Dudley And Geoffrey Cox Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Expenditure: £420,627 (2024)
• Annual Income: £224,038 (2024)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (trustee-selected)
• Grant Range: £14,500 - £400,000 (based on known grants)
• Geographic Focus: England, with particular emphasis on West London
• Application Process: No public applications accepted

Contact Details

Address: C/o Giles Hutchinson, Charities Officer, Merchant Taylors' Company, 30 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8JB

Note: The Trust does not accept funding applications. There is no website, email, or phone number for application inquiries.

Overview

The Dudley and Geoffrey Cox Charitable Trust was established in 1979 by Dudley F. Cox and his son Geoffrey A. Cox, both Old Merchant Taylors who ran a successful group of construction and property companies known as the Haymills Group. Originally named “The Haymills Charitable Trust,” it was renamed to its current title in 1984. The trust operates under the administration of the Merchant Taylors' Company and supports various charitable causes throughout England, with a particular focus on education and West London, reflecting the geographical link to the former Haymills Group of Companies.

With annual expenditure exceeding £420,000, the trust makes grants to selected charitable organizations without accepting public applications. The trustees proactively identify and support charities that align with the trust's priorities, which stem from the founders' interest in education, construction, and design, as well as supporting employees and former employees of Haymills Group companies who are in necessitous circumstances.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs or application cycles. Instead, trustees make funding decisions on a discretionary basis throughout the year. Known grants range from approximately £14,500 for specific projects to £400,000 for major capital investments.

Examples of grants made:

• £400,000 to Merchant Taylors' School for Design Centre equipment (2015)
• £14,500 to Bishop Creighton House for Mentoring Plus project (2017)
• Support to The Scout Association
• Support to The Winch
• Funding to University of Sheffield for Gene Therapy Suite

Priority Areas

The trust has demonstrated consistent support for:

• Education and Training: Particular interest in educational institutions, especially Merchant Taylors' School, through scholarships, prizes, and capital projects. Strong interest in design and construction education reflecting the founders' professional background.

• Disability Support: Funding for organizations supporting people with disabilities, including mentoring programs and skills development.

• Children and Young People: Support for youth organizations such as The Scouts and mentoring programs.

• Elderly and Old People: Support for older people in need.

• Armed Forces and Emergency Service Efficiency: Enhancing the efficiency of armed forces and emergency services.

• Health Advancement: Including medical research projects.

• West London Focus: Particular weight given to work in West London due to the geographical link to the former Haymills Group of Companies.

• Haymills Group Connections: Support for employees and former employees in necessitous circumstances of companies forming part of the Haymills Group.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, given the trust's approach of proactive selection and focus on specific areas, organizations outside their priority areas or without connection to the Merchant Taylors' Company network are unlikely to receive support.

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is administered by the Merchant Taylors' Company with 6 trustees managing the charity's activities. Giles Hutchinson serves as Charities Officer and is the administrative contact. No trustees receive remuneration or payments from the trust, and there are no employees with benefits over £60,000.

The trust has no trading subsidiaries and operates as a traditional grant-making charitable trust under the guidance of trustees who select beneficiaries based on alignment with the founders' intentions and the trust's stated purposes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process. The trustees decide of their own motion which charities the Trust will support. Organizations cannot submit applications or funding requests.

The trust operates on a proactive selection model where trustees identify suitable beneficiaries based on:

• Alignment with the trust's priorities
• Connections to the Merchant Taylors' Company network
• The trust's historical focus areas, particularly education, West London, and support for former Haymills Group employees
• The founders' interest in construction, design, and education

Getting on Their Radar

Given the trust's connection to the Merchant Taylors' Company, organizations with existing relationships or connections to this network may be more likely to be considered by trustees. The trust has historically supported:

• Merchant Taylors' School through multiple scholarships, prizes, and major capital projects
• Organizations working in West London, reflecting the geographical base of the Haymills Group
• Charities supporting former employees of companies within the Haymills Group

Organizations working in the trust's priority areas (particularly education, disability, youth services) with West London connections or links to the Merchant Taylors' Company may potentially come to the trustees' attention through these networks.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. The trust does not accept applications, so there are no published decision timelines or notification processes.

Success Rates

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. Organizations cannot apply or reapply for funding.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their known grants suggests the following characteristics are valued:

• Educational Focus: The trust has made substantial investments in education, particularly the £400,000 grant to Merchant Taylors' School for the Design Centre. This reflects the founders' strong commitment to education and their interest in construction and design.

• West London Connection: Organizations based in or serving West London appear to receive particular consideration, reflecting “the geographical link to the former Haymills Group of Companies.”

• Design and Construction Elements: Given Dudley and Geoffrey Cox's background in construction and property companies, projects involving design, construction, or the built environment appear particularly appealing to trustees. The Merchant Taylors' School grant specifically noted that "with Dudley and Geoffrey's interest in construction and design, the trustees felt the new Design Centre was a perfect fit for the Trust's objectives."

• Disability and Skills Development: The trust funded Bishop Creighton House's Mentoring Plus project for people with learning disabilities to “help with skills and wellbeing programmes,” demonstrating commitment to this area.

• Youth Development: Support for The Scout Association and youth-focused projects indicates ongoing interest in young people's development.

• Merchant Taylors' Network: Strong historical support for Merchant Taylors' School “over the years, providing many scholarships and prizes” suggests ongoing connection to the Merchant Taylors' network.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: This trust cannot be applied to directly. Trustees proactively select beneficiaries without accepting unsolicited proposals.

• Substantial Grants Available: Known grants range from £14,500 for project funding to £400,000 for major capital investments, indicating capacity for significant support when trustees identify suitable opportunities.

• Education Priority: Education, particularly linked to the Merchant Taylors' School, receives major support including scholarships, prizes, and capital projects.

• West London Focus: Organizations serving West London have particular advantage given the trust's historical connection to the Haymills Group based in this area.

• Construction and Design Interest: Projects involving construction, design, manufacturing, or the built environment align with the founders' professional interests and expertise.

• Merchant Taylors' Connection: The trust operates under the Merchant Taylors' Company administration, and organizations with connections to this network may be more visible to trustees.

• Disability and Youth Support: Demonstrated commitment to supporting people with disabilities and young people through skills development and mentoring programs.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Garfield Weston Foundation
• THE HEALTH FOUNDATION
• Trust for London
• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
• THE CHILDWICK TRUST
• THE CHILDHOOD TRUST
• The French Huguenot Church of London Charitable Trust
• Greater London Authority
• DOUGLAS COMPTON JAMES CHARITABLE TRUST
• SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• Herbert Smith Freehills
• Financial Conduct Authority
• Heritage Action Zone

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUST (277761). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=277761&subId=0

• Giving is Great - DUDLEY AND GEOFFREY COX CHARITABLE TRUST Charity Factsheet. Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=277761

• Merchant Taylors' School - “Design Centre Gift”. Available at: https://development.mtsn.org.uk/e-newsletter/april-2015/design-centre-gift - Details of £400,000 grant for Design Centre equipment

• Bishop Creighton House - “Dudley and Geoffrey Cox Charitable Trust supports our Mentoring Plus Project” - Details of £14,500 grant for mentoring programs

• The Scouts - “Dudley and Geoffrey Cox Charitable Trust” listed as supporter. Available at: https://www.scouts.org.uk/supporters/dudley-and-geoffrey-cox-charitable-trust/

• The Winch - “Our Supporters” listing the trust. Available at: https://thewinch.org/our-supporters/