Goodwill Solutions Cio

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £530,000 (total since 2016)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £10,000 (typical grants); up to £40,000 (multi-year support)
• Geographic Focus: Northamptonshire, UK (local focus)

Contact Details

Address: C/O Goodwill Solutions CIC, Deer Park Road, Moulton Park Industrial Estate, Northampton NN3 6RX

Phone: 01604 643185

Website: https://goodwillsolutions.co.uk/our-charity/

Email: Not publicly available

Note: No formal application portal is publicly advertised. Interested organizations should contact directly via phone or through the website.

Overview

Goodwill Solutions CIO (Charity Number 1160466) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered on 12 February 2015. The charity is funded entirely by the profits from the trading activities of Goodwill Solutions Group, a social enterprise logistics company based in Northampton. Since 2016, the charity has received £530,000 to distribute to local charitable causes. The organization's mission is to promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those who are socially excluded, and assisting them to integrate into society. Social exclusion is defined as exclusion resulting from unemployment, financial hardship, youth or old age, ill health (physical or mental), substance abuse, and other factors. The charity operates independently from the main Goodwill Solutions Group and focuses on supporting local Northamptonshire charities that provide direct social impact in their communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Goodwill Solutions CIO does not operate formal named grant programs. Instead, the charity makes discretionary grants to local organizations on a case-by-case basis. Applications are reviewed and decisions are made by the board of trustees.

Typical Grant Amounts:

• Small grants: £5,000 - £7,500 (one-time support)
• Medium grants: £10,000 (project-specific)
• Large/multi-year support: Up to £40,000 per year (ongoing accommodation/program costs)

Application Method: Rolling basis (no fixed deadlines publicly advertised). Charities typically meet with Goodwill Solutions and submit a grant application for trustee review.

Priority Areas

The charity actively funds projects and organizations working in the following areas:

Employment and Skills Development:

• Employability programs for socially excluded groups
• Training and skills development for those furthest from employment
• Youth employment initiatives

Criminal Justice and Rehabilitation:

• Prison support and prisoner rehabilitation programs
• Work with ex-offenders and those nearing release
• Gang intervention programs
• Early intervention programs for young offenders

Vulnerable Populations:

• Domestic abuse survivor support
• Services for homeless individuals
• Support for BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) communities
• Autism support services
• Community centres serving disadvantaged populations

Youth Services:

• Programs providing inspiration and opportunities for young people
• Youth crime prevention initiatives
• Facilities and equipment for youth organizations (e.g., Sea Cadets)

Community Cohesion:

• Initiatives that bring communities together
• Foodbank support
• Local Bangladeshi and other ethnic minority support services

Northamptonshire Police Support:

• In-kind accommodation support for police programs (£40,000 annually)
• Gang intervention, Early Intervention Hub, and bicycle repair schemes for offenders

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on their funding history, the charity appears to focus exclusively on:

• Organizations based in or serving Northamptonshire
• Projects with direct social impact on socially excluded individuals
• Charities and community organizations (not individuals)

No information is available about exclusions for specific types of projects, but the strong local focus suggests that organizations outside Northamptonshire would not be considered.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The charity is governed by a board of trustees who make final decisions on grant applications. Current trustees include:

• Mr D R Pickard (Damian Robert Pickard) - Chartered Accountant, appointed January 1, 2013
• Mrs A Haire
• Mr P Aiers
• Mr G Tomkins

Important Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. However, D Pickard and G Tomkins are also directors of Goodwill Solutions C.I.C., the social enterprise that provides funding to the charity.

Leadership Approach

The charity operates as an extension of the Goodwill Solutions Group's social mission. The group itself was founded in 2008 with the goal of helping the local community while operating as a successful logistics business. The charity focuses on targeted funding to organizations that align with its mission of reducing social exclusion through employment, rehabilitation, and community support.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

No Formal Public Application Process: Goodwill Solutions CIO does not advertise a formal online application portal or downloadable application forms on their website or Charity Commission records.

Recommended Approach:

1. Contact Goodwill Solutions directly via phone (01604 643185) or through their website
2. Arrange a meeting to discuss your organization's work and funding needs
3. Submit a grant application (format not publicly specified)
4. Application is reviewed by the board of trustees for final decision

Key Requirement: Organizations appear to need to meet with Goodwill Solutions and demonstrate local social impact in Northamptonshire.

Decision Timeline

Not Publicly Specified: The charity does not publish information about typical decision timeframes, board meeting schedules, or notification methods.

Based on the rolling nature of grants (with awards made throughout 2020, 2021, and 2022), it appears decisions may be made on an ongoing basis rather than at fixed quarterly or annual intervals.

Success Rates

Not Available: The charity does not publish data on the number of applications received versus grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

Not Specified: No information is available about whether unsuccessful applicants can reapply, waiting periods between applications, or restrictions on repeat funding.

Application Success Factors

Recent Funded Projects (Examples of Success)

2020:

• Beyond Recovery - £5,000 for National prison radio supporting prisoners nearing release

2021:

• Spring Family Centre - £10,000 for employability project targeting young BAME individuals in Northampton
• Spring Charity - £7,486 for the Freedom Programme supporting domestic abuse survivors (two-year support)
• Additional grants to: prisoner radio scheme, local autism school, local community centre, local Bangladeshi support charity

2022:

• Northampton Sea Cadets 'TS Laforey' - £7,500 for refurbishment of female cadet changing facilities (toilets and showers)
• Foodbank at Hemmingwell Community Centre, Wellingborough - Sponsorship supporting 200 people weekly with free food

Ongoing:

• Northamptonshire Police - £40,000 annual in-kind accommodation costs for three programs (gang intervention, Early Intervention Hub, bicycle repair scheme for offenders)

Key Success Factors

Based on the pattern of funded projects, successful applications likely demonstrate:

1. Strong Local Connection: All funded projects serve the Northamptonshire community directly
2. Focus on Social Exclusion: Projects working with unemployed, ex-offenders, domestic abuse survivors, young people at risk, and other socially excluded groups
3. Employment/Rehabilitation Focus: Strong emphasis on projects that help people gain skills, find work, or reintegrate into society
4. Direct Impact: Projects that provide tangible, measurable outcomes for beneficiaries
5. Community Cohesion: Initiatives that bring communities together and prevent isolation
6. Partnership Potential: Some projects receive multi-year support, suggesting the charity values ongoing relationships

Alignment with Funder's Mission

Organizations should demonstrate how their work specifically:

• Prevents people from becoming socially excluded
• Relieves the needs of those who are already socially excluded
• Assists socially excluded individuals to integrate into society

The charity particularly values projects that create opportunities for those “farthest from employment” to gain skills that will help them achieve paid work, support programs that provide inspiration for youth, reduce crime through rehabilitation activities, and create community cohesion.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Local is Essential: Goodwill Solutions CIO has a clear geographic focus on Northamptonshire. Organizations outside this area are unlikely to be considered.

1. Social Exclusion is the Core: Frame your application around how your project addresses social exclusion through employment, rehabilitation, youth support, or community integration.

1. Build a Relationship First: The lack of a formal application portal suggests the charity prefers to meet potential grantees and build relationships before making funding decisions. Don't just submit a cold application—make contact first.

1. Demonstrate Direct Impact: The funded projects all show clear, tangible benefits to specific vulnerable populations. Be specific about who you serve and how you help them.

1. Employment and Criminal Justice are Priorities: A significant proportion of grants support employability programs and criminal justice rehabilitation. If your work touches these areas, emphasize it.

1. Think Beyond One-Time Grants: The charity provides both one-time grants and ongoing multi-year support. If you're seeking a longer-term partnership, be prepared to demonstrate sustained impact and effective use of previous funding.

1. Reasonable Grant Requests: Based on funded examples, grants typically range from £5,000 to £10,000, though larger amounts (up to £40,000 annually) are possible for significant ongoing programs. Ensure your request is proportionate to your organization's size and the project's scope.

References

1. UK Charity Commission - Goodwill Solutions CIO (Charity Number 1160466), Register of Charities. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/5054161 [Accessed: 2025]

1. Goodwill Solutions - Our Charity. Available at: https://goodwillsolutions.co.uk/our-charity/ [Accessed: 2025]

1. UK Charity Commission - Goodwill Solutions CIO, Trustees' Annual Report and Accounts (Year ended 31 December 2020). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk [Accessed: 2025]

1. Goodwill Solutions - Community. Available at: https://goodwillsolutions.co.uk/community/ [Accessed: 2025]

1. UK Charity Commission - Goodwill Solutions CIO, Full Print Version. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/sector-data/top-10-charities/-/charity-details/5054161/full-print [Accessed: 2025]