Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1170847

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £85,289 (year ending April 2025)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Up to 6 months
Grant Range: £2,500 - £15,000 (occasional higher awards)
Geographic Focus: UK national
Distribution Split: Two-thirds to equine charities, one-third to elderly charities

Contact Details

Website: www.elisepilkingtontrust.org.uk

Email: admin@elisepilkingtontrust.org.uk

Phone: 01933 677880

Application forms and guidance notes are available to download from the Trust's website.

Overview

Established in 1979 by Mrs Elise Pilkington, this trust has distributed over £5.8 million in grants since inception, with £1.7 million awarded in the last decade alone. The Trust operates with two distinct charitable purposes: preventing cruelty to equine animals and relieving suffering among them, and providing social services for the relief of the aged and infirm. Operating as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with charity number 1170847, the Trust maintains a consistent approach of allocating approximately two-thirds of funding to equine welfare and one-third to elderly care. With an annual income of £60,442 and expenditure of £85,289 (year ending April 2025), the Trust is governed by six trustees who receive no remuneration. Trustees meet twice annually, in spring and autumn, to review applications and make funding decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Equine Welfare Grants: £2,500 - £15,000 (with occasional higher awards)

Capital grants for UK registered equine charities
Members of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) or charities proactively working towards NEWC membership
Applications accepted via downloadable form, submitted by email
Two deadlines per year (typically February and August)

Elderly Care Grants: £2,500 - £15,000

Currently focusing on projects for older people with advanced dementia and their carers
Applications currently on hold, with next deadline 12 September 2025
Must demonstrate clearly defined benefits to elderly frail beneficiaries (drawing on British Geriatrics Society guidance)
Support available for domestic, community, and formal care settings

Priority Areas

For Equine Charities:

Proactive and creative approaches to tackling root causes of welfare issues
Practical interventions to prevent suffering before it occurs
Educational initiatives addressing equine welfare
Innovative solutions designed to prevent cruelty
Projects supporting equines being transported internationally for butchery

For Elderly Charities:

Advanced dementia care and support
Services for carers of people with dementia
Dementia-friendly community initiatives
Hospice dementia support programs
Day care services for frail elderly
Training for dementia care professionals (e.g., Admiral Nurses)

What They Don't Fund

Non-UK registered charities
Projects outside the UK
Applications from equine charities not affiliated with NEWC (unless actively working towards membership)
Elderly care applications not demonstrating benefits to frail elderly populations
Revenue costs unrelated to specific project delivery

Eligible Costs: Core costs may be included if they directly support project delivery (e.g., staff time, rent, utilities used for the specific work funded).

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by six trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Board meets twice annually to review applications and make funding decisions. The charity has no employees with total benefits exceeding £60,000 and operates without trading subsidiaries.

The Trust maintains a transparent governance structure as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, with all compliance requirements met and reporting submitted on time to the Charity Commission.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted by email using the Trust's official application form and guidance notes, which are available to download from elisepilkingtontrust.org.uk.

Current Application Status:

Equine applications: Open on a rolling basis with deadlines typically in February and August
Elderly applications: Currently on hold; next deadline is 12 September 2025

Required Documentation:

Completed application form
Demonstration of NEWC membership or active progress towards membership (equine charities)
Clear evidence of benefits to elderly frail beneficiaries using British Geriatrics Society guidance (elderly charities)

Important Note: The Trust warns applicants to disregard any fraudulent emails claiming to offer grants. They do not send unsolicited emails requesting bank account details.

Decision Timeline

Trustees meet twice annually, in spring and autumn
Decision timeframe: Up to 6 months from application submission
Notification method: Not specified in public materials

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly disclosed. The Trust awarded £85,289 in grants in the year ending April 2025, representing support to multiple organizations across both beneficiary categories.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies or waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

For Equine Charities:

The Trust specifically states: “The Trust is particularly interested in supporting initiatives that take a proactive and creative approach to tackling the root causes of welfare issues. Projects may include practical interventions, education, or other innovative solutions designed to prevent suffering before it occurs.”

NEWC Membership Critical: Equine welfare grants are normally only considered from charities that are members of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) or charities proactively working towards membership. The Trust has even funded NEWC's pilot workshop program (£2,500 grant) to help aspiring members meet membership standards, demonstrating their commitment to this requirement.

Recent Successful Examples:

The Brooke: £40,000 over two years for transforming the farriery trade in low and middle-income countries
The Brooke: £90,000 over three years enabling sustainable change for an estimated 350,000 working horses, donkeys, and mules across 68 equine fairs in India
NEWC Equine Welfare Workshop Pilot: £2,500

For Elderly Charities:

Current Priority Focus: The Board has clearly stated: “At the next round of applications, the Board of Trustees will be focusing support to projects dedicated to addressing the needs of older people with advanced dementia (and their carers) in domestic, community and formal care settings in the UK.”

Demonstrate Impact on Frail Elderly: Applications must demonstrate clearly defined benefits to elderly frail populations, drawing on British Geriatrics Society (BGS) guidance. This specificity is essential for application success.

Recent Successful Examples:

Guild Care: £6,000 for Haviland House Day Service in Goring supporting people living with dementia and their unpaid carers
Douglas Macmillan Hospice: Grant for dementia support groups
Dementia UK: Training for Admiral Nurses
B:friend: £6,000 to support befriending projects in Rotherham
Hourglass: £4,000 to support 24/7 helpline for abused older people

Capital vs. Revenue Costs: While described as “capital grants,” the Trust accepts inclusion of core costs that directly support project delivery, such as staff time, rent, and utilities specifically used for the funded work.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Know your beneficiary category: The Trust maintains a strict two-thirds equine, one-third elderly split in grant distribution—align your application accordingly
NEWC membership is non-negotiable for equine charities: If not already a member, demonstrate active steps toward membership; the Trust funds charities working toward this goal
Advanced dementia focus is current priority for elderly grants: Applications supporting older people with advanced dementia and their carers are most likely to succeed; ensure alignment with this specific focus
Use BGS guidance to define your elderly beneficiaries: Applications must demonstrate benefits to “elderly frail” populations using British Geriatrics Society guidance—be specific and evidence-based
Think prevention and root causes for equine projects: The Trust explicitly favors “proactive and creative approaches to tackling the root causes of welfare issues” rather than reactive interventions
Include core costs strategically: While labeled as capital grants, you can include staff time, rent, and utilities if they directly support project delivery—document this connection clearly
Plan for long timelines: With up to 6 months for decisions and only two trustee meetings annually, factor this into your funding pipeline and project planning

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