Increase Trust Uk

Charity Number: 1158018

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 1158018
  • Annual Giving: £147,931 (year ending 31 December 2022)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: Asia and beyond
  • Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

INCREASE TRUST UK

Overview

INCREASE TRUST UK (registered charity 1158018) was established on 28 July 2014 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation to advance the Christian faith through supporting adult education and training programmes leading to discipleship and ministry. The charity operates primarily through grant-making, with income of £147,931 and expenditure of £172,744 in the year ending 31 December 2022 (the most recent accounts on the Charity Commission register). The Trust exists to support the work of the Increase Association, a network of member organisations across Asia that provide church-based Theological Education by Extension (TEE) programmes. These programmes combine personal study, small group discussion, and practical application to equip Christians for discipleship and church leadership in their local contexts. The Increase Association's membership spans from the Arab world to East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region. The Trust represents the UK funding arm of this international movement, channelling resources to support theological education initiatives that are contextually appropriate and accessible to church members across diverse Asian contexts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

INCREASE TRUST UK operates as a private grant-making trust without publicly available grant programmes or application rounds. The charity makes grants through the Increase Association network to support:

  • Core Member Organisations: National church-based training organisations across Asia that provide Theological Education by Extension
  • Conference and Consultation Support: Funding for regional gatherings, such as the Malaysia conference that brought together 50 delegates from 24 nationalities
  • Travel and Teaching Support: Enabling travel for teaching staff and facilitators to deliver training
  • Curriculum and Materials Development: Supporting the creation and translation of TEE courses into multiple languages
  • Digital Learning Initiatives: Developing internet-based learning platforms and oral teaching methods for non-readers

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses exclusively on supporting church-based theological education in Asia through:

  • Theological Education by Extension (TEE) programmes and materials
  • Training for course leaders, writers, and national coordinators
  • Strengthening TEE movements and networks across Asia
  • Contextual theological education that combines study, group discussion, and practical application
  • Capacity building for national church-based training organisations
  • Innovation in accessible theological education (digital, oral methods)

What They Don't Fund

As a specialist trust focused on TEE in Asia through the Increase Association network, the Trust does not make grants for:

  • Projects outside the scope of church-based theological education
  • Organisations not connected to the Increase Association network
  • Work primarily focused outside Asia (though some “beyond” initiatives may be considered)
  • Individual theological study or scholarships for formal seminary education
  • General church activities unrelated to theological training
  • Capital projects or building programmes
  • Work not aligned with evangelical Christian theology
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Trust is governed by seven trustees (as of the most recent Charity Commission data). The Charity Commission records indicate that no trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The Trust has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and operates without trading subsidiaries.

Associated Leadership

The Increase Association, which the Trust supports, is led by:

  • Dr. Graham Aylett - General Secretary (appointed March 2021). Dr. Aylett studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University (PhD in Botany), trained as an Anglican minister, served with TEE in Mongolia for fourteen years from 1998, and has been with the Increase Association since 2013. He is also Vice-Chair of SEAN (a TEE course provider), board member of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE), and member of the Asia Theological Association Commission on Accreditation & Educational Development.

How to Apply to Increase Trust Uk

How to Apply

INCREASE TRUST UK does not have a public application process. The charity operates as a private grant-making trust that supports organisations within the Increase Association network. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to support the strategic priorities of the Increase Association and its member organisations.

Organisations seeking funding for church-based theological education in Asia should:

  1. Explore membership with the Increase Association if they operate TEE or similar programmes
  2. Contact the Increase Association directly to discuss partnership opportunities
  3. Recognise that INCREASE TRUST UK funds through its existing network relationships rather than open grant applications

Getting on Their Radar

While there is no public application process, organisations working in church-based theological education in Asia might position themselves by:

  • Engaging with the Increase Association Network: The Trust specifically supports Increase Association members. Organisations operating TEE programmes in Asia can explore Core Membership (for national church-based training organisations) or Fellowship Membership (for partnering organisations with significant interest in church-based training).
  • Attending INCREASE Events: The Trust has funded conferences and consultations for Increase Association members. Participating in these networking opportunities (when available to non-members) could provide visibility and demonstrate alignment with the network's values.
  • Connecting with Existing Core Members: Building relationships with existing Increase Association member organisations and demonstrating collaborative potential may open doors to network participation.
  • Contacting Increase Association Leadership: Direct outreach to the Increase Association office (increaseassociationoffice@gmail.com) or General Secretary Dr. Graham Aylett to discuss how your organisation's work aligns with TEE movements in Asia.
  • Demonstrating TEE Methodology: The Trust specifically supports Theological Education by Extension approaches that combine personal study, small group facilitation, and practical application—contextually appropriate and accessible to church members. Organisations using or developing these methodologies are most aligned with the Trust's mission.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this grant-making trust, the following factors appear important based on the Trust's documented activities:

  • Membership Status: Being a Core Member or Fellowship Member of the Increase Association appears to be a prerequisite for receiving funding. The Trust exists to support the Increase Association's work, not to fund organisations outside this network.
  • Geographic Focus: Projects must serve church-based training movements in Asia (or “beyond” where clearly connected to Asian initiatives). The Trust has supported activities spanning from the Arab world to East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region.
  • TEE Methodology Alignment: The Trust specifically supports Theological Education by Extension approaches. Organisations must demonstrate commitment to this accessible, church-based, small-group model that combines personal study, group discussion, and practical application.
  • Capacity Building Over Direct Delivery: The Trust supports training for course leaders, writers, and national coordinators rather than funding direct programme delivery. Projects that build local capacity and strengthen national movements are prioritised.
  • Contextual and Accessible Approaches: The Trust values innovation in making theological education accessible—including courses translated into multiple languages, digital learning platforms, and oral teaching methods for non-readers. Projects should demonstrate cultural adaptability.
  • Network Strengthening: The Trust has funded conferences bringing together multiple nationalities, suggesting value placed on initiatives that connect and strengthen the broader TEE movement rather than isolated local projects.
  • Evangelical Theological Framework: The work is rooted in evangelical Christian theology. Organisations must demonstrate alignment with this theological perspective and commitment to discipleship and ministry development.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: INCREASE TRUST UK is a private grant-making trust supporting the Increase Association network. There is no open application process for organisations outside this network.
  • Network Membership is Key: To access funding, organisations should explore becoming Core Members (national TEE organisations in Asia) or Fellowship Members (partnering organisations with affinity to church-based training) of the Increase Association.
  • Geographic Specificity: This Trust exclusively supports work in Asia and occasionally “beyond.” Organisations working in other regions will not be eligible regardless of programme quality.
  • TEE Methodology Required: The Trust specifically supports Theological Education by Extension approaches. Traditional seminary education, online degree programmes, or other formal theological education models do not align with the Trust's focus.
  • Strategic Grant Making: The Trust makes strategic grants that leverage network relationships rather than large individual grants to many organisations.
  • Relationship-Driven Grant Making: The Trust operates through existing relationships within the Increase Association network. Cold applications from unknown organisations are not part of the funding model.
  • Contact the Increase Association First: Organisations interested in this funding stream should contact the Increase Association directly (increaseassociationoffice@gmail.com) to discuss membership and partnership opportunities rather than approaching the UK Trust directly.

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