Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society

Registered charity 1115942 · since 2006gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk·Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire·Updated 29 October 2026

Key takeaways

The Society's clearest grant route is its Student Support Fund, which is for students and trainees of all ages on vocational agricultural or land-based courses, so a charity seeking money for its own projects will not find a stated fit there.
Awards are stated at up to £1,500 for that fund, which suggests a request should be framed around a single student's course fees, books, equipment or travel.
Its annual report gave no grants total and the grant range is not stated, so the scale of its wider giving is unclear.
Applications close by 31 May, and the fund accepts only one application per applicant in any 12-month period, using a completed form sent by post or by email to studentsupport@gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk, with a personal statement and two referees.
Its priority area is Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset, and its published application process is limited to that one fund.

Overview

Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1115942).

Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society is a registered charity that promotes agriculture, horticulture, forestry, rural crafts and skills, and conservation for the public benefit. It grew from an agreement between the Gillingham Agricultural Society and the Shaftesbury Farms Club, which led to the first Gillingham & Shaftesbury show. Its best-known grant programme is the Student Support Fund, which helps students entering agricultural, horticultural and countryside courses with college or university fees, books, equipment and transport, with awards normally capped at £1,500. The Society also gives family tickets to local charitable groups and offers discounted trade stands to charities and local groups.

What they fund

Priority Areas

The Society’s Student Support Fund supports students and trainees entering agricultural, horticultural and countryside courses, and seeks to encourage talent preparing for careers in agriculture and related land-based industries. It offers help with college or university course fees, books, equipment and transport to study. The Society also selectively gives family tickets to local charitable groups to support fundraising, and offers charities and local groups discounted trade stands so they can promote their objectives and raise funds. Through its shows and demonstrations, it promotes agriculture, horticulture, forestry, rural crafts and skills, and conservation, and advances public education and understanding of the rural economy for the benefit of the local community.

Themes

Land-based education

Geographic Focus

Priority: Dorset; Wiltshire; Somerset; Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset.

What they don't fund

Student Support Fund only: The scheme is open to receive applications from students and trainees of all ages undertaking vocational study/training in agricultural and allied land-based subjects; Only one application is permitted per applicant per 12 month period

How to apply

Student Support Fund applicants return the completed form to the Show Office by post or email it to studentsupport@gillinghamandshaftesburyshow.co.uk.

Application windows:

Student Support Fund: Applications close by May 31st.

Who can apply:

Student Support Fund: The scheme is open to receive applications from students and trainees of all ages undertaking vocational study/training in agricultural and allied land-based subjects.

What to send:

Student Support Fund
- A personal statement explaining why you are applying, the course or training you are or plan to undertake, the amount sought and how funds would support your study or training.
- Details of personal achievements, including educational attainments and other successes.
- Details of any existing connection with the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show.
- Contact details of two referees: one who knows you from a school, college or employment context and a second who knows you personally. Seek their permission before including their details.

Applying again: Student Support Fund: Only one application is permitted per applicant per 12 month period.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Society.

The Royal Bath & West SocietyFixed deadlines Dorchester Agricultural SocietyRollingGave £3,420 South of England Agricultural SocietyFixed deadlinesGave £11,000 Three Counties Agricultural SocietyNo public processGave £49,300 Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural SocietyNo public processGave £5,000 Kent County Agricultural SocietyInvitation only Newbury & District Agricultural SocietyNo public process The Lincolnshire Agricultural SocietyInvitation onlyGave £6,626 Alresford and District Agricultural SocietyNo public processGave £40,000 The Royal Agricultural Society of EnglandNo public process

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 30 September 2021	£384,596	£286,243	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2021
year to 30 September 2022	£411,158	£397,573	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2022
year to 30 September 2023	£463,667	£523,393	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2023
year to 30 September 2024	£467,433	£545,592	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2024
year to 30 September 2025	£462,832	£436,178	—	Accounts for year to 30 September 2025

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.