Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £120,000 - £150,000
• Total Income: £380,510 (2024/25)
• Track Record: £1.6m awarded to 141 recipients over 15 years
• Decision Time: Quarterly review (4 times per year)
• Geographic Focus: Suffolk and adjoining counties (Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire)
• Established: 1910

Contact Details

Website: www.felixcobboldtrust.org.uk

Email: office@felixcobboldtrust.org.uk

Phone: 07787 465527

Registered Address: c/o Mowness Hall, Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 5JJ

Charity Number: 211245

Overview

The Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust was established in 1910 following a bequest from Suffolk farmer Felix Thornley Cobbold, who sought to promote agricultural advancement in East Anglia. For over a century, the Trust has evolved from managing 30+ demonstration farms to its current model of letting farms to tenants and directing rental income toward grants. The Trust generates approximately £200,000 annually from property rentals and investment dividends, allocating £120,000-£150,000 yearly for charitable purposes after maintaining farms and administration costs. The Trust manages significant agricultural assets including the Suffolk New College Rural Campus site at Otley (24.5 hectares), two arable farms totaling 289 hectares, and various allotments and commercial buildings. Nine trustees govern the organization, meeting quarterly to review applications and set strategic direction. The Trust is particularly known for funding the STAR (Sustainability Trial for Arable Rotations) project, a unique long-term field-based study examining cultivation methods and crop rotations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Six Core Grant Categories:

1. Education and Training - Supporting agricultural students and professional development
2. Research and Development - Funding agricultural research that benefits East Anglia
3. Promotion and Publicity - Improving public understanding of farming and food production
4. Capital and Equipment - Supporting teaching establishments and on-farm facilities
5. Production and Marketing - Projects benefiting East Anglian farm production or marketing
6. Environment and Wildlife - Conservation projects improving wildlife/farming balance

Special Programs:

• John Forrest Memorial Award - Free 3-day residential communications training course for 8 agriculturists annually at Madingley Hall, Cambridge (jointly funded with The Morley Agricultural Foundation)
• Harper Adams University Scholarships - Entry scholarships for eligible students from the Trust's geographic area
• STAR Project - Ongoing funding and site provision for sustainability trials in arable rotations

Application Schedule: Four quarterly deadlines - 30 March, 31 May, 30 September, and 20 December

Priority Areas

Geographic Priority: Strong preference for applicants from Suffolk and adjoining counties (Norfolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire), or projects clearly relevant and beneficial to East Anglian agriculture

Education and Training Focus:

• Students accepted for agriculture or related subjects at official institutions
• Priority may be given to applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Preference for those not eligible for state funding
• Must originate from or have lived in qualifying counties for at least 3 years (excluding higher education time)

Research Focus:

• Projects benefiting farming in Suffolk and adjoining counties
• Senior research leaders at reputable institutions (students require qualified supervision)
• Recent supported areas include: conservation agriculture, soil science, precision agriculture, plant-insect interactions, sugar beet bioprocessing, disease management in brassicas, plant defense systems, and grey partridge conservation
• Collaboration with institutions including Universities of Nottingham, Hertfordshire, Reading, Cranfield, Rothamsted Research, and NIAB

Promotion and Publicity:

• Educational events improving public understanding of farming and food production

Capital and Equipment:

• Teaching/training establishments in qualifying counties
• On-farm facilities that are open to the public
• Equipment for specific research/development projects

Production and Marketing:

• Applications from breed societies, agricultural associations, or research organizations
• Projects benefiting East Anglian farm production or marketing

Environment and Wildlife:

• Applications from registered environmental charities or research bodies
• Conservation projects in East Anglia

What They Don't Fund

While the Trust doesn't publish explicit exclusions, implicit restrictions include:

• Projects outside East Anglia (unless exceptionally beneficial to the region)
• Students eligible for state funding (for education grants)
• Commercial enterprises without clear educational or research benefit
• Projects where results cannot be made publicly available

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Governance and Leadership

Board Structure: Nine trustees who meet quarterly to review grant applications and conduct Trust business. All trustees serve without remuneration, payments, or benefits.

Chairman: James Forrest, who farms near Stowmarket

Administration: The Trust recently lost its long-serving administrator Colin Smith (2007-2025). Contact the Trust via their website for current administrative details.

Management Philosophy: The Trust has evolved its approach significantly - moving from direct farm management to a grant-making focus. In the early 21st century, trustees made the strategic decision to lease farms to tenants and redirect income toward grants for research and education, recognizing this would better serve their charitable obligations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Initial Contact: Before requesting an application form, email the Administrator at office@felixcobboldtrust.org.uk with:

1. Full name, address, telephone number, and email address
2. Grant category and confirmation of eligibility within the 6 categories
3. Name of course, project, or activity proposed
4. Brief supporting statement explaining why funding is needed
5. Total grant amount requested
6. Details of grants applied for or awarded by other bodies, including state funding

Important Warning: “Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of any award from the Felix Cobbold Trust.”

For General Inquiries: If you have a project which benefits East Anglian agriculture, contact the Administrator by email to discuss suitability.

Category-Specific Requirements:

• Research applications: Must come from senior research leaders at reputable institutions; students require supervision by qualified research leaders
• Education applications: Must provide proof of acceptance at official institutions
• Capital/Equipment: Must demonstrate public access or specific research application

Key Condition: All results and reports from funded work must be made publicly available unless the Trust specifically agrees otherwise in writing.

Decision Timeline

Review Schedule: Trustees meet quarterly to review applications

Application Deadlines:

• 30 March
• 31 May
• 30 September
• 20 December

Decision Notification: Decisions are made at quarterly trustee meetings following each deadline. The Trust does not publicly specify notification timelines, but applicants should expect communication after the relevant quarterly meeting.

Success Rates

Over 15 years (approximately 2007-2022), the Trust awarded £1.6 million to 141 recipients, with some organizations receiving multiple awards. This suggests an average of around 9-10 awards per year, though annual numbers likely vary.

The Trust explicitly states: “The Trust is not obliged to fund any application, or to give reasons for declining to do so.”

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. The Trust does not publicly state whether unsuccessful applicants can reapply or if waiting periods apply.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Clear East Anglian Benefit: The Trust's founding mission centers on advancing agriculture specifically in Suffolk and adjoining counties. Applications must clearly articulate how the project benefits East Anglian farming, even if the work takes place elsewhere. Research applicants should explicitly state regional relevance.

Public Accessibility of Results: The Trust mandates that “all results and reports produced from the funded work must be freely available to the public unless specifically agreed by the Trust in writing.” Applications should demonstrate commitment to knowledge sharing and indicate how results will be disseminated to the farming community.

Strong Institutional Backing for Research: The Trust supports research conducted by “senior research leaders at reputable institutions.” Student researchers require “supervision by qualified research leaders.” Research applications should clearly identify the lead researcher's credentials and institutional affiliation. Past funded institutions include Universities of Nottingham, Hertfordshire, Reading, Cranfield, Rothamsted Research, and NIAB.

Alignment with Current Research Priorities: Recent funded projects focus on: conservation agriculture and soil health, precision agriculture technology, crop improvement and bioprocessing, disease management, and biodiversity/farming integration. Applications in these areas may align with trustee interests.

Educational Merit and Disadvantaged Backgrounds: For education grants, the Trust notes “priority may be given to [applicants] from a disadvantaged background.” Students should articulate both their connection to East Anglia and any financial or educational disadvantages. Harper Adams scholarships ask for “a statement of up to 500 words detailing the difference and impact that a scholarship would have.”

Complete Pre-Application Information: The Trust warns that “failure to [provide all required information] may result in the withdrawal of any award.” Incomplete applications risk rejection. Applicants must provide comprehensive details about other funding sources, including state funding eligibility.

Practical Farming Application: The STAR project exemplifies the Trust's preference for research that “provides growers with a practical demonstration that models their own farm situation” while generating “impartial, statistically valid, quantifiable data that clearly demonstrates the impact of farm decisions on system stability and profitability.” Applications should bridge research and practical farming implementation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic specificity is paramount: You must demonstrate clear benefits to Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, or Cambridgeshire agriculture. Don't apply if you can't make this connection explicit.

• The Trust funds research-to-practice: Successful projects bridge academic research with practical farming applications. The STAR project model shows their preference for field-based, farmer-relevant studies that generate both scientific data and practical demonstrations.

• Quarterly deadlines provide regular opportunities: With four annual deadlines, unsuccessful applicants or those developing projects can return relatively quickly, though no explicit reapplication policy exists.

• Research applications require senior leadership: Student-led research must have qualified supervisor backing. The Trust funds institutions and established researchers, not independent students.

• Public knowledge sharing is non-negotiable: Budget for and plan dissemination activities. The Trust exists to advance agriculture through education, so grant outcomes must be accessible to the farming community.

• Complete pre-application contact is critical: The requirement to email specific information before receiving an application form serves as both a screening mechanism and a way to establish fit. Use this opportunity to demonstrate alignment with Trust priorities.

• John Forrest Award represents communication priority: The Trust's co-funding of annual communications training (111 participants over 14 years) signals their belief in scientist-farmer dialogue. Applications demonstrating strong communication and knowledge exchange may resonate with trustees.

References

• Felix Cobbold Trust Official Website -
• Felix Cobbold Trust - Applications Page -
• Felix Cobbold Trust - Grant Categories -
• Felix Cobbold Trust - About the Trust -
• Felix Cobbold Trust - John Forrest Award -
• Felix Cobbold Trust - Research Projects -
• Charity Commission - Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust -
• AgriFood Charities Partnership - Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust -
• East Anglian Daily Times - “Trust created by Suffolk farmer offers £100k windfall to help sector” -
• East Anglian Daily Times - “Tributes to Suffolk farming trust stalwart Colin Smith” -