John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 802142

Annual Expenditure: £3.2M
Throughout England

Contact Info

Website: https://www.swirecharitabletrust.org.uk/

Phone: 020 7834 7717

Email: info@scts.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £7,000,000+ (across Swire Trusts in 2024)
  • Success Rate: Approximately 30% (2023)
  • Decision Time: 8-12 weeks
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £50,000
  • Geographic Focus: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

Contact Details

Address: Swire House, 59 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AJ

Email: info@scts.org.uk

Phone: 020 7834 7717

Website: https://www.swirecharitabletrust.org.uk/

For assistance with applications, applicants are encouraged to review the application guidelines and FAQs before contacting the Trust.

Overview

The John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust is part of the Swire Trusts family of charities, which has been supporting UK charitable organisations for 50 years. The Trust is funded by John Swire & Sons Ltd, originally founded in Liverpool in 1816. In 2024, the Swire Trusts awarded over £7 million in grants to more than 280 charities across the UK. The Trust operates three core funding programmes—Opportunity, Nature, and Heritage—and prioritises grassroots organisations working in economically disadvantaged areas with the most challenged communities. With total income of approximately £3.7 million (2023) primarily from investments, the Trust focuses on providing practical support to frontline charities delivering measurable impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Programmes (Rolling basis, no deadlines)

  • Grants: £1,000 - £50,000 per award
  • Average grant award: approximately £25,000
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis through online portal
  • Grants under £25,000 reviewed monthly
  • Grants over £25,000 reviewed quarterly (January, April, July, October)

The Trust awards grants for core costs, salaries, and capital projects, with no matched funding requirement. Both restricted and unrestricted grants are available.

Priority Areas

Opportunity Programme – Improving Life Chances

Supports charities directly addressing challenges faced by the most marginalised and disadvantaged, specifically:

  • Ex-service men and women
  • Survivors of slavery and trafficking
  • Children and young people in local authority care
  • Young people involved with the criminal justice system
  • Young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds

Nature Programme – Supporting UK Biodiversity

Funds activities that:

  • Improve the health and resilience of UK ecosystems and native species
  • Restore habitats on land, in freshwater, and marine environments
  • Connect people to the environment
  • Support communities to live more sustainably

Heritage Programme – Regeneration through Restoration

Supports projects that:

  • Have heritage legitimacy (restoration, regeneration, or conservation)
  • Deliver significant social and economic benefits to deprived communities or disadvantaged people
  • Protect skills and knowledge underpinning the UK's heritage sector

What They Don't Fund

  • Applications not submitted through the online form
  • Non-UK registered charities
  • Activities outside England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland
  • Individual applicants or single-person beneficiaries
  • Repeat applications within 12 months
  • Retrospective funding (work already completed)
  • Work primarily for people disadvantaged by physical health issues, disabilities, sensory impairments, learning disabilities, or special educational needs
  • Statutory bodies or statutory responsibilities (e.g., residential care, respite care, day care, housing)
  • Local branches of wider networks (e.g., YMCA, MIND, Mencap, Home-start, Citizens Advice Bureau)
  • Scholarships or bursaries
  • Requests exceeding 10% of the charity's last reported income

Governance and Leadership

Governance Structure: The Trust is governed by a board of six trustees who meet regularly to consider applications and award grants. No trustees receive remuneration or benefits.

Chairman: Samuel Swire serves as chairman of the Swire Charitable Trust and related foundations. Samuel Compton Swire is a British businessman who joined the Swire Group in 2003 and serves on the board of John Swire & Sons Ltd.

Staff Team: A small team based at John Swire & Sons Ltd's London offices manages all UK-based Swire trusts and foundations. The team emphasizes that they prioritise UK charities “well positioned to meet current challenges” and aim to direct grants “to where they are needed most.”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Complete the online eligibility test at https://www.swirecharitabletrust.org.uk/
  2. If eligible, proceed directly to the full online application form
  3. Upload the charity's latest inspected or audited accounts
  4. Submit applications at least 4 months before the project start date

Applications are only accepted through the online portal—no postal or email applications are considered.

Decision Timeline

  • Applications under £25,000: Reviewed monthly
  • Applications over £25,000: Reviewed quarterly (January, April, July, October)
  • Typical decision time: 2-3 months from submission
  • Payment processing: Up to 8 weeks after approval
  • Grant payments: Made at the end of each month

Success Rates

  • 2023: Approximately 30% success rate (70% of applications unsuccessful)
  • 2020: Approximately 15% success rate (85% of applications unsuccessful)
  • The Trust receives significantly more applications than it can support, even from charities closely aligned with funding priorities

Reapplication Policy

  • Waiting period: Unsuccessful applicants must wait 12 months before reapplying
  • Multi-year grants: Only available to charities previously supported by the Trust
  • Feedback: The Trust is unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants due to limited staff capacity
  • Unsuccessful applicants are notified by email

Application Success Factors

Key Priorities for Successful Applications

Geographic and Economic Focus

The Trust prioritises charities operating in economically disadvantaged parts of the UK and working with people from the most challenged backgrounds. Grassroots organisations that strongly engage with their local communities are favoured.

Clear Demonstration of Need and Effectiveness

Applications should provide a concise explanation of why the work is needed and evidence of its effectiveness. The Trust values practical, frontline charities delivering measurable impact.

Financial Proportionality

The total grant request must not exceed 10% of the charity's last reported income. This ensures the Trust supports organisations of appropriate scale for their funding capacity.

Recent Funding Examples

The Trust has recently supported organisations including:

  • Opportunity Programme: The Snowdrop Project, Beating Time, Grow
  • Nature Programme: The Orchard Project, Lake District Foundation, Clean Rivers Trust
  • Heritage Programme: The Island Trust, Leigh Building Preservation Trust, Heritage Crafts Association

Application Tips

  • Download and review sample form questions before starting the application
  • Review the comprehensive FAQ document on the Trust's website
  • Ensure your work aligns clearly with one of the three core programmes
  • Emphasise how your work addresses disadvantage and delivers practical support
  • Be prepared to demonstrate community engagement and local impact
  • Consider applying for unrestricted funding if your overall mission aligns with Trust priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • High competition: With only a 30% success rate, applications must demonstrate strong alignment with funding priorities and clear evidence of impact to stand out
  • Rolling programme advantage: No deadlines mean you can apply when ready, but submit at least 4 months before project start dates for best results
  • Flexible funding available: The Trust funds core costs, salaries, and capital projects—don't limit requests to project-specific costs if organisational support is needed
  • Size matters: Average grants are £25,000, and requests cannot exceed 10% of your organisation's income—target your ask appropriately
  • Grassroots focus: Smaller, community-based organisations working in disadvantaged areas are particularly favoured over large national networks
  • One-year waiting period: Unsuccessful applications cannot be resubmitted for 12 months, so ensure applications are thoroughly prepared and well-aligned before submission
  • No feedback provided: The small team cannot offer feedback on unsuccessful applications, making it essential to carefully review guidelines and examples before applying

Similar Funders

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References