Deeping St James United Charities

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £269,557 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £130,038 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified - applications assessed individually
• Grant Range: Varies by program - from small cash grants to multi-year educational support
• Geographic Focus: Deeping St James ecclesiastical parish (including Frognall), Lincolnshire

Contact Details

Address: The Institute, 38 Church Street, Deeping St James, Peterborough, PE6 8HD

Phone: 01778 344707 (alternative: 01778 380367)

Email: clerk@dsjunitedcharities.org.uk

Website: www.dsjunitedcharities.org.uk

Office Hours: The Clerk is available Tuesday & Thursday mornings, 9am - 12 noon

Overview

Deeping St James United Charities (DSJUC) is a long-established local charity registered in 1966 (Charity Number 248848), though its origins lie in historical land and property benefactions dating back centuries. The charity serves residents of Deeping St James parish and Frognall in Lincolnshire. With an annual income of approximately £270,000, DSJUC makes grants to both individuals and groups for relief of sickness and need, educational advancement, and public purposes. The charity is administered by 6 volunteer trustees (with 3 vacant positions) who receive no remuneration. In 2020, the Tyghes Educational Foundation was amalgamated into DSJUC, expanding its educational grant-making capacity. The charity also owns substantial property assets including agricultural land, residential properties, and The Institute where they are headquartered.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Educational Books Grant: Multi-year educational support

• Annual grant provided for three consecutive years
• Available to students aged 18-25 pursuing first degree or vocational qualification
• Covers books and equipment needed for study (examples given include scissors for hairdressing students or knives for chef trainees)
• Application method: Download form from website, submit by post or in person once university place confirmed

St Thomas' Day Charity: Annual cash grant for older residents

• Small cash grant for residents of state pensionable age who are in need
• Must have been resident in parish for at least two years
• Limited to one application per household
• Distributed on Thursday closest to December 21st
• Application method: Forms published in Deepings Advertiser in November, also available at The Institute or website download

Help in Need: Individual hardship grants (rolling basis)

• No fixed income limits - all requests treated individually and confidentially
• Application method: Contact clerk by phone, email, or in person

School Support: Regular institutional grants

• Regular grants made to all three local schools in Deeping St James
• Funding for equipment (e.g., pianos) and family support funds held at schools
• Examples include uniform assistance, music tuition fees, and statutory school trips

Public Purposes and Local Groups: Community support

• Citizens Advice counselling sessions funded for residents (supported 50 residents during first lockdown, received £1,000 grant from charity)
• Free or low-cost facility rental at The Institute for community groups (First Responders, U3A, Allotment Society, WI)

Priority Areas

• Relief in Sickness: Travel costs for hospital/therapy appointments, special equipment or services, prescription pre-payment costs, mobility aids (in partnership with Deeping Men's Group)
• Relief in Need: Assistance while awaiting benefits claims, replacing household equipment, hospital visit travel, support following bereavement or family breakdown, loss of income
• Education and Training: Supporting young people under 25 with educational costs including university students and vocational training
• Health Advancement: Supporting individuals with disabilities and health needs
• Elderly Support: Assistance for older residents experiencing need or hardship

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals or organizations outside the Deeping St James ecclesiastical parish (including Frognall)
• Students over 25 years of age for educational grants (with some flexibility for vocational qualifications)
• Second degrees or repeat qualifications
• Multiple applications per household for St Thomas' Day grants

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The charity is administered by 6 trustees (with 3 vacant positions):

• Dr Richard Gamman - Chair
• Kathleen Shinkins-Hoppe - Vice Chair
• Rev. Mark Robert Williams - Trustee
• Judy Deanne Stevens - Trustee
• Dawn Julie Dent - Trustee
• Emma Robinson - Trustee

All trustees serve on a voluntary basis with no remuneration, payments or benefits received from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Educational Books Grant:

• Download application form from website (www.dsjunitedcharities.org.uk)
• Complete and return by post or in person to The Institute
• Apply as soon as university place and entry qualifications are confirmed
• Contact: clerk@dsjunitedcharities.org.uk or 01778 344707

St Thomas' Day Charity:

• Application forms published in Deepings Advertiser in November
• Additional forms available at The Institute or website download
• Submit completed form before distribution date (Thursday closest to December 21st)

Help in Need Grants:

• Rolling basis - contact clerk directly
• No formal application deadline
• Methods: telephone (01778 344707), email (clerk@dsjunitedcharities.org.uk), or in-person visit during office hours (Tuesday/Thursday 9am-12pm)
• Confidential discussion encouraged

Schools and Organizations:

• Contact the clerk to discuss funding needs and eligibility
• Regular grants to local schools appear to be ongoing institutional relationships

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified. Applications appear to be assessed on an individual basis as received, particularly for Help in Need grants which operate on a rolling basis. Educational grants follow academic calendars, with applications accepted once university places are confirmed.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The charity states “no fixed income limits” for Help in Need applications and treats all requests “on an individual and confidential basis,” suggesting a flexible, case-by-case approach rather than competitive selection.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified, though the educational grants are explicitly multi-year (three years of support), suggesting successful applicants receive ongoing support without reapplication. For other programs, the rolling nature of Help in Need grants and annual St Thomas' Day grants suggest individuals can apply when circumstances arise.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Eligibility is Paramount: All applicants must be residents of Deeping St James ecclesiastical parish, including Frognall. This is a strict requirement across all grant programs.

Age Matters for Educational Grants: The charity specifically targets young people aged 18-25 for educational support, focusing on those pursuing their first degree or vocational qualification.

Demonstrate Financial Need: The charity emphasizes supporting those “in need of financial assistance” - applications should clearly articulate financial circumstances, particularly for Help in Need and St Thomas' Day programs.

Confidential Approach Welcomed: The charity explicitly states all requests are treated “on an individual and confidential basis” with “no fixed income limits,” suggesting they value personal contact and discussion over rigid criteria.

Early Application for Educational Grants: Apply “as soon as university place and entry qualifications are confirmed” to ensure timely processing before term begins.

Specific Use of Funds: Educational grants can be used broadly for “books or equipment needed for study” - providing specific examples (like hairdressing scissors or chef's knives for vocational students) demonstrates understanding of your actual needs.

Residency Requirements: For St Thomas' Day grants, applicants must have been resident in the parish for at least two years, demonstrating established connection to the community.

Utilize Personal Contact: The Clerk's availability on Tuesday and Thursday mornings provides opportunity for in-person discussion, which may be valuable for complex or sensitive circumstances.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Hyperlocal Focus: Only residents of Deeping St James parish (including Frognall) are eligible - geographic restriction is absolute
• Multi-Year Educational Support: Educational grants run for three consecutive years, providing stability for young people throughout their studies
• No Fixed Income Limits: The charity treats applications individually and confidentially, suggesting flexibility rather than rigid thresholds
• Rolling Basis for Hardship: Help in Need grants operate on a rolling basis - contact the clerk as needs arise rather than waiting for deadlines
• Personal Contact Encouraged: The charity emphasizes confidential, individual assessment - direct conversation with the Clerk may strengthen understanding of your circumstances
• Broad Definition of Educational Equipment: Vocational students can receive support for tools of their trade, not just books
• Community Asset Base: The charity's substantial property holdings generate income for grant-making, suggesting financial stability

References

• Deeping St James United Charities official website: www.dsjunitedcharities.org.uk
• Educational Books Grant page: https://www.dsjunitedcharities.org.uk/educational-books-grant/
• St Thomas' Day Charity page: https://www.dsjunitedcharities.org.uk/st-thomas-day-charity/
• Help in Need page: https://www.dsjunitedcharities.org.uk/help-in-need/
• About Us page: https://www.dsjunitedcharities.org.uk/about-us/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/248848
• Turn2us Grants Search: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/grant/the-deeping-st-james-united-charities-14175