Henry James Sayer Charity
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £74,360 (expenditure 2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Not publicly available
- Geographic Focus: Birmingham and surrounding areas
Contact Details
- Email: chrissy@hopkinssayercharity.org.uk
- Phone: 07940 160 844
- Registered Office: Shakespeare Martineau, 1 Colmore Square, Birmingham, B4 6AA
- Charity Number: 222438
Overview
The Henry James Sayer Charity was established by the will of Henry James Sayer, proved on 7 June 1944, and formally registered with the Charity Commission on 8 January 1964. The charity operates with an annual income of approximately £71,539 (2024) and distributes funds through grants totaling approximately £74,360 annually. The charity is governed by nine trustees who receive no remuneration for their service. The charity's registered office is held at Shakespeare Martineau, a Birmingham-based law firm with extensive experience in charity law and governance. The Henry James Sayer Charity has a linked charity, the Joseph Hopkins Charity (222438-1), which was merged into the parent organization in 2006 and operates under the same charitable purposes.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The charity makes grants on a discretionary basis to both organizations and individuals who meet their eligibility criteria. Application methods and deadlines are not publicly advertised; prospective applicants should contact the charity directly.
Priority Areas
The trustees apply the charity's income to relieve persons resident in the City of Birmingham who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress by:
- Making grants of money
- Providing or paying for items, services or facilities calculated to reduce need, hardship or distress
- Supporting charitable institutions operating in Birmingham and surrounding areas
Recent Grant Recipients Include:
- Birmingham Children's Community Venture (BCCV) - Support for hostel rebuilding project
- Woodlands Adventure - Capital funding (2023-2024)
- B:Music - Ongoing support
What They Don't Fund
Specific exclusions are not publicly listed, but the charity's focus is strictly limited to:
- Beneficiaries resident in Birmingham and surrounding areas
- Projects addressing need, hardship, or distress

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Governance and Leadership
The charity is governed by nine trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The registered office is held at Shakespeare Martineau LLP, a Birmingham law firm with specialist expertise in charity law.
Trustee names are not publicly available through the Charity Commission register. The charity administrator contact is Chrissy (chrissy@hopkinssayercharity.org.uk).
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
The charity does not maintain a public website or publish formal application guidelines. Prospective applicants should:
- Contact the charity administrator directly via email (chrissy@hopkinssayercharity.org.uk) or phone (07940 160 844)
- Request information about current funding priorities and application requirements
- Ensure your organization or individual beneficiaries are based in Birmingham or surrounding areas
- Clearly demonstrate how the grant would address need, hardship, or distress
Decision Timeline
Decision timelines are not publicly available. Contact the charity directly for information about their grant-making schedule.
Success Rates
Success rates and application volumes are not publicly disclosed.
Reapplication Policy
No public information is available regarding reapplication policies. Applicants should inquire directly with the charity.
Application Success Factors
Given the limited public information available, the following factors are likely to be important:
- Geographic eligibility is critical: Beneficiaries must be resident in Birmingham or surrounding areas in the West Midlands
- Focus on need, hardship, and distress: Projects must clearly address one or more of these core charitable purposes
- Evidence of impact: Based on funded projects (BCCV, Woodlands Adventure), the charity supports organizations providing direct services to disadvantaged communities
- Capital and revenue grants: The charity appears to fund both capital projects (building works) and operational support
- Community-focused organizations: Past recipients serve disadvantaged children and communities in Birmingham
- Established relationship building: As a smaller, locally-focused trust without public guidelines, building a relationship with trustees may be beneficial
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Geography is non-negotiable: Only organizations serving Birmingham and surrounding areas will be considered
- Direct contact is essential: With no website or public application forms, you must contact the charity administrator directly to understand current priorities
- Focus on relieving need: Applications should clearly articulate how funding will address need, hardship, or distress among Birmingham residents
- Small but consistent giver: With annual expenditure around £74,000, this is a modest local trust making targeted grants
- Children and community services: Recent grants suggest interest in supporting youth services and community facilities
- Professional administration: The charity's office is held by a major Birmingham law firm, suggesting professional governance standards
- Patience may be required: Smaller trusts with limited administrative capacity may have longer response times
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References
- Charity Commission Register of Charities. (2025). “Henry James Sayer Charity - 222438.”. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=222438&subid=0
- Charity Commission Register of Charities. (2025). “Joseph Hopkins Charity - 222438-1 (Linked Charity).”. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/4028255
- The BrigHouse. (n.d.). “Friends of the BCCV.”. https://www.thebrighouse.co.uk/friends-of-the-bccv/ [Lists Henry James Sayer Charity as supporter]
- Woodlands Adventure. (2023). “Newsletter 2023.”. https://woodlandsadventure.co.uk/newsletter-2023/ [References Joseph Hopkins & Henry James Sayer Charity as funder]
- Find That Charity. (2025). “GB-CHC-222438 | Henry James Sayer Charity.”. https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-222438