on primary and secondary education. University-level applications are generally unsuccessful.

• Quarterly deadlines matter: Plan applications around the December, March, June, and September deadlines (before the second week of each month).

• Supporting documentation is essential: Applications without proper references, confirmations, and details are unlikely to succeed.

• Report-back is required: Be prepared to provide a report on how funding was used after your activity.

• Music and arts have strong track record: The Foundation has established links with arts organisations and actively supports music education.

• Contact the Law Clerk with questions: Ian Potter is the primary contact and can provide guidance on eligibility and application requirements.

References

• Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust - Educational Foundation - Official website page on the Educational Foundation
• Charity Commission Register - Church Burgesses Educational Foundation (529357) - Financial and governance information
• Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust - Frequently Asked Questions - Eligibility and application guidance
• Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust - Application Forms - Download application forms
• Sheffield Cathedral - Music Receives Funding Boost - Example of funded project
• Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust - About Us - History and background
• Church Burgesses - Wikipedia - Historical context
• Ian Potter - Wrigleys Solicitors - Law Clerk contact information

Accessed: December 2025