Headley Pitt Trust

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 252023
• Annual Income: £104,042 (FY ending January 2025)
• Annual Expenditure: £109,645
• Grant Size: Small grants (specific amounts not publicly disclosed, but at least one example of £250 for education)
• Decision Time: Monthly trustee meetings - applicants may wait several weeks
• Geographic Focus: East Kent (eight district council areas)
• Founded: Registered as charity 1 June 1967

Contact Details

Address: Old Mill Cottage, Ulley Road, Kennington, Ashford, Kent TN24 9HX

Phone: 01233 626189

Email: thelma.pitt7@gmail.com

Website: http://headleypitt.site123.me/

Note: Due to high volume of applications, the charity has periodically paused accepting new applications. Check current status before applying.

Overview

The Headley Pitt Trust is a long-established charitable trust based in Ashford, Kent, that has been operating since 1967. The trust has a dual purpose: providing accommodation for the elderly in ten bungalows or flats, and making grants to organisations and individuals across East Kent. With an annual income of approximately £104,000, the trust focuses its grant-making on four key areas: supporting the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), charitable causes connected to Ashford, educational expenses, and relief of poverty. The trust is administered by three trustees from the Pitt family and operates with no paid staff, keeping administrative costs minimal to maximize charitable impact. Grant decisions are made monthly based on available income during that period, meaning grant amounts can vary. The trust has recently experienced high demand for its services, reflecting its importance to the East Kent charitable sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant program with rolling applications (when open), making small grants to both organisations and individuals. Grants are made on a monthly basis, with amounts dependent on the trust's available income during that month. While specific grant ranges are not published, evidence suggests grants can be as modest as £250 for individual educational support, indicating the trust focuses on providing accessible small grants rather than large awards.

Priority Areas

1. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

• Charitable purposes connected with the Religious Society of Friends
• Committees or organisations working for similar Quaker objectives
• Projects aligned with Quaker values and principles

2. Ashford and East Kent Charitable Causes

• Any charitable object connected with the town of Ashford
• Projects benefiting the wider East Kent region
• Community organisations serving local needs

3. Educational Support

• Individual grants to assist with educational expenses
• Support for children's education costs
• Assistance with vocational training or further education
• Education-related equipment or materials

4. Relief of Poverty

• Grants to individuals experiencing financial hardship
• Support for those in straitened circumstances
• Assistance meeting basic needs

Beneficiary Groups Supported:

• Children and young people
• Elderly people
• People with disabilities
• Other charities and voluntary bodies

Geographic Coverage

Applications are only accepted from the East Kent area, which comprises the following eight district council areas:

• Ashford
• Canterbury
• Dover
• Folkestone & Hythe
• Maidstone
• Medway Unitary Authority
• Swale
• Thanet

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the trust's clear geographic restriction means they do not fund:

• Organisations or individuals based outside East Kent
• National or international projects without local East Kent benefit
• Projects unrelated to their four priority areas

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by three trustees, all members of the Pitt family:

Thelma Edith May Pitt - Trustee and Administrator

• Appointed: 29 August 2017
• Primary contact for applications

Roger William Pitt - Trustee

Jonathan Ranger Pitt - Trustee

• Also serves as trustee of The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology

All three trustees serve without remuneration, ensuring maximum resources are directed to charitable purposes. The trust has no paid employees and no trustees receive any payments or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Headley Pitt Trust operates an informal application process by letter or email. Important: The trust periodically pauses applications due to high demand, so check current status before applying.

Application Methods:

• Email: thelma.pitt7@gmail.com
• Post: The Administrator, Headley Pitt Charitable Trust, Old Mill Cottage, Ulley Road, Kennington, Ashford Kent TN24 9HX

Required Information in Applications:

1. Applicant contact details (name, address, phone, email)
2. Details of the sum being sought
3. Clear explanation of how the funds would be used
4. Information about your organisation (if applicable)
5. Evidence of East Kent location/benefit

Application Notes:

• Applications are not immediately acknowledged
• The trust will reply to all applications with either acceptance or rejection
• Responses are provided only if applications contain all required details
• No specific application form is required

Decision Timeline

Frequency: Trustees decide on grants once per month

Typical Timeline: Applicants may need to wait several weeks for a decision, as the timing depends on when your application is received relative to the monthly trustee meeting schedule.

Important Consideration: Grant amounts and availability depend on the trust's income during the decision month, meaning:

• Funds may be limited in some months
• Grant amounts may vary based on available resources
• Not all applications can be funded even if they meet criteria

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available. However, the trust's recent need to pause applications due to “high volume” suggests:

• The trust is well-known and valued in East Kent
• Competition for funds may be significant
• Demand exceeds available resources at times

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented. Given the monthly decision cycle and small grant focus, unsuccessful applicants could reasonably reapply, but should:

• Consider timing (avoid reapplying immediately)
• Strengthen the application based on any feedback received
• Demonstrate changing circumstances or needs

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors

1. Geographic Eligibility is Non-Negotiable

Your project or situation must clearly demonstrate East Kent location or benefit. Be explicit about which of the eight district council areas you serve or reside in.

2. Fit Within Priority Areas

Clearly state which of the four funding priorities your application addresses:

• Quaker/Religious Society of Friends connection
• Ashford/East Kent charitable purpose
• Educational need
• Poverty relief

3. Realistic Funding Requests

Given the trust describes grants as “small” and has annual expenditure around £109,000 (which includes housing costs), requests should be modest. The trust appears to prioritize helping more people with smaller grants rather than fewer people with larger grants.

4. Clear and Specific Proposals

With monthly decision cycles based on available income, trustees need to quickly assess:

• Exactly what you need funding for
• How much you need
• How the funds will be used
• What impact it will create

5. Individual vs Organisational Applications

The trust explicitly supports both individuals and organisations. Individual applicants for education or poverty relief should not hesitate to apply directly.

Practical Application Tips

• Keep it simple: The trust operates with no paid staff, so concise, clear applications are likely appreciated
• Provide complete information upfront: Applications lacking required details won't receive responses
• Time your application strategically: Understanding the monthly cycle means timing could affect available funds
• Demonstrate local connection: If you're an organisation, show your East Kent roots and community ties
• For Quaker applicants: Clearly articulate your connection to the Religious Society of Friends or Quaker values

What Makes Applications Stand Out

While specific guidance from trustees isn't publicly available, based on the trust's structure and approach, strong applications likely:

• Demonstrate genuine local need in East Kent
• Show how a small grant will make a significant difference
• Present realistic, achievable objectives
• Reflect the trust's values of supporting community, education, and those in need
• Come from established organisations with track records (for organisational applications)
• Show how individuals will use education grants to improve their circumstances

Recent Funded Projects

Confirmed Recipient:

• Ashford Mediation Service - Listed the Headley Pitt Trust among their funders, demonstrating support for local conflict resolution services

Individual grant examples include £250 for postgraduate education support, indicating the trust is willing to support students at all levels of education.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic focus is absolute - You must be based in or serving one of the eight East Kent district council areas to be eligible
• Small grants philosophy - The trust focuses on making modest grants to help more people rather than large awards to a few
• Monthly decisions create opportunities - Unlike many funders with annual deadlines, there are 12 chances per year to secure funding
• Income-dependent grants - Be aware that available funds vary month-to-month based on the trust's rental and investment income
• High demand indicator - The trust's need to pause applications periodically shows it's a valued funder, so applications should be particularly strong
• No bureaucracy advantage - The informal application process (letter or email) means less administrative burden than many grant applications
• Family-run trust values - As a family trust with no paid staff, applications demonstrating genuine local need and personal stories may resonate strongly
• Quaker connections welcomed - If your organisation has Quaker connections or values alignment, highlight this clearly

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• E F AND M G HALL CHARITABLE TRUST
• Peter Adams Trust
• The Tory Family Foundation
• The Cobtree Charity Trust Limited
• William and Edith Oldham Charitable Trust
• The Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust
• Queenborough Fishery Trust
• The Philip and Connie Phillips Foundation
• The Cole Charitable Trust
• THE DAVID PICKFORD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

References

• UK Charity Commission Register, Headley Pitt Trust (Charity Number 252023), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/252023
• Headley Pitt Charitable Trust website, Grant Making page, https://headleypitt.site123.me/services/grant-making
• Charity Commission Trustees Information, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/252023/trustees
• Ashford Mediation Service, Our Funders page, https://ashfordmediation.co.uk/our-funders/
• UniGrants, Headley-Pitt Charitable Trust entry, http://unigrants.co.uk/grant/headley-pitt-charitable-trust/
• Charity Commission Full Print page for 252023, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/252023/full-print