Hastings Area Community Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £99,993
• Grant Range: Up to £100 (single person) / £200 (family)
• Geographic Focus: Hastings and Rother, East Sussex
• Application Method: Through referring agencies only

Contact Details

Website: www.reliefhastings.weebly.com

Email: hact@btinternet.com

Phone: 01424 718880

Grant Applications Contact: John Enefer (Clerk) - clerk.relief@gmail.com

Overview

Hastings Area Community Trust, also known as “Relief,” is a local welfare charity that has been providing grants to people in poverty in the Hastings area since 1890. The charity operates multiple functions: providing accommodation for other charitable organisations at Bolton Tomson House, offering administration services to other grant-making bodies, and making small grants to individuals in financial need. With an annual income of approximately £89,500 and expenditure of around £100,000, the Trust maintains a long tradition of supporting vulnerable residents in the borough of Hastings and Rother district.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Individual Welfare Grants: Up to £100 (single person) / £200 (family) - Relief of poverty and financial hardship (rolling basis through referring agencies)

Priority Areas

• Relief of poverty for individuals and families on low incomes
• Essential household items (furniture, appliances)
• Local residents of Hastings borough and Rother district

What They Don't Fund

• Direct applications from individuals (must come through referring agencies)
• Organizations or community groups
• Grants exceeding £100 (single person) or £200 (family)
• Applicants outside the Hastings and Rother geographic area

Ready to write a winning application for Hastings Area Community Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Peter Carcas (Chair)
• Rosemary Carole Foster (Trustee since 2017)
• Janice Vanessa Howe (Trustee since 2014)
• Helen Viki Barraclough (Trustee since 2011)

Administration: John Enefer serves as Clerk, handling grant application enquiries and coordinating with referring agencies.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: This funder does not accept direct applications from individuals. All applications must come through referring agencies such as:

• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
• Homeworks
• Social services
• Other recognised support organisations in the Hastings/Rother area

Referring agencies can obtain application forms by contacting John Enefer on 01424 718880 or clerk.relief@gmail.com

Decision Timeline

Operating on a rolling basis, assessing applications as received from referring agencies.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy documented. Individuals requiring further support should discuss circumstances with their referring agency.

Application Success Factors

• Work through established agencies: Applications must come from recognised referring agencies with established relationships with the Trust
• Focus on essential needs: Prioritise basic necessities - furniture, appliances, essential household items
• Demonstrate financial hardship: Clear evidence of low income or genuine financial difficulty
• Local connection required: Must be resident of Hastings or Rother district with proof of residence
• Keep requests modest: Maximum grants of £100-£200, focus on specific, affordable items
• Agency support crucial: The referring agency's assessment carries significant weight

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Individual welfare charity providing grants to people in poverty, not organisations
• No direct applications - all must come through referring agencies
• Small grant amounts (£100-£200) for essential household items only
• Geographic restriction to Hastings and Rother district residents
• Operating since 1890 with deep community roots and established agency relationships
• Rolling applications with no fixed deadlines
• Also serves as community hub providing accommodation for other charities at Bolton Tomson House

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE MAGDALEN AND LASHER CHARITY
• MRS L D ROPE'S THIRD CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT
• Provincial Grand Charity of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire
• Faringdon United Charity CIO
• The Homity Trust
• John Bristow and Thomas Mason Trust
• The Tantum Trust
• Waterside Community Fund
• The Heinz, Anna and Carol Kroch Foundation
• Worcester Municipal Charities (CIO)

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales. Hastings Area Community Trust - Charity Overview. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1002470&subid=0
• ESCIS (East Sussex Community Information Service). Hastings Area Community Trust. https://www.escis.org.uk/advice-and-support/hastings-area-community-trust/
• Hastings Area Community Trust Official Website. https://reliefhastings.weebly.com/
• Turn2Us Grants Search. Hastings Area Community Trust. https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/grant/hastings-area-community-trust-12862