Hedley Foundation Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £678,397 (as of 2020)
• Success Rate: 25% (approx. 250 successful from 1,000+ applications annually)
• Decision Time: Up to 4 months
• Grant Range: £250 - £5,000 (occasionally higher)
• Average Grant: £2,500-£3,000
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Number of Grants: Approximately 300-326 grants annually

Contact Details

Address: 1-3 College Hill, London EC4R 2RA

Website: www.hedleyfoundation.org.uk

Email: mkitto@hedleyfoundation.org.uk (general contact); applications@hedleyfoundation.org.uk (applications)

Phone: 020 7489 8076

Overview

The Hedley Foundation was established in 1971 by the Hedley Family, whose ancestors included William Hedley, designer of the first effective steam locomotive, Puffing Billy, in 1813. The Foundation is an endowed grant-giving charitable foundation with a mission to support small UK registered charities operating across the spectrum of social need. With annual giving of approximately £678,397 (2020 figures) and making around 300-326 grants per year, the Foundation seeks to help and improve the quality of life of people in the UK, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Foundation focuses specifically on smaller charities with annual incomes below £1 million, distributing grants typically between £250 and £5,000, with occasional larger amounts where high impact can be achieved.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme: £250 - £5,000 (occasionally higher for exceptional impact)

• Applications reviewed quarterly by trustees
• Four trustee meetings per year
• Rolling application process with quarterly deadlines
• Average grant size: £2,500-£3,000

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports charities working in four main categories:

• Education and training programmes
• Arts and cultural activities
• Sport and adventurous activities
• Employment support initiatives
• Youth engagement programmes that counter anti-social behaviours
• Activities helping young people stay away from the Criminal Justice System

• Physical disabilities
• Mental disabilities
• Sensory impairments
• Learning difficulties

• Quality of life improvements for elderly people
• End-of-life care services
• Terminally ill individuals

• Carers
• Homeless people
• Ex-offenders and those about to leave custody
• Otherwise disadvantaged people

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation explicitly excludes:

• Core salaries
• Building construction
• General running costs
• Transport
• Financial deficits
• Overseas projects
• Applications from organizations that received a grant within the previous two years
• Applications from organizations that submitted an unsuccessful application within the last 12 months

Ready to write a winning application for Hedley Foundation Limited?

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

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by a board of trustees who meet four times per year to review applications. John Rodwell serves as Honorary President. The Foundation operates as a private company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 23 July 1971.

The contact email (mkitto@hedleyfoundation.org.uk) suggests M. Kitto serves in a key administrative role, though specific trustee names and biographies are not publicly detailed on accessible sources.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method:

• Download the application form from www.hedleyfoundation.org.uk
• Complete the form with all required information
• Submit via email to applications@hedleyfoundation.org.uk with supporting documentation (including audited accounts)
• Alternatively, post to: The Hedley Foundation, 1-3 College Hill, London EC4R 2RA

Key Application Requirements:

• Must be a UK registered charity
• Annual income must be below £1 million
• Must not have received a grant within the previous two years
• Must not have submitted an unsuccessful application within the last 12 months
• Include most recent Statement of Financial Activities showing income, expenditure and Balance Sheet
• Provide accurate contact details (email and telephone numbers)

Decision Timeline

Review Process:

• Trustees meet four times per year (quarterly)
• Applications should be submitted at least 6 weeks before each meeting
• Upcoming meeting deadlines typically include dates in February, June, August, and later in the year

Notification:

• If you do not hear anything within four months of submitting an application, you should assume it has been unsuccessful
• Due to high volume of applications, the Foundation cannot respond to queries regarding submitted applications
• Successful applicants will be contacted directly

Success Rates

The Foundation receives more than 1,000 applications per year, of which around 250 are successful, representing approximately a 25% success rate. Historical data shows that less than two-thirds of applications received fall within the Foundation's criteria, meaning proper alignment with eligibility requirements is crucial.

Reapplication Policy

Two-Year Rule: Organizations that have received a grant must wait two years before reapplying.

12-Month Rule: Organizations that submitted an unsuccessful application must wait at least 12 months before submitting a new application.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Looks For

Impact and Outcomes: Applications should clearly state the anticipated outcome or impact of the project, including:

• Who will benefit
• How many people will benefit
• Specific, measurable outcomes

Financial Clarity: Include detailed financial information showing:

• Most recent Statement of Financial Activities
• Income and expenditure breakdown
• Balance Sheet
• How the grant will be used

Alignment with Priorities: Ensure your project clearly fits within one of the four priority categories (youth, disabled, elderly/terminally ill, or other social welfare).

Small Charity Focus: The Foundation specifically targets smaller charities with incomes below £1 million, so emphasize your organization's scale and the proportional impact a grant would make.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Based on application statistics, the main reasons applications fail include:

• Falling outside the Foundation's criteria (approximately one-third of applications)
• Requests for excluded items (core salaries, building construction, running costs, transport)
• Insufficient detail about impact and beneficiaries
• Reapplying within the restricted timeframes
• Annual income exceeding £1 million

Tips for Standing Out

1. Be Specific: Provide concrete numbers about beneficiaries and measurable outcomes
2. Show Proportional Impact: Demonstrate how the grant will make a meaningful difference relative to your organization's size
3. Align with Priorities: Use language that clearly connects your work to one of the four priority categories
4. Focus on People: Emphasize the human impact on disadvantaged individuals in the UK
5. Keep it Concise: With over 1,000 applications annually, trustees appreciate clear, well-organized proposals
6. Follow Guidelines: Ensure all required documentation is included and accurate contact details are provided

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• High Competition: With a 25% success rate (250 of 1,000+ applications), your application must clearly demonstrate strong alignment with priorities and significant impact

• Size Matters: This funder specifically targets small charities (under £1m income), so if this describes your organization, emphasize how the grant represents meaningful support

• Patient Process: Be prepared to wait up to four months for a decision; no news after this period means an unsuccessful application

• Clear Boundaries: The Foundation has strict exclusions (salaries, construction, running costs, etc.) and time restrictions on reapplication—ensure you meet all eligibility criteria before applying

• Impact is Everything: Applications must clearly articulate anticipated outcomes, beneficiary numbers, and measurable impact on disadvantaged people in the UK

• Four Chances Per Year: With quarterly trustee meetings, plan your submission at least 6 weeks before meeting dates to ensure consideration

• Relationship Building: Unlike some funders, the Foundation discourages queries about applications due to volume, so get it right the first time

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Garfield Weston Foundation
• Awards for All
• British Heart Foundation
• The Rank Foundation Limited
• The Football Foundation
• BBC Children in Need
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• KUSUMA TRUST UK
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• The Brain Tumour Charity
• Jack Petchey Foundation
• PROSTATE CANCER UK
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• Bernard Sunley Foundation
• National Lottery
• WATERAID
• LOCAL TRUST
• THE BIG GIVE TRUST
• THE RIVERS TRUST
• SUSTRANS

References

1. The Hedley Foundation Official Website - www.hedleyfoundation.org.uk

1. UK Charity Commission Register - “HEDLEY FOUNDATION LIMITED - 262933” - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/262933

1. Get Grants - “The Hedley Foundation” - https://www.getgrants.org.uk/hedley-foundation/

1. Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum - “The Hedley Foundation Limited” - https://cornwallvsf.org/supporting/funding/the-hedley-foundation-limited/

1. Supporting Communities - “Hedley Foundation” - https://supportingcommunities.org/funding-news-1/2021/12/14/hedley-foundation

1. Active Together - “The Hedley Foundation Grants” - https://www.active-together.org/fundingfinder/62

1. Companies House - “HEDLEY FOUNDATION LIMITED overview” - https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01018571