Hyde Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 289888

Annual Expenditure: £1.1M

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: ??1,100,000 (approximately)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not specified
Grant Range: ??1,000 - ??90,000
Geographic Focus: London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, East of England, and East Midlands (Hyde resident communities)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.hyde-housing.co.uk/corporate/our-social-purpose/the-hyde-charitable-trust

Email: HCT@hyde-housing.co.uk

Phone: 0800 030 4424

Application Portal: https://hydehousing.flexigrant.com/

Address: 30 Park Street, London, SE1 9EQ

Overview

Hyde Charitable Trust (HCT) was established in 1984 as part of the Hyde Group, a housing association founded in 1967. With annual giving of approximately ??1.1 million, HCT targets funding to Hyde residents and communities most in need across London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, East of England, and East Midlands. The Trust's mission is to promote charitable purposes in England, particularly the prevention or relief of poverty or financial hardship. In 2023/24, HCT awarded ??1.3 million in grants and supported 32,503 people through 35 community partners, marking a significant increase from the previous year. The Trust takes a place-based approach, building long-term relationships with community organizations that deliver services in Hyde communities. Founded when the Hyde Group was financially stable, Ted Watts (founder) explained they wished to extend their charitable objectives beyond the strict requirements of a housing association.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Black History Month Fund 365: Up to ??1,000

Open four times a year to local voluntary and community organizations
Supports planning or running projects celebrating Black history and culture
Rolling application basis when open

Evolve Fund: Variable amounts (??245,000 distributed to 20 partners in 2023/24)

Open-access fund for organizations not funded by HCT before, or not in the past five years
Tests new approaches to working with Hyde residents, teams, and networks
Note: Currently focusing on existing partners; not running new rounds in 2025

Communities Fund: Variable amounts, up to 3 years funding

Currently invitation-only; no unsolicited applications accepted
Supports existing and new provision meeting identified needs in Hyde communities
Can include ideas for organizational and financial sustainability to test during the grant period
Restricted funding covers both core costs and project delivery costs

Growth Fund: Variable amounts

Currently invitation-only; no unsolicited applications accepted

Internal Grants (for Hyde residents only):

Helping Hand Fund: Short-term crisis support
Resident Assistance Budget Fund: Addressing resident challenges

Priority Areas

HCT aligns funding with three strategic themes (PEOPLE, PARTNERSHIPS, PLACE) and five priorities:

Skills, Aspirations & Employment: Supporting pathways to work and career development
Financial Hardship/Cost-of-Living: Addressing poverty and financial crisis
Support for Children & Young People: Youth services and development opportunities
Wellbeing: Mental and physical health support
Environmental Sustainability: Green initiatives and environmental projects

Projects must align with at least one strategic priority and demonstrate impact on Hyde communities.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, but key limitations include:

Organizations not operating in Hyde communities (where Hyde residents live)
For the Evolve Fund: Organizations funded by HCT within the past five years
Unsolicited applications to the Communities Fund and Growth Fund (invitation-only)

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Governance and Leadership

Structure: Governed by a Board of Trustees; registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee (Company No. 01803707) and with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity No. 289888).

Income Sources: Annual investment dividends, designated funds, and restricted funds.

Approach: According to founder Ted Watts, HCT was established “at a time when Hyde was a fairly young organisation” noting “we were financially stable and wished to extend our charitable objectives further, beyond the fairly strict objectives that we had as a housing association.”

The Trust emphasizes “open and trusting grant-making practices” and aims to build long-term relationships with community partners through Project and Partnership Managers who play active roles in local and regional networks.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Online Portal: Applications submitted via https://hydehousing.flexigrant.com/
Application Guidance: Downloadable guidance notes available for each fund
Current Status: Most funds currently invitation-only; Black History Month Fund 365 opens four times yearly
Reporting Requirements: Interim and evaluation reports required from grantees

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Applicants should check with HCT directly for current processing times.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not published. However:

In one period, 113 donations totaling ??1,608,379 were made to 70 organizations
In 2023/24, the Evolve Fund awarded nearly ??245,000 to 20 community partners
The Trust works with 35 community partners currently

Reapplication Policy

Evolve Fund: Organizations must wait five years from previous HCT funding before reapplying
Other Funds: Specific reapplication policies not publicly detailed
General Approach: HCT offers multi-year funding (up to 3 years), suggesting a preference for sustained relationships over frequent reapplications

Application Success Factors

Applicant Satisfaction

Survey results from funded organizations show:

84% rated their experience of engaging with HCT as “good or very good”
84% found HCT's recommendations and feedback “very/helpful at the notification stage”
89% felt the quality of support/resources was “good or very good”

What HCT Values

Long-term Relationships: HCT prefers building sustained partnerships with community organizations
Place-Based Impact: Projects must demonstrate direct benefit to Hyde resident communities
Strategic Alignment: Clear connection to at least one of the five strategic priorities
Sustainability Planning: Applicants can include ideas for organizational/financial sustainability to test during the grant
Community Need: Evidence of identified need in Hyde communities
Core and Project Costs: HCT understands the importance of funding both delivery and organizational capacity

Partner Feedback

One funded partner stated: The team has “always gone over and above and understand exactly the challenges being faced locally.”

Another noted the funding “makes a huge difference to the community” and praised HCT's “ongoing support” that helps small community charities.

Recent Projects Funded

HCT has supported diverse projects including:

Community gardens
Management of 10 community centers
Youth advice centers (e.g., ??20,000 to YMCA DownsLink Group for YMCA DLG Youth Advice Centre Brighton)
Projects in Brighton, Brent, Chichester, Islington, Lambeth, and Rochester

Additional Support Beyond Funding

HCT offers:

Fundraising assistance
Organizational development support
Evaluation guidance
Communications support
Access to Match-My-Project platform (connecting partners with 56 supply chain partners for additional funding)

In 2023/24, the Communities team helped partners secure more than ??1.36 million in additional funding to enhance existing services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Location is Critical: Your organization must work in Hyde communities where Hyde residents live; this is non-negotiable for eligibility.

Check Current Fund Status: Most funds are currently invitation-only; the Black History Month Fund 365 (up to ??1,000) is the main open-access option when rounds are open.

Think Long-Term: HCT offers multi-year funding (up to 3 years) and values sustained relationships over one-off projects; include sustainability plans in your application.

Demonstrate Strategic Fit: Clearly articulate how your project aligns with at least one of the five strategic priorities (skills/employment, financial hardship, children/young people, wellbeing, or environmental sustainability).

Build Relationships First: With invitation-only funds dominating the portfolio, establishing connections with HCT staff and demonstrating your work in Hyde communities is essential for future opportunities.

Value the Partnership Model: HCT sees itself as more than a funder, offering ongoing support, capacity building, and connections to additional funding; emphasize how you'll engage with this partnership approach.

Be Realistic About Timing: If you've been funded by HCT before, you'll need to wait five years before applying to the Evolve Fund; plan your funding pipeline accordingly.