Culham St Gabriel's Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £1,963,266 (based on 360Giving data)
• Total Assets: £20 million
• Decision Time: 6-10 weeks
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £30,000 (standard project grants); up to £150,000 for strategic multi-year awards
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (UK only)
• Application Process: Rolling with three annual deadlines (typically September, January, April)

Contact Details

Address: Based in Oxfordshire

Website: www.cstg.org.uk

Email: enquiries@cstg.org.uk

Phone: 07939106686

For Grant Enquiries:

Julia Minnear, Grants, Governance and Partnerships Manager

Email: julia@cstg.org.uk

For Projects Over £30K:

Dr Kathryn Wright, Chief Executive

Email: ceo@cstg.org.uk

Overview

Culham St Gabriel's Trust is an independent endowed charity formed from the union of two Church of England college trusts - Culham Educational Foundation and St Gabriel's Trust. St Gabriel's College was established in 1899, and following the closure of both colleges in the late 1970s, the combined trust was formed in 1979 (registered charity 309671). With approximately £20 million in assets held in the CBF Church of England Investment Fund, the Trust uses investment returns to support all activities and grant-making. The organization is committed to excellence in religious education through research, development, and innovation, with a vision for “a broad-based, critical and reflective education in religion and worldviews, contributing to a well-informed, respectful and open society.” The Trust has awarded 106 grants totaling nearly £2 million to 67 recipients since 2016.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Project Grants: Up to £30,000 (for larger amounts, contact the CEO)

• Innovative projects supporting religion and worldviews education
• Seed-corn funding for new initiatives
• Larger research projects aligned with strategic goals
• Three application rounds annually (typically September, January, April)
• Two-stage application process (Expression of Interest, then full application)

Strategic Multi-Year Awards: £100,000 - £150,000

• Major partnerships over 3 years
• Recent examples: Religious Education Council of England and Wales (£150K/3 years), RE Policy Unit (£100K/3 years)

Doctoral Scholarship Programme

• PhD, EdD, DProf or approved doctoral programmes
• For teachers and professionals in religion and worldviews education
• Applications accepted year-round, decisions made three times yearly (November, March, June)
• Priority for applicants from UK Minority Ethnic or Global Majority Heritage backgrounds

Masters Scholarship Programme

• Supporting postgraduate study in religious education

Priority Areas (2025-26)

The Trust is particularly interested in projects focusing on:

• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• Artificial Intelligence (use of generative AI, pedagogical models, ethical questions)
• Supporting teachers with other specialisms (TWOS) who teach religion and worldviews
• Supporting teachers from under-represented groups, particularly UK Minority Ethnic or Global Majority Heritage backgrounds

Strategic Objectives

All projects must align with at least one of:

1. Promoting positive public perception of religion and worldviews education
2. Influencing government education policies
3. Advocating for high-quality religion and worldviews education
4. Empowering current and next generation of teachers
5. Fostering collaborative partnerships

What They Don't Fund

• Projects outside the United Kingdom (England and Wales focus)
• Building or running costs
• Deficit reduction
• Teaching equipment or consumables
• Chaplaincy or collective worship activities
• Proselytizing activities
• One-off external religious group lessons

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Governance and Leadership

Board Structure

• 14 trustees meeting four times annually
• Two key committees:
• Finance and General Purposes Committee: Meets three times yearly (investment policy, budgeting, audit, risk management)
• Grants, Programmes and Education Committee: Meets five times yearly (grant-making policy, monitoring, evaluation)

Key Personnel

Dr Linda Whitworth, Chair of Trustees

Background in professional development of primary teachers in religion and worldviews education, inclusive practice in schools. Member of AULRE and NATRE, co-editor of Professional Reflection (RE Today publication), Associate Consultant for NASBTT.

Dr Kathryn Wright, Chief Executive (ceo@cstg.org.uk)

Describes her role as “overseeing the operations of the Trust and being its ambassador within and beyond the religion and worldviews community,” focusing on “developing strategy, bringing people together and telling everyone about the importance of religion and worldview literacy.”

Dr Wright has stated: “Children have a right to voice their opinion, and in my view the right to develop an informed opinion which can contribute to an open, respectful, society. We want people to live well together. Education is fundamental to this.”

Julia Minnear, Grants, Governance and Partnerships Manager (julia@cstg.org.uk)

Primary contact for grant applications

Fiona Moss, Education and Programmes Manager (fiona@cstg.org.uk)

Supports career development in religious education

Jack Barton, Digital Operations Manager

Hannah Jackson, Communications and Digital Content Manager

Liz Smith, Finance and Administration Officer

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Process:

• Short initial application
• Decision within approximately 1 week if not progressing

• Approximately 2 weeks to complete
• Invited conversation with Grants, Governance and Partnerships Manager
• Application reviewed by Trustees at Grants Committee or Full Board meeting

Application Deadlines: Typically three rounds per year (September, January, April)

Pre-Application Support: The Trust welcomes conversations about potential projects throughout the year. Contact julia@cstg.org.uk to discuss ideas before applying.

Decision Timeline

• Stage 1 notification: ~1 week after deadline
• Final decision: 6-10 weeks after application deadline (typically 6 weeks)
• Decisions communicated following Grants Committee or Full Board meetings

Success Rates

Specific success rate data not publicly available. The Trust has funded 106 grants to 67 recipients since 2016, suggesting selective but achievable funding opportunities.

Reapplication Policy

Information not publicly specified. Contact the Grants Manager for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Values

Clear Theory of Change: Applications must demonstrate:

• What is the issue?
• Why is it an issue?
• How will you try to change or improve the situation?
• What change will you bring about?
• What impact will it have?
• How will you evaluate the impact?

Evaluation Criteria:

1. Relevance: Practical or policy application to rigorous, innovative teaching, curriculum enrichment, or leadership in UK schools related to religion and worldviews education
2. Applicant capacity and expertise: Demonstrated ability to deliver
3. Collaboration potential: Partnerships and collaborative approaches
4. Potential impact: Wide-reaching benefits beyond immediate beneficiaries
5. Dissemination plans: How findings/resources will be shared (Open Access policy required)
6. Value for money: Appropriate use of charitable funds vs. government or faith community funding
7. Project sustainability: Plans for continuation beyond grant funding

Recent Funded Projects Examples

• Parental Engagement: North-West and West Midlands project enhancing parental involvement through faith-based enquiry and dialogue skills at home
• Holocaust Memorial Day: Engagement with minority faith communities for interfaith activities addressing identity-based prejudice
• Religious Imaginations Educational Video Series: Short films introducing world religions and worldviews for 16+ audience
• The RE Hive: Diocese of Bristol peer-to-peer school improvement project (£9,525)
• University Research: London South Bank University project on education, lived worldviews, and global citizenship

Language and Terminology

• Use “religion and worldviews education” or “religion and worldviews” (aligned with Religious Education Council terminology)
• Focus on curriculum subject teaching, not faith formation or worship
• Emphasize rigorous, critical, and reflective education
• Reference “navigating a complex world with confidence and integrity”
• Demonstrate commitment to “religion and worldview literacy”

Standing Out

• Prioritize innovation: “Small, new innovative projects or seed-corn funding” explicitly welcomed
• Show collaboration: Strong emphasis on partnerships and dissemination
• Evidence-based approaches: Innovative AND evidence-informed projects valued
• Open access: Commit to open access outputs (non-negotiable policy)
• Address current priorities: SEND, AI, supporting TWOS teachers, supporting under-represented groups
• Demonstrate wider impact: Show potential for national or sector-wide benefit

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Engage early: Contact Julia Minnear before applying to discuss project fit - the Trust explicitly encourages pre-application conversations and this demonstrates serious intent

1. Focus exclusively on religion and worldviews as a curriculum subject: The Trust has one overriding priority - avoid any hint of proselytizing, chaplaincy, or worship activities

1. Build in dissemination and collaboration: These are particularly emphasized - show how your project will benefit the wider sector through open access outputs and partnership approaches

1. Develop a robust theory of change: Applications must clearly articulate the problem, approach, expected change, impact, and evaluation methodology

1. Consider value for money carefully: Trustees assess whether funding should come from local/central government or faith communities instead - justify why charitable funding is appropriate

1. Align with 2025-26 priorities: If your project addresses SEND, AI, supporting TWOS teachers, or teachers from under-represented backgrounds, highlight this prominently

1. Plan for sustainability: Show how the project can become self-sustaining beyond the grant period

1. Demonstrate capacity: Clearly evidence your organization's expertise and ability to deliver the project successfully

1. Think beyond immediate beneficiaries: Projects with potential for wider policy or practice impact are favored over those with narrow local benefit only

References

1. Culham St Gabriel's Trust official website - Project Grants page: https://www.cstg.org.uk/funding/projects/
2. Culham St Gabriel's Trust - Eligibility Criteria: https://www.cstg.org.uk/funding/projects/eligibility/
3. Culham St Gabriel's Trust - Governance: https://www.cstg.org.uk/about-us/governance/
4. Culham St Gabriel's Trust - Our People: https://www.cstg.org.uk/about-us/people/
5. Culham St Gabriel's Trust - History: https://www.cstg.org.uk/about-us/history/
6. Culham St Gabriel's Trust - Current Projects: https://www.cstg.org.uk/grants-awarded/current-projects/
7. Charity Commission - Culham St Gabriel's Trust (309671): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=309671
8. 360Giving GrantNav - Culham St Gabriel's Trust: https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-309671
9. Culham St Gabriel's Trust - CEO Welcome: https://www.cstg.org.uk/2019/05/01/welcome-from-the-ceo/
10. FundsforNGOs - Culham St Gabriel's Trust Grant Program: https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/culham-st-gabriels-trust-grant-program-uk/