Evnia Charitable Trust (Severn Trent Trust Fund)

Charity Number: 1108278

Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 1108278
  • Geographic Focus: Midlands (primarily Severn Trent Water service area)
  • Employees: 88
  • Trustees: 9
  • Registered: 24 February 2005 (operating as Severn Trent Trust Fund with 25+ years history)

Contact Details

Registered Office: 18 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, B2 5QJ

Correspondence Address: Emmanuel Court, 12-14 Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B72 1TJ

Website: www.sttf.org.uk

Phone: 0121 355 7766

Email: office@sttf.org.uk

Overview

The Evnia Charitable Trust, operating primarily under the brand Severn Trent Trust Fund (STTF), has over 25 years of experience supporting people facing financial hardship. Originally established to help individuals unable to pay water and sewerage charges to Severn Trent Water Limited, the trust evolved its mission beyond water bill assistance. The charitable objective is “the relief of those who are in need due to low financial resilience, poverty, hardship or distress, in such manner as the Trustees think fit.”

The trust operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, Auriga Services, a not-for-profit organisation that provides grant administration, debt advice, and income maximisation services. Any surplus generated by Auriga is reinvested into Evnia, amplifying social value and enabling more people to be supported through targeted community funding. The trust is predominantly Midlands-based with a clear and ambitious vision to reduce the impacts of poverty and hardship in deprived areas.

Funding Priorities

Historical Grant Programmes

Organisational Grants for Debt and Money Advice Services

Evnia historically allocated a limited amount of money each year to supporting money advice and debt counselling services provided by other organisations. These grants helped organisations that operate within the Severn Trent Water area and provide debt counselling and money advice services for households.

The trust welcomed approaches from any organisations that operate within this geographic area and offer these specific services.

Partnership Funding for Midlands Organisations

The trust moved away from its main offer only being about providing grants to help people pay their water bills. Evnia worked in partnership with other organisations and provided funding where there were gaps. The trust recognised that many excellent organisations work across the Midlands with trusted relationships with people most in need, and provided funding to enable these organisations to deliver more help to more people locally.

Individual Support Programme

The trust primarily provided grants to individuals or families (average £300-£400) to help clear water debt or assist with water charges. This programme closed to new applications on 8 September 2023.

Priority Areas

  • Money advice and debt counselling services
  • Organisations supporting people unable to pay water/sewerage charges
  • Services helping people in financial hardship, poverty, and low financial resilience
  • Organisations with trusted relationships in deprived Midlands communities
  • Services that help people regain financial stability

What They Don't Fund

Information on specific exclusions for organisational grants is not publicly detailed. The focus appears limited to debt advice, money advice services, and organisations addressing financial hardship in their service area.

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Paul Clive Stone - Trustee and Chair of Auriga Services. Stone is CEO of LCS Professional Services, his management consultancy. In 2006, he was awarded Midlands Business Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors. He also serves as a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands.
  • Gary Michael Anthoney - Director
  • Hannah Mariam Armstrong Wheeler Westby - Director
  • David James Cheadle - Director
  • Jodie Gill - Director
  • Andrew Leslie Parkes - Director
  • Estelle Ann Rowe - Director
  • Craig David Simmons - Director
  • Alistair Noel Starling - Director

Secretary: Auriga Services Limited

The trust operates with some trustees receiving payments or benefits for services, and one or more trustees serve as directors of subsidiary companies.

Key Operational Statistics (via Auriga Services)

Auriga Services, the operational arm, has supported 478,650 people facing financial difficulties, working with 72 partner organisations and processing 72,597 applications. The organisation has identified £7.76 million in potential income and savings for beneficiaries.

How to Apply to Evnia Charitable Trust (severn Trent Trust Fund)

Current Status

Important: The Severn Trent Trust Fund stopped accepting new water grant applications on 8 September 2023. The Evnia Charitable Trust does not appear to have a public, open application process for organisational grants. The trust worked through targeted partnerships and welcomed approaches from organisations, but there is no online application portal or formal application guidelines publicly available.

For organisations providing debt advice or money advice services in the Severn Trent Water service area who wish to enquire about potential partnership opportunities:

  • Contact the trust directly at office@sttf.org.uk or call 0121 355 7766
  • Be prepared to demonstrate your organisation's work with people in financial hardship in the Midlands region

The trust's approach appears to be relationship-based rather than competitive grant-making with regular funding rounds.

Getting on Their Radar

Organisations seeking to explore partnership opportunities with Evnia should:

Establish Organisational Credentials

  • Demonstrate established work providing money advice or debt counselling services in the Midlands
  • Show trusted relationships with communities experiencing financial hardship
  • Operate within the Severn Trent Water service area

Make Direct Contact

The trust specifically states it “welcomes approaches” from qualifying organisations. Direct contact via phone (0121 355 7766) or email (office@sttf.org.uk) is the recommended route rather than waiting for a formal funding announcement.

Leverage Auriga Services Connection

Since Auriga Services (www.aurigaservices.co.uk) is wholly owned by Evnia and works with 72 partner organisations, existing or potential partners of Auriga may have pathways to Evnia funding. Auriga works with charities, local authorities, housing organisations, and other bodies supporting people in financial need.

Demonstrate Gap-Filling Value

The trust specifically mentions providing funding “where there are currently gaps,” suggesting they look for services that complement rather than duplicate existing provision in their area.

Decision Timeline

No public information is available regarding typical decision timelines for organisational grants.

Success Rates

No public data available on application success rates for organisational grants.

Reapplication Policy

No specific information available for organisational grants. For individual applicants, the trust historically allowed reapplication after two years if financial situations had deteriorated, or after twelve months if the trust was unable to provide a grant initially. It's unclear if similar policies applied to organisational grants.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about the organisational grant-making process, organisations exploring partnership opportunities should focus on:

Geographic Alignment

Operate clearly within the Severn Trent Water service area and the broader Midlands region. The trust has an explicit geographic focus.

Service Type Specificity

The trust's documented organisational funding focuses on money advice and debt counselling services. Organisations providing these services appear to be the primary beneficiaries. The trust states “each year a limited amount of money is allocated to supporting money advice and debt counselling services.”

Relationship-Based Approach

The trust emphasises working “in partnership with other organisations.” This suggests building a relationship with the trust is more important than crafting a perfect written application.

Connection to Water Poverty

While the trust has broadened its remit, its origins in supporting people unable to pay water bills remain relevant. Organisations that help people manage utility costs, including water charges, may be particularly aligned.

Examples of Previously Supported Organisations

The trust has previously supported organisations including:

  • Community Advice and Law Service (Leicester)
  • Direct Help and Advice (Derby)
  • Gateway to Birmingham Advice Services
  • Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau
  • The Haven (Wolverhampton)

These examples show the trust supports established advice organisations across its geographic area.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Programme closure: The Severn Trent Trust Fund stopped accepting new water grant applications on 8 September 2023. Contact the trust directly to enquire about current partnership opportunities for organisations.
  • Limited organisational grant-making: Evnia historically provided organisational grants primarily for debt and money advice services, not broad charitable purposes. This is a specialised funder with a narrow focus.
  • No public application process: Unlike many funders, Evnia does not have an open application system. Organisations must make direct contact and build relationships rather than submit formal proposals to funding rounds.
  • Geographic specificity matters: The Midlands focus, particularly the Severn Trent Water service area, is fundamental to the trust's remit. Organisations outside this area are unlikely to receive funding.
  • Partnership model: The trust speaks of “working in partnership” and “welcoming approaches,” suggesting collaborative, relationship-based funding rather than transactional grant-making.
  • Limited funding pool: The trust allocates only “a limited amount of money” annually to organisational grants, suggesting this is not their primary activity. Individual grants were historically their core work.
  • Auriga Services connection: Understanding Evnia's relationship with its subsidiary Auriga Services may provide strategic insights. Auriga administers grants and works with organisations across the region - this operational arm may be a pathway to the trust.
  • Evolution in progress: The trust explicitly states it has “moved away from their main offer only being about providing grants to help people pay their water bills,” suggesting openness to broader organisational funding, though details remain limited and the individual grant programme has now closed.

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