Francis C Scott Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 232131

Annual Expenditure: £1.1M
Geographic Focus: Cumbria, Lancashire

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??1,100,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 3-4 weeks (Small Grants); longer for Main Grants
  • Grant Range: ??5,000 - multi-year awards (Main Grants typically larger)
  • Geographic Focus: Cumbria and Lancaster District
  • Total Assets: ??34.7 million (2017 data)
  • Grants Awarded: ~28 Main Grants + ~13 Small Grants annually

Contact Details

Address: Stricklandgate House, 92 Stricklandgate, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4PU

Phone: 01539 742608

Email: helen@francis-scott.org.uk / info@fcsct.org.uk

Website: www.francis-scott.org.uk

Pre-Application Support: The Trust strongly encourages applicants to contact the team for an informal discussion before applying. Director Helen Carter and the grants team are available to provide advice and guidance.

Overview

The Francis C Scott Charitable Trust was established on October 1st, 1963 by Peter Scott CBE and his sister Dr Joan Trevelyan, named after their father Francis C Scott in recognition of his philanthropic work. The Trust was endowed with significant holdings of Provincial Insurance Company shares between 1963 and 1971. With assets of ??34.7 million (2017), the Trust has awarded nearly ??40 million in grants over its almost 60-year history.

Today, the Trust is one of the largest independent grant funders in Cumbria and Lancaster District solely focused on children and young people up to age 24, distributing over ??1 million annually. The Trust works with and through local organizations to ensure young people experiencing challenging circumstances can fulfill their potential. In 2021, the Trust expanded its approach by carving out 5% of the endowment for social investment, providing patient, repayable finance to key local organizations. The Trust emphasizes partnership, sustainability, and equity of access to opportunities for all young people.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grants: Over ??5,000

  • The Trust awards an average of 28 main grants annually with a total value of around ??1.1 million
  • The majority are multi-year revenue grants for project or core costs
  • Supports both capital funding (equipment) and revenue funding (running costs)
  • Applications submitted online via the 'Apply Now' button on their website

Small Grants: Up to ??5,000

  • Around 13 smaller grants awarded annually, each up to ??5,000
  • One-off payments (not multi-year)
  • Considered by Trustees on a rolling basis
  • Designed to provide quicker decisions ??? usually within 3-4 weeks of applying
  • Same eligibility criteria and priorities as Main Grants
  • Applications submitted online

Step Change Grants: Organizational Development

  • Independent of other Francis Scott Trust grants
  • Supports organizations to build capacity, skills, and resilience
  • Delivered in partnership with Future Fixers (Kendal-based CIC)
  • Includes peer support coaching circles and workshops on time/energy management and coaching skills for managers
  • Not a pre-cursor or guarantee of future funding

Social Investment Loans: ??57,000 - ??387,000

  • Patient, affordable capital with flexibility to respond to evolving situations
  • Long-term repayable finance to support organizational development and growth
  • Available since 2021 (5% of endowment carved out for this purpose)
  • Case example: ??300,000 loan to Lake District Calvert Trust

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses exclusively on organizations working to improve the life chances, experiences, and outcomes for:

  • Children and young people up to age 24
  • Those experiencing challenging circumstances
  • Those who may be excluded from opportunities
  • Located in Cumbria or Lancaster District

Recent funded projects through the “Break the Mould” program included:

  • Young Persons' VOICE Group at St John's Hospice, Lancaster
  • Low-level preventative mental health support for ages 16-24 (Always Another Way, Egremont)
  • Young Music Producers providing safe spaces for 16-24 year-olds (Future Creatives, Kendal)
  • Pitstop Cumbria providing positive pathways for young people with barriers
  • Phoenix Youth Project delivering CV workshops and trips in West Cumbria
  • The Prop Up Project supporting mental health and wellbeing

Other funded examples include: pilot youth work training programmes, school-based counselling, bereavement support for children, and nature-based personal development programmes.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations with turnover exceeding ??1 million (prefer small to medium-sized organizations)
  • Capital projects on general community use buildings (outside core priority area)
  • National organizations unless beneficiaries and project workers are based within Cumbria or Lancaster District
  • Projects outside Cumbria and Lancaster District geographic area
  • Work with people over age 24 (unless part of broader youth program)
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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees

  • Dr Stephen Curl - Chair of Trustees
  • Sarah Dunning OBE - Personnel Committee
  • Annalee Holliday
  • Ian Johnson
  • Christine Knipe
  • Laura Moss
  • Richard Ogden MBE
  • Alex Scott - Chair, Investment Committee
  • Madeleine Scott
  • Lizzie Steinhart - Chair, Programmes Committee
  • Barbara Stephens OBE
  • Melanie Wotherspoon

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Staff

Helen Carter - Director (helen@fcsct.org.uk)

Leadership Quotes

Helen Carter on the Trust's role: “As a local funder, we have a key role to play in providing reliable, trusted funding sources ??? now more than ever. It is a difficult time for the sector, bringing into sharp focus the need to work effectively and ensure everything we do as a grant funder matters.”

On the people they meet: “We meet many fantastic people, giving their time and energy to projects that improve lives and support positive change for others.”

The Trust seeks trustees who “share our charitable objectives, priorities and core values. People who are naturally inclusive, with an open mindset that values and accommodates different perspectives, and who demonstrate high levels of integrity.” They particularly welcome applications from people who know the communities they serve.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

All Applications (as of January 2024):

  • Submit online via the 'Apply Now' buttons on the website (francis-scott.org.uk)
  • Separate application processes for Main Grants and Small Grants
  • Must include copy of most recent signed accounts

Before Applying:

  • The Trust strongly encourages contacting the team for an informal discussion
  • Phone 01539 742 608 or email for advice and guidance
  • Early engagement helps with planning and sustainability of projects

After Submission:

  • Grants Officer will be in touch with questions to better understand the project
  • May arrange a visit to your organization

Decision Timeline

Small Grants:

  • Rolling basis consideration by Trustees
  • Typically 3-4 weeks from application to decision

Main Grants:

  • Longer timeline (specific timeframe not publicly disclosed)
  • Contact the Trust for current meeting schedules

Success Rates

The Trust awards approximately 28 Main Grants and 13 Small Grants annually (41 grants total) distributing ??1.1 million. Specific application numbers and success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed. Contact the Trust directly to discuss reapplication possibilities.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

“For all applications to FCSCT, it is worth phoning the team for advice and guidance before filling in the application form.” The Trust emphasizes early engagement and informal discussions as key to successful applications.

Key Success Factors

Geographic and Beneficiary Alignment:

  • Must serve young people up to age 24 in Cumbria or Lancaster District
  • Clear focus on those experiencing challenging circumstances or excluded from opportunities

Organizational Size:

  • Small to medium-sized organizations are preferred
  • Charities with turnover over ??1 million unlikely to be supported

Planning and Partnership:

  • Approach at early stage in planning cycle
  • Demonstrate sustainability thinking
  • Show understanding of local context and community needs

Multi-Year Thinking:

  • Main Grants predominantly multi-year awards
  • Trust values ongoing relationships and impact

Capacity and Development:

  • Organizations showing interest in building capacity may be good candidates for Step Change grants
  • Trust values resilience and organizational development

Language and Terminology

The Trust uses terminology focused on:

  • “Fulfilling potential”
  • “Life chances, experiences and outcomes”
  • “Challenging circumstances”
  • “Excluded from opportunities”
  • “Working with and through others”
  • “Equity of access”

Projects They've Recently Funded

Through their 60th anniversary “Break the Mould” program (??60,000 distributed), they funded diverse youth-focused initiatives including mental health support, youth voice groups, creative arts spaces, career development, and wellbeing programs. Their 28-year support of Lake District Calvert Trust (including a ??300,000 social investment loan) demonstrates commitment to long-term partnerships with key local organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Pre-application contact is essential: The Trust explicitly states it's “worth phoning the team for advice and guidance before filling in the application form.” This isn't optional ??? it's strategic advice directly from the funder.
  1. Geographic focus is non-negotiable: Must serve Cumbria or Lancaster District. National organizations only considered if beneficiaries and project workers are locally based.
  1. Age range matters: Exclusively focused on up to age 24. Projects must clearly serve this demographic experiencing challenging circumstances.
  1. Think multi-year for Main Grants: The majority of Main Grants are multi-year awards. Frame your application with sustainability and long-term impact in mind, approaching at early planning stages.
  1. Small to medium organizations are preferred: With turnover under ??1 million. If you're larger, you'll likely not be supported unless there's exceptional local impact justification.
  1. Consider the full ecosystem of support: Beyond grants, explore Step Change capacity building grants and social investment loans. The Trust takes a holistic view of organizational development.
  1. Demonstrate local knowledge and community connection: The Trust values people “who know the communities they serve” and emphasizes working “with and through others.” Show genuine local partnership and understanding.

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