Hamamelis Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £112,717 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: UK only, with special interest in Godalming and Surrey areas

Contact Details

Address: Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, 31 Chertsey Street, Guildford, GU1 4HD

Phone: 01483 791800

Alternative Address: Bottle Works, The Bars, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4LP

Charity Number: 280938

Note: The trust is not currently accepting unsolicited applications and is concentrating on existing relationships.

Overview

The Hamamelis Trust was established in 1980 as a charitable trust registered in England and Wales. The trust focuses exclusively on two areas: medical research and ecological conservation, with grants split into approximately equal proportions between these areas each year. With an annual income of £116,144 and expenditure of £112,717 (as of April 2024), the trust operates as a focused grant-maker supporting institutional projects within the UK. The trust is governed by three trustees and maintains administrative support through Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, a leading private client law firm in Guildford. The trust demonstrates particular interest in supporting projects within the Godalming and Surrey regions, reflecting a commitment to both local and national charitable work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant program supporting two equal priority areas. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed, but total annual charitable expenditure is approximately £112,000, divided between medical research and ecological conservation projects.

Application Method: The trust is currently not accepting unsolicited applications. Funding decisions are made based on existing institutional relationships.

Priority Areas

Medical Research: The trust supports medical research institutions conducting work within the UK. Grants are made to institutions rather than individuals.

Ecological Conservation: The trust funds projects focused on environmental protection and conservation, maintaining equal emphasis with medical research funding.

Geographic Priority: Projects in the Godalming and Surrey areas receive special consideration, though the trust operates throughout England, Wales, and Scotland.

What They Don't Fund

• Individual applicants (grants are made to institutions only)
• Projects outside the United Kingdom
• Currently: Unsolicited applications from new organizations

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Governance and Leadership

The Hamamelis Trust is governed by three trustees who serve without remuneration. The trustees identified include:

• Dr. Stone - Trustee
• Mrs. Laura Dadswell - Trustee (Partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, specializing in private client, tax, and charitable trust matters. She is recognized as “one of the stand-out private client lawyers of her generation” and rated in Chambers HNW)
• Mrs. Lucy Mirouze - Trustee

The trust maintains a lean governance structure with no employees receiving benefits exceeding £60,000 and operates without trading subsidiaries or fundraising activities. Administrative and legal support is provided through Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP in Guildford.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Hamamelis Trust is not currently accepting unsolicited applications. The trust is concentrating on existing institutional relationships for its grant-making activities.

For organizations wishing to be considered in the future, monitoring the trust's status through the Charity Commission register or direct contact with the trustees through Penningtons Manches Cooper may be advisable.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. Given the trust's focus on existing relationships, funding decisions appear to be made on a discretionary basis rather than through formal application rounds.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available. The closed application process suggests the trust operates through proactive identification of suitable projects rather than competitive application rounds.

Reapplication Policy

As the trust is not currently accepting unsolicited applications, reapplication policies are not applicable at this time.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's current closed application status, the following factors are important for organizations that may seek funding when/if applications reopen:

Institutional Status: The trust explicitly states it “generally makes grants to institutions and not to individuals.” Organizations must be established institutions with appropriate governance structures.

UK Focus: Projects must be located and operating within the United Kingdom. International projects are explicitly excluded from consideration.

Equal Priority Areas: The trust maintains strict balance between medical research and ecological conservation, with grants “split into approximately equal proportions between each area” annually. Organizations should position their work clearly within one of these two categories.

Geographic Connection: Projects in the Godalming and Surrey areas receive “special interest.” Organizations with connections to these regions may have enhanced consideration.

Existing Relationships: The trust's current focus on “existing relationships” suggests that relationship-building and institutional reputation are significant factors in funding decisions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Closed Applications: The trust is not currently accepting unsolicited applications; funding is directed through existing institutional relationships
• Institutional Focus Only: Individual applicants are not eligible; only established institutions can receive grants
• Dual Mission Balance: The trust maintains strict 50/50 split between medical research and ecological conservation—ensure your project clearly fits one category
• UK Geographic Requirement: All projects must be UK-based; international work is explicitly excluded
• Surrey Connection Helps: Projects in Godalming and Surrey areas receive special interest and may be prioritized
• Relationship-Based Funding: Success depends on existing institutional relationships rather than competitive application processes
• Modest Scale: With annual giving around £112,000 split between two sectors, expect modest grant sizes rather than major funding awards

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales. (2024). “HAMAMELIS TRUST - Charity 280938.” Register of Charities. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=280938 []

1. OpenCharities. (2024). “HAMAMELIS TRUST.” Available at: http://opencharities.org/charities/280938 []

1. Giving is Great. (2024). “HAMAMELIS TRUST | Charity Factsheet.” Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/charitydetail/?regNo=280938 []

1. Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP. (2024). “Laura Dadswell | Tax and trust planning.” Available at: https://www.penningtonslaw.com/people/a-e/laura-dadswell []

1. Fundraiso. (2024). “HAMAMELIS TRUST.” Available at: https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/hamamelis-trust []

Note: Financial information reflects the charity's most recent filing for the year ending April 5, 2024, as reported to the Charity Commission. The trust's focus on existing relationships and closed application status was confirmed through multiple charity information databases.