Girton Town Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £991,000 (charitable activities expenditure, 2024)
• Total Income: £1,001,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Contact required for specific timelines
• Grant Range: £300 - £1,200 (individual schemes vary)
• Geographic Focus: Girton village, Cambridgeshire (local)

Contact Details

Website: www.girtontowncharity.org.uk

Email: gtc@girtontowncharity.org.uk

Phone: 01223 276008

Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10:00am-1:00pm

Address: 22 High Street, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 0PU

Overview

Girton Town Charity (Charity No. 1130272) is an almshouse charity with a 500-year history serving residents of Girton village in Cambridgeshire. Registered as both a charity and a company limited by guarantee, GTC maintains 28 almshouses and funds a range of schemes and grants for individuals and families. In the financial year ending June 2024, the charity had total income of £1,001,000 (£202,000 from charitable activities and £799,000 from investments) and spent £991,000 on charitable activities. The charity's mission is to enable Girton residents to lead as full a life as possible in the comfort and safety of their own homes. In June 2024, the charity received recognition when HRH The Duke of Gloucester visited their award-winning Dovehouse Court development, the UK's first fully accredited Passivhaus almshouse development, which was highly commended in the 2024 Greater Cambridge Design and Construction Awards.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Educational Grant Scheme

• Amount: Up to £300 per year
• Eligibility: Individuals leaving secondary education for further or higher education (NVQ Level 4 or above, including degree-level courses)
• Purpose: Books, equipment, tools, and other direct costs related to the course
• Application: Contact charity office for eligibility assessment

Short-Term Care Grant

• Amount: Up to £1,200 worth of care
• Duration: Maximum 3 months per calendar year
• Eligibility: Village residents and their carers
• Purpose: Additional care to support independent living over and above statutory entitlements, particularly useful for hospital discharge situations
• Delivery: Paid directly to Availl care professionals

Personal Grants

• Amount: Varies by need
• Purpose: Disabled showers, training for career changes, equipment for family members with special needs, and other individual needs
• Eligibility: Village residents assessed on need and eligibility
• Application: Rolling basis - contact charity office

Hospital Taxi Scheme

• Registration Fee: £8 annually
• Benefit: Capped taxi fares at £10 per return trip to Cambridge Biomedical Campus
• Eligibility: Girton residents with transport difficulties accessing medical appointments

Additional Support Services

• Community Warden Scheme (partnership with Age UK Cambridgeshire & Peterborough)
• Older Residents' Coordinator
• Relationship Counselling (up to 6 free sessions at William Collyn Community Centre)
• Prescription Service for housebound residents

Priority Areas

• Relief of need, hardship, or distress for Girton residents
• Supporting independent living, particularly for elderly and disabled residents
• Educational advancement for young people
• Healthcare access and support
• Community groups and activities serving village residents
• Almshouse provision with preference for elderly residents
• Sustainable, energy-efficient housing solutions

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not detailed in public documentation, the charity's primary restriction is geographic: applicants must be residents of Girton village or have close connections to Girton. In exceptional circumstances, trustees may grant relief to otherwise eligible persons residing outside the area.

Educational grants are limited to Level 4 qualifications and above, meaning lower-level courses and vocational training below this level are not covered under the Educational Grant Scheme.

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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Ann Bonnett

Trustees: Rachel Allchorne, Marc Bermann, Colin Carr, Gill Cockley, Lynn Henderson, Andrew Muston, Patsy Smith

Board Structure: Eight trustees serve the charity - six appointed by the trustees themselves and two by Girton Parish Council. The board meets approximately monthly, and no trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Quote from Leadership:

Ann Bonnett, Chair: “It has been a great pleasure to show you around our new almshouses so you could see first-hand these homes for the future.”

Regarding the Suffolk Terrace completion, Ann Bonnett stated: “As an almshouse charity, we are delighted that Suffolk Terrace is now completed and to welcome our new residents, including Florence and Callum, who can really benefit from having the time to save for their own home, whilst living near to family.”

Royal Recognition:

HRH The Duke of Gloucester (Royal Vice Patron of The Almshouse Association) visited in June 2024 and commented: “It is very impressive that your charity, which has a 500-year history, is now looking to the future with these inspiring homes which have preserved the principles of traditional almshouse design with shared gardens and a community courtyard.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications cannot be made directly through the charity's website as they need to verify eligibility, which requires name and postal address information.

To Apply:

1. Contact the charity office during office hours (Tuesday-Thursday, 10:00am-1:00pm)
2. Phone: 01223 276008 or Email: gtc@girtontowncharity.org.uk
3. Enquiries can be made via email, telephone, or in-person visits
4. The charity will assess eligibility and need
5. Applications are assessed on an individual basis

Application Method: Rolling basis for most schemes

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. The trustees meet approximately monthly, suggesting applications may be reviewed at regular intervals. Contact the charity office directly for expected timeframes for specific grant types.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is detailed in public documentation. Contact the charity office for guidance on reapplying if initially unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors

1. Geographic Connection: Being a resident of Girton village is the primary eligibility criterion. Having “close connections” to Girton may be considered in some circumstances.

1. Demonstrable Need: Applications are assessed based on need and eligibility. Be prepared to demonstrate genuine financial need or hardship.

1. Specific Purpose: Applications should clearly articulate the specific purpose of the grant and how it will improve quality of life or support independent living.

1. Supporting Independent Living: The charity's stated mission is to enable residents to “lead as full a life as possible in the comfort and safety of their own homes” - align applications with this goal.

1. Educational Advancement: For educational grants, ensure your course is Level 4 or above and clearly link requested items to course requirements.

Language and Values

The charity emphasizes:

• “Relief of need, hardship or distress”
• “Independent living”
• “Community benefit”
• “Supporting residents of all ages”
• “Looking to the future” while honoring heritage
• Sustainability and environmental responsibility (evidenced by Passivhaus development)

Recent Funding Examples

• Babysitting Course organized by Connections Bus Project for Village residents aged 14-17
• Support for relationship counselling services
• Care provision through Availl professionals
• Community warden and older residents' coordinator services through Age UK partnership

Application Tips

• Contact the office first before applying to discuss eligibility and suitability
• Be specific about costs and how grant funds will be used
• For educational grants, provide clear documentation linking requested items to course requirements
• For care grants, coordinate with Availl care professionals as payments go directly to them
• Personal grants require clear articulation of need and how the support will improve quality of life

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Geographic Focus is Critical: This charity exclusively serves Girton village residents. Do not apply if you do not live in or have close connections to Girton, Cambridgeshire.

1. Multiple Support Options Available: GTC offers various schemes beyond direct grants, including subsidized taxi services, care coordination, and counselling. Explore all options that might support your needs.

1. Contact Before Applying: The charity requires direct contact for eligibility verification before formal applications. Use this opportunity to discuss your needs and understand which scheme best fits your situation.

1. Grants are Modest but Practical: Grant amounts are relatively small (£300-£1,200) and focused on specific, practical needs rather than large projects. Applications should be realistic and well-costed.

1. Focus on Independent Living: Applications that demonstrate how funding will support independent living, particularly for elderly or disabled residents, align strongly with the charity's mission.

1. Heritage Meets Innovation: The charity balances a 500-year history with forward-thinking approaches (evidenced by their Passivhaus development). This suggests openness to innovative solutions while maintaining traditional community-focused values.

1. Rolling Applications: Most schemes operate on a rolling basis rather than fixed deadlines, allowing applications throughout the year. However, trustees meet monthly, which may influence decision timing.

References

• Girton Town Charity official website: https://girtontowncharity.org.uk/
• Girton Town Charity Schemes and Grants page: https://girtontowncharity.org.uk/schemes-and-grants.html
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/4044758
• The Almshouse Association: “Girton Town Charity welcomes HRH Duke of Gloucester,” June 2024: https://www.almshouses.org/news/girton-town-charity-welcomes-hrh-duke-of-gloucester/
• Cambridge Network: Girton Town Charity profile: https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/directories/companies/3438
• Girton Town Charity About page: https://girtontowncharity.org.uk/about.html