J A Gillett Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £161,249 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: West Midlands (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton) with some specialized overseas projects

Contact Details

Address: Fartown Farm, Pensax, Abberley, Worcester, WR6 6AE

Phone: 01299 896355

Email: Not publicly available

Website: No public website

Overview

The J A Gillett Charitable Trust was registered on 1 March 1963 and operates as a private charitable trust. With an annual grant distribution of £161,249 (as of April 2024), the trust focuses on “general philanthropy for those in need concentrating on the West Midland Area of the UK,” though some specialized overseas projects are also considered. The trust's charitable objects grant the trustees broad discretionary powers to support “such charitable purposes as the trustees may in their discretion think fit.” The trust is governed by three trustees who serve without remuneration and makes grants exclusively to organizations rather than individuals. The trust owns or leases land or property and maintains a focused geographical remit across the major urban areas of the West Midlands.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single discretionary grant program with no fixed grant amounts publicly disclosed. Grants are awarded at trustee discretion on a case-by-case basis.

Priority Areas

The trust supports a broad range of charitable activities including:

• General charitable purposes for those in need
• Education and training initiatives
• Disability support services
• Amateur sport programs
• Environment, conservation, and heritage projects
• Specialized overseas projects (on a selective basis)

Beneficiary Groups

• Children and young people
• Elderly and older people
• People with disabilities
• Other charities and voluntary bodies

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the trust does not make grants to individuals—only to organizations.

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity:

• Susan Elizabeth Bateman, Trustee
• Alison Margaret Griggs, Trustee
• Richard Gillett, Trustee

The trustees exercise broad discretionary powers in determining which charitable causes to support, allowing flexibility to respond to emerging needs within their geographical focus area.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The J A Gillett Charitable Trust operates on a trustee-discretion basis, with grants awarded through the trustees' own knowledge and assessment of charitable needs in the West Midlands area. There is no application portal, published guidelines, or formal application forms available.

Organizations may consider reaching out directly by phone (01299 896355) or in writing to the trust's registered address to introduce their work, though there is no guarantee that unsolicited approaches will be considered.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available—decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees on their own timeline.

Success Rates

Not publicly available due to the private, discretionary nature of the trust's grant-making.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's private and discretionary nature, specific success factors are not publicly available. However, based on the trust's stated priorities and structure, the following considerations may be relevant:

• Geographic alignment: Projects must align with the West Midlands focus (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton) or, in rare cases, be specialized overseas projects
• Organizational credibility: As grants are made to organizations only, applicants should be established charities or voluntary bodies with clear charitable purposes
• Beneficiary focus: Projects serving children/young people, elderly people, or people with disabilities appear to align with trustee interests
• Sector fit: Education/training, disability support, amateur sport, and environmental conservation/heritage are documented areas of interest

Without public application guidelines or examples of funded projects, it is difficult to provide specific strategic advice beyond ensuring strong alignment with the geographic and thematic priorities outlined in the trust's Charity Commission filings.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private trust with no public application process—grants are awarded at trustee discretion
• Geographic focus is firmly on the West Midlands urban areas with occasional overseas projects
• The trust supports a broad range of charitable activities including education, disability, sport, and heritage
• Grants are made only to organizations, not individuals
• With £161,249 in annual expenditure, the trust maintains an active grant-making program despite its private nature
• Direct contact by phone or letter may be the only route for organizations wishing to introduce themselves to the trustees
• No public data exists on grant amounts, success rates, or funded projects

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “J A Gillett Charitable Trust - 216018, Full Print,” accessed 29 December 2024, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/216018/full-print
• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “Charity overview, J A Gillett Charitable Trust - 216018,” accessed 29 December 2024, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=216018&subid=0
• Charity Choice, “J A Gillett Charitable Trust,” accessed 29 December 2024, https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/j-a-gillett-charitable-trust-160121