Hinchley Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £175,590 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: N/A (proactive approach)
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £15,000+
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom and Ireland

Contact Details

Website: www.hinchleycharitabletrust.org.uk

Email: info@hinchleycharitabletrust.org.uk (also hinchleycharitabletrust@gmail.com)

Phone: 01926 423626

Overview

Established in 1973 by the late R. H. Stanley of Purley, Surrey, as a tax-efficient way to manage his charitable donations, the Hinchley Charitable Trust was reconstituted as a Charitable Company in 2005 (Charity No. 1108412). Following Mr and Mrs Stanley's deaths in 2000, their estate was left to Hinchley, significantly growing the trust's capacity. With total income of £92,983 and annual expenditure of £175,590 in 2023-24, the trust operates principally as a grant-making organization with a Christian ethos. The trust's mission is to “forward the transformative Kingdom of God, especially within the UK” through strategic partnerships with beneficiary organizations. The trust is governed by seven volunteer trustees who receive no remuneration and employs no staff, maintaining a lean operational structure focused entirely on grant-making.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust makes two tiers of grants:

• Major Grants: £10,000+ (11 organizations received grants of £10,000 or more in 2023-24)
• Regular Grants: £5,000 - £7,500 (7 regular grants in this range in 2023-24)

All grants are awarded through a proactive, invitation-only approach. The trustees actively identify and approach organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Priority Areas

The trust gives particular emphasis to:

1. Equipping Christian leaders - Supporting the development and training of Christian leadership
2. Holistic Christian mission in communities - Projects that combine spiritual and practical support to transform communities
3. Christian youth organizations - Particular emphasis on youth work and young people's development
4. Christian influence in public sphere - Think tanks and organizations shaping public discourse

The trustees are particularly keen to support smaller charities where a grant can make a significant difference to the work of the charity.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals - No grants to individuals under any circumstances
• Non-registered charities - Organizations must be registered as a charity in the UK or Ireland
• Organizations outside their strategic focus - Must align with Christian mission and values

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The trust is governed by seven volunteer trustees:

• Dr Brian Stanley - Appointed 4 February 2005
• John David Levick - Appointed 4 February 2005
• Roger Hamilton Northcott - Appointed 21 June 2006
• Rebecca Helen Corbett - Appointed 10 February 2014
• Sarah Coralie Smith - Appointed 20 November 2021
• Milandeep Chander-Abraham - Appointed 20 April 2024 (Secretary)
• Cameron Luke Howes - Appointed 20 April 2024
• David Jack Leeds - Appointed 20 April 2024

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, ensuring all resources are directed toward grant-making.

Recent Grant Recipients

Examples of organizations supported by the trust include:

• Theos - Christian think tank engaging with public discourse (£10,000-£15,000 range)
• Youthscape - Youth support and development organization (£10,000-£15,000 range)
• The Centre for Theology & Community - Holistic Christian mission work
• Parish Nursing Ministries UK - Core salary costs for Regional Coordinators to strategically grow health ministry work
• A Rocha UK - Strengthening Christian Environmental Leadership programme
• The Nehemiah Project - Supported since 2002, including significant grant towards refurbishment
• London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) - Support for the Imagine programme and website
• SAT-7 - £10,000 for ministry in the Middle East and North Africa
• Faith 2 Share - Christian mission work

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The trustees adopt a proactive approach to grant-making, meaning unsolicited applications are usually unable to be supported.

The trust actively identifies and approaches charitable organizations that align with their strategic priorities. According to their official guidance: “The Trustees proactively seek charitable organisations to partner with that align with their strategic priorities and therefore do not accept unsolicited applications.”

Getting on Their Radar

The trust emphasizes developing “strong and strategic partnerships with beneficiaries” and works closely with the organizations they support, which may include providing advice and guidance on areas relating to their activities. While there is no formal application process, organizations working in their priority areas (Christian leadership development, holistic community mission, youth work, and Christian public engagement) may naturally come to the trustees' attention through:

• The Christian charity sector network, particularly among organizations working in youth ministry and community transformation
• Demonstrated track record in transforming lives and communities through Christian mission
• Being a smaller charity where funding would make significant impact
• Operating within the UK or Ireland with registered charity status

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded at the trustees' discretion through their proactive identification process rather than through application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - as the trust does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no traditional success rate metric.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - as there is no public application process, reapplication is not relevant.

Application Success Factors

Since the Hinchley Charitable Trust operates on a proactive, invitation-only basis, the key to receiving support is alignment with their strategic focus and being visible within the Christian charity sector:

Strategic Alignment

The trust explicitly states they seek organizations that align with their strategic priorities. Based on their recent grant-making patterns, organizations most likely to be approached demonstrate:

• Clear Christian ethos and mission - All supported organizations show explicit Christian values and purpose
• Community transformation focus - Projects that combine spiritual and practical support to transform lives
• Youth work emphasis - Particular interest in reaching and developing young people
• Strategic impact potential - Especially for smaller charities where funding makes significant difference

Partnership Approach

The trust emphasizes: “Our focus is on developing strong, lasting partnerships with beneficiaries. We work closely with the organisations we support which may include providing advice and guidance on areas relating to their activities.”

This suggests they value:

• Long-term relationships over one-off grants (evidenced by multi-year support to organizations like The Nehemiah Project, supported since 2002)
• Organizations open to collaborative working and willing to receive guidance
• Demonstrated capacity to use funding strategically for transformative impact

Sector Visibility

Given the proactive approach, organizations that maintain visibility and good reputation within the Christian charity sector, particularly in youth work and community mission fields, are more likely to come to the trustees' attention.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Do not submit unsolicited applications - The trust explicitly states they do not accept them and operate proactively
• Focus on strategic alignment - Ensure your organization clearly demonstrates Christian mission, community transformation, or youth work impact
• Build sector visibility - Maintain strong reputation and connections within the Christian charity network where trustees may identify potential partners
• Emphasize transformation - The trust's mission is to “forward the transformative Kingdom of God” - demonstrate how your work transforms lives and communities
• Smaller charities have advantage - Trustees are “particularly keen to support smaller charities where a grant can make a significant difference”
• Be prepared for partnership - If approached, be open to collaborative working and guidance from the trust
• UK/Ireland registration essential - Must be registered charity in UK or Ireland; no exceptions

References

• Hinchley Charitable Trust official website: www.hinchleycharitabletrust.org.uk
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 1108412: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1108412
• Hinchley Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024, filed with Charity Commission
• Companies House Register, Company No. 05353283: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05353283
• The Centre for Theology & Community - Funder Information: https://www.ctcuk.org/funder/hinchley-charitable-trust/
• The Nehemiah Project - Funder Profile: https://www.tnp.org.uk/portfolio/hinchley-charitable-trust/