Increase Trust Uk

Charity Number: 1158018

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 1158018
  • Annual Giving: £88,000 - £173,000 (varies annually)
  • 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 in 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 annual expenditure ranging from £88,000 to £173,000 over recent years. The Trust exists to support the work of the Increase Association, a network of approximately 30 core member organizations 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, serving around 50,000 learners. The Trust represents the UK funding arm of this international movement, channeling resources to support theological education initiatives that are contextually appropriate and accessible to church members across diverse Asian contexts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

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 Organizations: National church-based training organizations 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 organizations
  • 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
  • Organizations 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 five trustees (as of the most recent Charity Commission data):

  • Stephen Wynford Amos - Appointed 17 March 2025
  • Rev Allan Rui Min Mao - Appointed 10 September 2024
  • Elizabeth Dales Pitcher - Appointed 5 July 2023
  • Martin Frank Hickey - Appointed 28 November 2020
  • Rev Yew Him Tham - Appointed 1 November 2020

The Charity Commission records indicate that one or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity (as of the 2024 financial year), though the specific nature of these arrangements is not publicly detailed. 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 organizations 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 organizations.

Organizations 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. Recognize 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, organizations 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. Organizations operating TEE programmes in Asia can explore Core Membership (for national church-based training organizations) or Fellowship Membership (for partnering organizations 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: The Increase Association has approximately 30 core member organizations across Asia. Building relationships with these existing members 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 organization'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. Organizations 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 organizations 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. Organizations 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 prioritized.
  • 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. Organizations 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 organizations outside this network.
  • Network Membership is Key: To access funding, organizations should explore becoming Core Members (national TEE organizations in Asia) or Fellowship Members (partnering organizations with affinity to church-based training) of the Increase Association.
  • Geographic Specificity: This Trust exclusively supports work in Asia and occasionally “beyond.” Organizations 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.
  • Small But Strategic: With annual expenditure under £175,000 supporting a network serving 50,000 learners across 30+ organizations, this Trust makes strategic grants that leverage network relationships rather than large individual grants to many organizations.
  • Relationship-Driven Grant Making: The Trust operates through existing relationships within the Increase Association network. Cold applications from unknown organizations are not part of the funding model.
  • Contact the Increase Association First: Organizations 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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References

  • https://www.increaseassociation.org/
  • Accessed: February 2026
  • Source for: Core membership structure, Theological Education by Extension methodology, geographic scope, number of learners served

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