Clan Trust Limited

Charity Number: 803661

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £220,485 (2024/25)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified (trustees review applications on an ongoing basis)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: Norfolk and surrounding counties (Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Suffolk)

Contact Details

Main Office:

  • Address: 25-26 Tuesday Market Place, King's Lynn, PE30
  • Phone: 01553 778055 or 01603 629871
  • Email: office@clantrust.org or admin@clantrust.org
  • Website: www.clantrust.org

Application Enquiries:

Applications can be submitted via the online form on their website at www.clantrust.org/apply

Overview

CLAN TRUST LIMITED (Charity No. 803661) was established in 1968 by the late Robert W. Alston of Witton Hall, North Walsham, Norfolk. With no heirs but “an outstanding sense of community and generosity,” Robert Alston created a lasting legacy by bequeathing his entire estate—including a 600-acre Norfolk farm and a considerable equity portfolio—to establish this charitable trust. The charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 28 July 1990. The trust focuses on three core areas: supporting budding farmers through education, equipment and training grants; advancing science and innovation in agriculture; and providing support to elderly people and those with disabilities in rural communities. Operating across Norfolk and surrounding counties, the trust manages direct grants to individuals and charities while also administering named scholarship funds in partnership with universities including UEA and Harper Adams.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grants Programme

  • Range: Typically £1,000 - £3,000 for small grants
  • Eligibility: Individuals and charities in farming sectors, educational programmes, and elderly support
  • Application: Rolling basis via online application form
  • Key Note: Does NOT provide capital funding to businesses

The Neech Fund

  • Purpose: Equipment and business improvements for land-based industries
  • Eligibility: New entrants to agriculture and contractors across Norfolk
  • Assessment: Based on “proven need and viability”
  • Application: Via Clan Trust application form or direct contact

Clan Trust Annual Scholarship

  • Amount: Up to £10,000
  • Eligibility: Aged 18-30, resident in Norfolk for at least 3 years
  • Purpose: Farming education, research, or travel projects
  • Timeline: Opens January, closes March 31, awards announced June
  • Application: Requires written application followed by interview process

UEA x Clan Trust Scholarship

  • Amount: £5,000
  • Eligibility: Students accepted on MSc Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement at UEA
  • Application: Managed through UEA scholarship portal
  • Frequency: Annual award

Harper Adams University Scholarship

  • Eligibility: Year 4 BSc/BEng/MEng or final year FdSc students from Norfolk studying Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, or Land & Property Management
  • Application: Through Harper Adams Development Trust

Clan Trust Fund (via Norfolk Community Foundation)

  • Amount: Up to £1,000 per grant
  • Total Fund: £10,000 available
  • Eligibility: Charities, voluntary groups, and parish councils supporting elderly people in rural Norfolk communities

Priority Areas

Youth in Agriculture:

  • Training grants for young farmers
  • Equipment support for agricultural education
  • Support for Norfolk Young Farmers' Clubs (400+ members across 11 clubs for ages 16-25) and Countrysiders Clubs (15 clubs for ages 10-16)
  • Educational scholarships for farming, research, and related study

Science and Innovation in Agriculture:

  • Research projects advancing agricultural science
  • Support for innovative farming techniques
  • Educational programmes connecting children with farming through partners like Food and Farming Discovery Trust (#LearnAboutLivestock project)

Elderly and Community Support:

  • Activities and clubs for older members of rural communities
  • Support for people with disabilities
  • Emergency hardship funding for over 50s facing financial crisis
  • Partnerships with retirement homes and outreach programmes

Mental Health in Farming Communities:

  • Long-term support for YANA Project (originally established by Clan Trust in 2008, now independent), providing mental health support and counseling across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridge farming communities

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital funding to businesses
  • Projects outside Norfolk and surrounding counties (Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Suffolk)
  • Applications not connected to agriculture, rural environment/economy, or elderly support
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Governance and Leadership

The Clan Trust is governed by 9 trustees with extensive agricultural, legal, and financial expertise:

Chairman: Ben Turner

  • Responsibilities: Marketing and Education Liaison
  • Background: Grew up on a Norfolk farm, previously worked for John Deere in UK and European roles

Vice Chairwoman: Caroline Steggles

  • Responsibilities: Education, Donations and Marketing
  • Background: Distant relation to founder Robert Alston, studied Management Studies at Nottingham University

Secretary: Lulu Agnew (joined 2025)

  • Responsibilities: Governance and Land Agency

Other Key Trustees:

  • Stephen Oldfield (Finance, Accountancy and Governance): Former PwC advisory partner specializing in agribusiness
  • Catherine Scott (Legal, Education and Governance): Mills & Reeve partner with 25+ years advising farming and landowning clients
  • Tim Papworth (Community and Clan Property)
  • Robert Alston (Investments, Finance and Property)
  • James Alston (Clan Property)
  • Richard Hirst (Community, Education and Donations)

The trust operates with 1 volunteer and no paid employees, with all trustee service being voluntary.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Online Application Form:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the online form at www.clantrust.org/apply

Application Requirements:

  • Full contact details (name, email, phone, address)
  • Project explanation (maximum 500 words)
  • Total project value in pounds
  • Requested grant amount
  • Previous application history with Clan Trust
  • How you discovered the Clan Trust
  • Selection of relevant category:
  • Young professional farmer
  • Young student farmer
  • Children's farming/environmental education programme
  • Science in agriculture
  • Elderly persons support group
  • Other (with explanation)

Contact for Enquiries:

  • Phone: 01553 778055
  • Email: office@clantrust.org

Decision Timeline

The trust states: “A member of our team will get back to you soon regarding further questions and outcome.” Specific processing times are not published, but the trust operates on a rolling review basis rather than fixed deadlines.

For the Annual Scholarship specifically:

  • Applications open: January
  • Deadline: March 31
  • Assessment and interviews: April-May
  • Awards announced: June

Success Rates

Success rates and application numbers are not publicly disclosed. The trust had total expenditure of £220,485 in the financial year ending March 2025, with income of £117,743.

Reapplication Policy

The application form asks about previous applications to the Clan Trust, suggesting that unsuccessful applicants may reapply. No specific waiting period or restrictions are documented.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Core Mission:

The trust explicitly states that "applicants must align with the organization's purposes.“ All donations made by trustees are specifically for ”the education of issues connected with AGRICULTURE and the RURAL ENVIRONMENT / ECONOMY and to assist the elderly," with beneficiaries limited to Norfolk and surrounding counties. Successful applications demonstrate clear connection to these themes.

Geographic Requirements:

Strong preference for Norfolk, with surrounding counties (Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Suffolk) also eligible. The Annual Scholarship requires at least 3 years' residency in Norfolk.

Demonstrated Need and Viability:

The Neech Fund specifically assesses applications on a “proven need and viability basis,” suggesting all applications should include strong evidence of both necessity and likelihood of success.

Recent Grant Examples:

  • Age UK Norwich received £3,000 (2025) for emergency hardship fund supporting over 50s in financial crisis with food vouchers, energy bills, and essential household items. This followed successful previous support in 2023, showing the trust values proven track records.
  • Surviving Winter Appeal (Age UK Norfolk) received £15,000 to tackle winter poverty and isolation among older people
  • The trust committed ongoing support to Norfolk Young Farmers and Countrysiders Clubs (400+ members)

Educational Focus:

The trust's founder, Robert Alston, "took a keen interest in Young Farmers' Clubs, and supporting young people in agriculture was important to him." Applications supporting agricultural education and youth development align with this founding vision.

Partnership Approach:

The trust works collaboratively with established organizations (UEA, Harper Adams University, Norfolk Community Foundation, Food and Farming Discovery Trust), suggesting they value partnerships and may look favorably on applications from organizations with track records or collaborative elements.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic focus is non-negotiable: Projects must serve Norfolk and immediate surrounding counties; the trust's governing documents explicitly limit beneficiaries to this region
  • Align with one of three pillars: Ensure your application clearly fits within youth/agriculture education, agricultural science/innovation, or elderly support in rural communities
  • No business capital funding: The trust is explicit that they do not fund capital investments for businesses—focus grant requests on charitable activities, equipment for education/training, or support services
  • Demonstrate agricultural connection: Even elderly support grants should show connection to rural/farming communities where possible (e.g., Age UK Norwich's grant targeted people with farming backgrounds)
  • Evidence of viability matters: Include practical details showing your project is achievable and sustainable, particularly for Neech Fund applications
  • Long-term relationships valued: The trust has multi-year commitments to key partners (YANA, Young Farmers' Clubs); demonstrating potential for ongoing impact may strengthen applications
  • Keep applications concise: The 500-word limit for project explanations requires clear, focused writing that directly addresses the trust's priorities

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