Equity Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 328103

Annual Expenditure: £1.3M

Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £1,281,305 (2022/23)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Up to 2 months (trustees meet bi-monthly)
Grant Range: Up to £2,500 per welfare application (£5,000 maximum per person)
Geographic Focus: England and Wales (UK resident performers)

Contact Details

Address: Unit Z Coworking Space, 23 Alphabet Mews, London, SW9 0FN

Phone: 020 7831 1926

Email: kaethe@equitycharitabletrust.org.uk

Website: www.equitycharitabletrust.org.uk

Overview

Founded in 1989 by the trade union Equity, the Equity Charitable Trust (ECT) is an independent grant-making charity that supports professional performers and their dependents during times of crisis or career transition. Operating as a registered charity (328103) and company (02341733), the Trust is separately managed by a volunteer Board of Trustees under Charity Commission governance rules. In 2022/23, ECT awarded 1,123 welfare, energy, and education grants totaling £1,281,305, providing critical support through the cost-of-living crisis. The charity's principal activities include providing welfare and educational grants for professional performers, alongside offering welfare rights and debt advisory services. The Trust also administers the Evelyn Norris Trust for convalescent and holiday grants, and awards the John Fernald Award for emerging theatre directors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Welfare Grants (Rolling applications)

Maximum: £2,500 per application; £5,000 lifetime maximum per applicant
Purpose: Emergency financial assistance for basic living costs due to unexpected hardship, illness, medical treatment, or loss of income
Priority given to first-time applicants and applicants with disabilities
Application method: Online application form, assessed by Welfare Committee at bi-monthly meetings

Educational Grants (Fixed deadlines)

Amount: Contribution toward tuition fees (rarely covers full fees)
Purpose: Retraining, reskilling, or developing a second income stream
Eligibility: Minimum 10 years adult professional work experience
Application deadlines: Noon on May 14th, July 16th, and September 3rd annually
Possible to reapply for multi-year courses with proof of grades (continued support not guaranteed)

Theatre Grants (Rolling applications)

Amount: Typically around £5,000
Purpose: Capital building projects benefiting actors directly (e.g., green rooms, backstage facilities)
Note: Does NOT fund theatrical productions

John Fernald Award (Application periods vary)

Purpose: Professional development for emerging theatre directors
Covers director's fees and/or living costs for plays or site-specific events

Evelyn Norris Trust (Rolling applications)

Purpose: Convalescent and holiday grants for performers who are ill, injured, infirm, or need respite
For members of theatrical and concert professions

Energy Grants

Amount: Up to £1,000 per household

Priority Areas

Professional performers facing financial hardship or crisis
Career transition and retraining for experienced performers
Physical and mental health recovery
Capital improvements to theatre facilities
Emerging theatre directors' professional development
Debt and benefits guidance for performers

What They Don't Fund

Musicians (not covered)
Students in higher education
Amateur performers
Theatrical production costs (only capital building projects)
Applicants with savings of £6,000 or more (unless exceptional circumstances)

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Governance and Leadership

The Equity Charitable Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees who serve in a voluntary capacity—no trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Board convenes every two months to review grant applications and make funding decisions.

The Welfare Committee, which includes the Chair and other trustees, reviews applications with recommendations from the Secretary and/or Welfare Officer. Decisions are made by majority vote, with the Chair holding a casting vote in the event of a tie. The decision of the Welfare Committee is final.

The charity employs staff including a welfare rights and debt adviser who provides 75-minute consultation sessions to help performers maximize income through benefits advice and debt management guidance.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Welfare Grants: Applications must be made on the standard application form available on the ECT website. Each case is assessed based on the applicant's assets, liabilities, and need, including savings, investments, loans, credit card debt, monthly income, and outgoings.

Educational Grants: Apply via the online application form by the specified deadlines (noon on May 14th, July 16th, and September 3rd). Applications are considered on individual merit.

Other Grants: Contact the Trust directly or apply through the relevant program page on their website.

Decision Timeline

The Trustees convene every two months to consider applications, and applicants are notified directly after each meeting. This typically means a wait of up to 2 months from submission to decision.

In exceptional circumstances, emergency payments can be made between scheduled meetings for urgent welfare needs.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However, in 2022/23, the Trust awarded 1,123 grants totaling £1,281,305, indicating substantial grant-making activity.

Reapplication Policy

For educational grants spanning multiple years, applicants can reapply with proof of grades, though continued support is not guaranteed.

For welfare grants, applicants can receive up to £5,000 maximum per person across multiple applications (£2,500 per application).

Specific waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants to reapply are not published.

Application Success Factors

Eligibility is Critical

Applicants must be professional performers—defined as current or former Equity members, or those eligible for Equity membership. This includes actors, choreographers, dancers, theatre directors, models, singers, stage management, stand-ups, storytellers, stunt performers, theatre designers, theatre fight directors, TV and radio presenters, variety/circus/cabaret artists, voice artists, and walk-on/supporting artists. You do NOT need to be a current Equity member, just eligible for membership.

Financial Assessment

Applications are assessed based on comprehensive financial circumstances, including assets, savings, investments, debts, and monthly income versus outgoings. Generally, applicants with savings of £6,000 or more will not be eligible unless exceptional circumstances exist.

Demonstrate Genuine Need

The Trust focuses on performers facing “unexpected hardship, illness, medical treatment or loss of income.” Applications should clearly articulate the crisis situation and immediate financial need.

Educational Grants Require Experience

For retraining grants, applicants must demonstrate 10 years of adult professional work experience in the performing arts. The Trust seeks to support career transitions or development of second income streams.

Priority Factors

First-time applicants receive priority
Applicants with disabilities receive priority
Emergency situations may receive expedited consideration

What Recipients Say

Testimonials reveal the Trust values applications that:

Demonstrate clear financial crisis or turning point
Show how the grant will provide “breathing space” and reduce stress
For educational grants, explain career transition goals and how retraining will help

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

You don't need to be a current Equity member—eligibility for membership is sufficient, making this accessible to a wider range of professional performers
Keep savings below £6,000—this is a key threshold for eligibility unless exceptional circumstances apply
First-time applicants have an advantage—if you've never applied before, now may be the ideal time
Apply for educational grants at the right time—deadlines are fixed (May, July, September), so plan ahead
Be prepared to wait up to 2 months—trustees meet bi-monthly, though emergency cases can be expedited
Consider the full range of support—beyond grants, the Trust offers free welfare rights and debt advisory sessions that can help maximize income
For capital projects, focus on actor benefits—theatre grants prioritize backstage facilities, green rooms, and other improvements directly benefiting performers, not production costs