College Estate Endowment

Charity Number: 217485

Annual Expenditure: £1.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,170,000+ (2024)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 10 working days (small grants); several months (large grants)
  • Grant Range: Up to £2,000 (small grants); £2,000 - £100,000 (large grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Stratford-upon-Avon, UK (must benefit people who live, work or study in the town)
  • Total Assets: £60 million portfolio

Contact Details

Website: www.stratfordtowntrust.co.uk

Email: admin@stratfordtowntrust.co.uk or applications@stratfordtowntrust.co.uk

Phone: 01789 207104 / 01789 207108 / 01789 207114

Grants Team: Contact James or Catherine at applications@stratfordtowntrust.co.uk or 01789 207108 / 207114

Address: 14 Rother Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 0HR

Drop-in Advice Sessions: Most Wednesday afternoons, 1:30-4pm at Community Hub, Venture House, Avenue Farm Industrial Estate, Birmingham Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 0HR

Overview

The College Estate Endowment (Charity No. 217485) is one of two historic endowments managed by Stratford-upon-Avon Town Trust, alongside the Guild Estate Charity (No. 217484). With origins dating back to the 13th century, the Trust has been at the heart of the community for over 500 years. Following a Royal Charter granted by Edward VI in 1553 after the Reformation, the estates were preserved to provide ongoing welfare for the people of Stratford. Today, the Trust manages a £60 million portfolio consisting of investments and 112 properties, awarding over £1.17 million annually in discretionary grants (2024: 147 grants awarded). The Trust's mission is “Creating a vibrant and connected community for the people of Stratford” through supporting local schools, charities, community groups, and individuals experiencing financial crisis.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants: Up to £2,000

  • Rolling applications accepted at any time
  • Quick turnaround: decisions within 10 working days
  • For community groups and charitable organizations
  • Applied through online portal: stratfordtowntrust-applications.co.uk/Small/

Large Grants: £2,000 - £100,000

  • Two-stage application process (Expression of Interest form first)
  • Annual grant round typically runs March to September
  • Decision timeline of several months
  • For more substantial projects and multi-year funding

Crisis Support: Individual financial assistance

  • Delivered in partnership with Citizens Advice South Warwickshire
  • For residents experiencing financial hardship

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses on three key priorities:

  1. Welfare and Wellbeing - Projects addressing need and suffering caused by poverty, sickness, disability, inequality, isolation, or being left out
  1. Strengthening Communities - Projects that help bring and bind people together to have a voice, help one another, get involved and make their community stronger
  1. Young People - Projects led by young people for young people; helping them access opportunities; grow into responsible citizens

Recent funding themes include:

  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Social isolation and loneliness
  • Youth activities and opportunities
  • Sustainability and environmental projects
  • Arts and culture
  • Health and wellbeing services
  • Community facilities and spaces

What They Don't Fund

While the Trust does not publish a comprehensive exclusions list, key restrictions include:

  • Projects that do not benefit people who live, work, or study in Stratford-upon-Avon
  • Organizations without proper governance (must have constitution/agreed rules and bank account with at least two unrelated signatories)
  • Community Interest Companies that are not limited by guarantee
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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by eleven Trustees, all of whom must be members, supported by a small dedicated staff team. The Board meets six times per year plus one off-site strategy day.

Current Leadership:

Tim Bailey - Chair (appointed November 2023, previously Deputy Chair from 2021)

Key Trustees include:

  • Sundash Jassi (Audit & Governance Committee Member since 2013)
  • Josie Stevens (Marketing and communications specialist)
  • Henry Lu (Trustee elected 2022, stockbroking background)
  • Marion Homer (Elected Trustee 2022, former Stratford Foodbank Manager)
  • Jonathan Smith, Simon Littlejohns, Michael Rolfe

Staff Team:

Sara Aspley served as Chief Executive from 2018-2025 (stepped down November 2025 after seven years)

Leadership Philosophy:

Former CEO Justin Williams emphasized community-led governance: “Every Friday I will have an open-door policy, so people from the community can come in and have a cup of coffee.” He stressed the importance of trustees taking “guidance from the community on what are the priorities.”

Sara Aspley stated: “I am really looking forward to building on the excellent work continued by my predecessor, Justin Williams. Stratford Town Trust has a vital role to play in creating a positive future for the town.”

Former CEO Helen Munro articulated their approach: “We are looking for great ideas and innovative projects that would make Stratford a better place to live and work.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Before Applying:

  • Attend weekly drop-in advice sessions (Wednesdays 1:30-4pm at Community Hub)
  • Contact the grants team for pre-application discussion: James or Catherine at applications@stratfordtowntrust.co.uk or 01789 207108 / 207114
  • Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action (WCAVA) offers free support for organizations preparing applications

Small Grants (up to £2,000):

  • Apply online at any time via: stratfordtowntrust-applications.co.uk/Small/
  • Single-stage application process
  • Submit all required information to avoid delays

Large Grants (£2,000 - £100,000):

  • Two-stage process
  • Stage 1: Submit Expression of Interest (EoI) form
  • Stage 2: Invited to submit full application if EoI is successful
  • Annual grant round typically opens in March and closes in September

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Constitution or agreed set of rules
  • Bank account with at least two unrelated signatories
  • Community Interest Companies must be limited by guarantee
  • Funding must benefit people who live, work, or study in Stratford-upon-Avon

Decision Timeline

Small Grants: Usually notified of outcome within 10 working days (provided all required information submitted)

Large Grants: Several months from submission to decision (March-September application window suggests decisions by autumn/winter)

Notification: Outcomes communicated directly to applicants

Success Rates

The Trust awarded 147 grants totaling £1,170,513 in 2024. In 2023, 155 grants totaling £1.2 million were awarded (including 27 small grants). Specific success rate percentages and total application numbers are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy or waiting period is published. Applicants are encouraged to contact the grants team to discuss unsuccessful applications and potential for reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Criteria

Applications that demonstrate:

  • Clear local impact: How the project will make a positive impact on the quality of life in Stratford-upon-Avon
  • Collaborative approach: Commitment to partnership working with other organizations
  • Financial sustainability: Robust financial position demonstrating viability and sustainability
  • Community need: Alignment with one or more of the three priority areas (welfare/wellbeing, strengthening communities, young people)

Recent Funded Projects (2023-2024)

Understanding what the Trust funds helps applicants assess fit:

  • Young Minds Matter: £35,000 for mental health wellbeing for young people
  • Net Zero Stratford: £22,925 for Climate Hub Manager
  • Refuge: £33,000 for domestic abuse support
  • Stepping Stones: £19,500 for support and food for homeless/socially excluded
  • Cycle Infinity CIC: £2,000 for Bicycle Bus to help children cycle safely to school
  • Stratford-upon-Avon Little Bird Baby Bank: £2,000 for core costs
  • Shottery Youth Theatre: £1,500 for pantomime staging
  • Paint Stratford, In2Theatre, Safeline, Stratford in Bloom
  • Guild Chapel restoration work
  • RSC and various schools

Application Tips

  1. Make use of pre-application support: The Trust actively encourages applicants to contact staff before applying and offers regular drop-in sessions
  2. Be specific about local impact: Clearly articulate how your project benefits Stratford-upon-Avon residents
  3. Show collaboration: Demonstrate how you're working with other local organizations
  4. Match Trust priorities: Explicitly link your project to one or more of the three funding priorities
  5. Ensure organizational readiness: Have proper governance structures in place before applying
  6. Provide complete information: Applications with missing information experience delays
  7. Consider timing: Small grants can be applied for anytime; large grants follow annual cycles

Language and Terminology

The Trust uses accessible, community-focused language. Key terms appearing in funded projects:

  • “Vibrancy” and “connection”
  • “Quality of life”
  • “Partnership working”
  • “Community-led”
  • Projects that “bring people together”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic restriction is absolute: Your project must demonstrably benefit people who live, work, or study in Stratford-upon-Avon - this is non-negotiable
  1. Take advantage of support services: The Trust actively wants to help you succeed - use the drop-in sessions and contact grants staff before applying
  1. Small vs. large grant strategy: Consider starting with a small grant (faster decision, rolling basis) to build relationship before applying for larger amounts
  1. Demonstrate collaboration: The Trust values organizations that work in partnership rather than in isolation
  1. Financial sustainability matters: Show that you have robust financial management, especially for large grants
  1. Community-focused governance: The Trust sees itself as taking guidance from the community - frame your application as responding to community-identified needs
  1. Timing matters for large grants: Plan ahead for the March-September application window for large grants; don't rush an application

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