Church Street Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £265,722 (year ending March 2025)
• Annual Expenditure: £138,318 (year ending March 2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: Herefordshire, England

Contact Details

Registered Address: Sunderlands Offa House, St. Peters Square, Hereford, HR1 2PQ

Phone: 01432 356161

Email: ac@lambecorner.co.uk

Website: None publicly available

Charity Number: 1063148

Overview

The Church Street Charitable Trust was registered with the Charity Commission on 30 June 1997, established by a Declaration of Trust dated 5 March 1997. The trust operates with a broad charitable remit, with trustees holding the trust fund and its income “upon trust to apply them for such charitable purposes as the trustees in their absolute discretion from time to time think fit.” In practice, the trust focuses on two core areas: preserving and maintaining historical buildings in Herefordshire, and making grants to individuals and organisations to further education in traditional crafts and handicrafts. The trust operates as a dual-purpose charity, both providing buildings/facilities/open space and making grants. With an annual income of £265,722 and expenditure of £138,318 (year ending March 2025), the trust maintains a sustainable financial position while supporting heritage and traditional skills development in the region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates with trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Known funding activities include:

• Heritage Preservation: Maintaining historical buildings in Herefordshire
• Traditional Crafts Education: Grants to individuals and organisations for education in traditional crafts and handicrafts
• Arts and Cultural Programming: Support for emerging young artists through programs like Cultivate at The Courtyard, Hereford

Application Method: No public application process; grants awarded at trustees' discretion

Priority Areas

• Heritage/Conservation: Preservation and maintenance of historical buildings specifically in Herefordshire
• Arts/Culture: Support for theatre productions and emerging young artists (e.g., funding for Jane Eyre production at The Courtyard in autumn 2022)
• Education/Training: Furtherance of education in traditional crafts and handicrafts
• Museums, Parks, Historical Sites: Related heritage preservation work

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented. Given the trust's focus on Herefordshire heritage and traditional crafts, grants outside these areas or outside the geographic region of Herefordshire are unlikely to be considered.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by 7 trustees who serve without remuneration or payment. Current trustees include:

• Ann Gillian Bulmer
• Roger Henry Lilwall Stokes
• Marion Elizabeth Campbell
• Dr. Mark Medlicott Helme
• Andrew Richard Thomas
• Marion Susan Davis

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust has no employees with total benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Church Street Charitable Trust operates with trustees exercising absolute discretion in awarding grants. The trust deed gives trustees broad powers to “apply [funds] for such charitable purposes as the trustees in their absolute discretion from time to time think fit.” There is no online portal, application form, or formal grant application process available to the public.

Grants appear to be awarded based on:

• Trustees' knowledge of heritage preservation needs in Herefordshire
• Direct relationships with organisations working in traditional crafts and heritage
• Trustee-identified opportunities aligned with the trust's charitable purposes

Getting on Their Radar

While the trust does not accept unsolicited applications, the following specific intelligence may be relevant:

Known Beneficiaries: The Courtyard (arts venue in Hereford) receives funding from the trust for their Cultivate program supporting emerging young artists. This suggests the trust has established relationships with cultural and heritage organisations in Herefordshire.

Geographic Focus: The trust's objects specifically reference Herefordshire, indicating a strong local focus. Organisations working on heritage preservation or traditional crafts education in Herefordshire may be more likely to come to the trustees' attention.

Contact Approach: Given the trust operates through Sunderlands (a firm of Chartered Surveyors in Hereford), there may be connections between property/heritage professionals in the region and the trust. The contact email (ac@lambecorner.co.uk) provides a point of contact, though it is unclear whether the trust welcomes introductory correspondence.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As grants are awarded at trustees' discretion without a formal application cycle, there are no published decision timelines or meeting dates.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The trust does not publish data on the number of organisations considered for funding versus those awarded grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process. Organisations that have previously received funding may continue to receive support based on trustees' assessment of their ongoing work.

Application Success Factors

Given the lack of a public application process, the following factors appear relevant based on the trust's documented activities:

Geographic Alignment: The trust's objects specifically reference Herefordshire. All documented grants and activities relate to this geographic area. Organisations or projects outside Herefordshire are unlikely to receive funding.

Heritage and Crafts Focus: The trust has a clear dual focus on historical building preservation and traditional crafts/handicrafts education. Documented beneficiaries work in arts, culture, and heritage. Projects should demonstrably advance education in traditional skills or preserve historical buildings.

Established Presence: The documented beneficiary (The Courtyard) is an established cultural organisation in Hereford. The trust appears to support ongoing programs (like Cultivate for emerging artists) rather than one-off projects, suggesting they value sustained relationships with effective organisations.

Examples of Funded Work:

• Cultivate program at The Courtyard (supporting emerging young artists)
• Jane Eyre theatre production (autumn 2022, described as “pro-am” production)

Trustee Connections: With 7 trustees and no staff, the trust likely operates through trustees' direct knowledge of the local heritage and cultural sector in Herefordshire. Building relationships within this community may increase visibility to trustees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: This trust does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Do not attempt to submit a formal proposal or application.

• Herefordshire-Focused: Geographic restriction is clear and specific. Only projects benefiting Herefordshire heritage or traditional crafts education in the region align with the trust's objects.

• Relationship-Based Funding: The trust operates through trustees' discretion and established relationships. Building a presence in Herefordshire's heritage and cultural sector is the pathway to potential support.

• Dual Mission: The trust serves both as a property/facilities charity (preserving historical buildings) and a grant-maker (supporting crafts education). Understand which aspect of their work is relevant to your organisation.

• Limited Public Information: The trust maintains minimal public presence with no website and limited published information. Direct contact via the provided email or phone may be necessary to understand current priorities.

• Sustainable Finances: With income exceeding expenditure (£265,722 vs £138,318 in latest accounts), the trust has capacity for grant-making, though specific grant budgets are not published.

• Cultural Heritage Emphasis: Documented grants support arts and cultural programming connected to heritage and emerging artists, suggesting openness to creative approaches to traditional crafts and heritage preservation.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• SR & PH Southall Trust
• The Hawthorne Charitable Trust
• Ian M Foulerton Charitable Trust
• L G Harris Trust
• The Loppylugs and Barbara Morrison Charitable Trust
• The Mumford Memorial Trust
• MARISTOW CHARITY
• The Dischma Charitable Trust
• THE KILDARE TRUST
• The Frank Litchfield General Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: Church Street Charitable Trust (1063148), accessed 29 December 2025, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3937501/charity-overview

• OpenCharities: Church Street Charitable Trust profile, accessed 29 December 2025, http://opencharities.org/charities/1063148

• The Courtyard, Hereford: Trusts and Foundations page (documenting Church Street Trust funding of Cultivate program and Jane Eyre production), accessed 29 December 2025, https://www.courtyard.org.uk/trusts-foundations/

• Charity Commission financial data: Year ending 31 March 2025 - Income: £265,722, Expenditure: £138,318