Cullum Family Trust

Charity Number: 1117056

Annual Expenditure: £0.6M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £598,738 (recent financial year)
  • Total Assets: Over £28 million invested
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £1,100,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (with emphasis on Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Norfolk)
  • Application Method: No public application process for major grants; Sussex grants via Sussex Community Foundation

Contact Details

Address: Wealden Hall Parkfield, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0HX

Phone: 01622 809471

Charity Number: 1117056

Website: No public website identified

For Sussex-based charities: Apply through Sussex Community Foundation's Main Grants programme at sussexcommunityfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 2006 by businessman and philanthropist Peter Cullum CBE with an initial endowment of over £20 million, the Cullum Family Trust has become a significant funder in autism education and Sussex community support. The Trust operates with two distinct funding streams: major strategic investments of up to £1.1 million per project in specialist autism education facilities (Cullum Centres) in partnership with the National Autistic Society, and smaller grants of £1,000-£10,000 to Sussex-based charities through a managed fund at Sussex Community Foundation. The Trust's assets exceed £28 million, invested to generate sustainable income. Peter Cullum established the Trust after personal experience with autism in his family (his eldest grandson has autism), driving a focused commitment to meeting educational needs of children on the autism spectrum. The Trust also supports hospice care and other charitable causes aligned with its objectives of relieving poverty and advancing education and religion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Cullum Centres Programme (Invitation Only)

  • Grant Amount: Up to £1,100,000 per school
  • Breakdown: £975,000 for construction, £75,000 for fixtures/ICT, £50,000 for professional fees
  • Partnership: Delivered exclusively through the National Autistic Society
  • Purpose: Purpose-built specialist autism education resource bases within mainstream secondary and primary schools
  • Application: No public application process; projects identified through NAS strategic planning with local authorities

2. Sussex Community Foundation Fund

  • Grant Amount: £1,000 - £10,000 (average £5,000+)
  • Duration: Up to one year
  • Application: Through Sussex Community Foundation Main Grants programme (rolling applications with periodic funding rounds)
  • Eligible Costs: Core operational costs and project expenses
  • Geography: Sussex-based charities and community groups only
  • Eligibility: Annual income under £2 million, must have constitution or set of rules

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • Autism education and support for children on the autism spectrum
  • Specialist educational facilities enabling autistic children to thrive in mainstream school settings
  • Small-group learning environments with trained staff, therapy, and clinical support

Secondary Focus (through Sussex Community Foundation):

  • Poverty relief and community support in Sussex
  • Organizations working across Sussex Community Foundation's four funding priorities
  • Charities supporting disadvantaged communities

Other Interests:

  • Hospice movement
  • Educational scholarships (Cullum Family Trust Scholarships at Cass Business School - £10,000 to two MBA/MSc students annually)
  • Advancement of religion

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented, but the Trust operates exclusively through strategic partnerships (NAS) or intermediary foundations (Sussex Community Foundation) rather than accepting direct applications.

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Governance and Leadership

Founder and Chairman: Peter Cullum CBE (born 1950)

  • Founder of Towergate Insurance
  • Awarded CBE in 2010 for contributions to business, entrepreneurship, and charitable causes
  • Personal motivation: eldest grandson has autism, driving focus on autism education
  • Initial endowment: Over £20 million from share sale proceeds in 2006
  • Philosophy: Wants the Trust to be self-perpetuating through investment income

Trustees: 4 trustees total (one or more receive payments/benefits from the charity)

Family Involvement: The Trust is run by Peter Cullum's two daughters

Partnership Organizations:

  • National Autistic Society: Strategic partner for Cullum Centres delivery
  • Sussex Community Foundation: Manages the Cullum Family Fund for Sussex-based grants

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Cullum Centres Funding:

This funder does not have a public application process for their major funding stream. Cullum Centres are developed through strategic partnerships between the National Autistic Society, local authorities, and mainstream schools. The Trust works on an invitation-only basis, with projects identified through NAS strategic planning rather than open applications.

For Sussex-based Charities (£1,000-£10,000):

Organizations based in Sussex can apply through the Sussex Community Foundation's Main Grants programme:

  1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Sussex Community Foundation online portal when funding rounds are open
  2. If shortlisted, you may be asked to provide additional information
  3. Applications are matched to relevant funds within the Foundation's portfolio, including the Cullum Family Fund
  4. Several funding rounds per year
  5. Contact Sussex Community Foundation: 01273 409 440 or via their website at sussexcommunityfoundation.org

Decision Timeline

Cullum Centres: Projects develop over extended timelines involving strategic planning with NAS and local authorities. Construction and commissioning typically span multiple years.

Sussex Community Foundation grants: Following EOI submission, the Foundation will either:

  • Offer a grant based on information submitted
  • Request additional information for second-stage review
  • Decline at initial stage

Specific decision timelines vary by funding round.

Success Rates

Not publicly available for either funding stream.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Interested in Cullum Centres

While there is no public application process, understanding the Cullum Centre model is essential:

The Model: Seven Cullum Centres are currently operating, with plans to build more. Each Centre:

  • Provides specialist autism education resource bases within mainstream schools
  • Enables autistic pupils to access mainstream education with specialist support
  • Features small-group learning environments with trained staff
  • Includes therapy and clinical support in calm, safe spaces
  • Follows the National Autistic Society's autism-specific education methodology

Recent Projects (2024):

  • Canterbury Academy Primary School (Kent) - first primary school Cullum Centre
  • Hove Park School (Brighton and Hove) - 20 commissioned placements
  • Dorothy Stringer School (Brighton and Hove)
  • Acle Academy and Alderman Peel High School (Norfolk) - £2.2m combined

Existing Centres:

  • Canterbury Academy (Kent)
  • Salesian School (Chertsey, Surrey)
  • Rodborough School (Godalming, Surrey)
  • Hinchley Wood School (Esher, Surrey)
  • Howard of Effingham School (Effingham, Surrey)

Local Authority Partnership: Each Centre requires a £50,000 development contribution from the local authority, with the Trust providing up to £1.1m. This model requires local authority buy-in and strategic planning.

For Sussex-based Organizations

When applying through Sussex Community Foundation:

  • Ensure alignment with Sussex Community Foundation's four funding priorities
  • Focus on poverty relief, community support, or causes benefiting disadvantaged communities
  • Demonstrate clear outcomes and impact measurement
  • Applications are assessed and matched to relevant funds automatically
  • The Cullum Family Fund has historically supported organizations such as Community Advice, Support, Education (CASE) and Eastbourne Bird Aid

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct applications accepted: The Trust operates exclusively through strategic partners (NAS) and intermediary foundations (Sussex Community Foundation)
  • Major funding is invitation-only: Cullum Centres are developed through NAS strategic partnerships with local authorities - not open to direct applications from schools or organizations
  • Sussex organizations have access: The only pathway for direct benefit from this Trust (besides NAS partnership) is through Sussex Community Foundation's Main Grants programme
  • Autism education is the flagship priority: Understanding the Cullum Centre model and the Trust's commitment to autism education is essential context
  • Personal motivation drives focus: Peter Cullum's personal connection to autism (through his grandson) shapes the Trust's strategic priorities
  • Sustainability focus: The Trust aims to be self-perpetuating through investment income from its £28m+ asset base
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking: For major grants, relationships with NAS and local authorities are essential; public applications are not an option

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