King/cullimore Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £584,426 (2023/24)
• Total Given to Date: Over £8 million
• Success Rate: N/A (closed to new applications)
• Decision Time: N/A (invitation only)
• Grant Range: £10,000+ (based on available examples)
• Geographic Focus: Buckinghamshire and UK-wide

Contact Details

Website: https://kingcullimore.org

Address: 52 Ledborough Lane, Beaconsfield, HP9 2DF

Charity Number: 1074928

Note: The trust does not provide contact details for grant applications as they are not accepting new applications.

Overview

The King/Cullimore Charitable Trust was founded in 1998 by successful Buckinghamshire businessman and noted philanthropist Peter Cullimore MBE (1937-2023). Since its inception, the trust has distributed over £8 million to charitable causes across Buckinghamshire and the wider UK. With an income of £322,490 and expenditure of £584,426 in the 2023/24 financial year, the trust operates through sustained partnerships with existing charity partners rather than open grant rounds. The trust wholly owns Universal Care Ltd, a care services provider that operated for 35 years under Peter Cullimore's leadership. The trust's mission reflects Peter Cullimore's lifelong commitment to community service, particularly supporting organizations working with older people, people with disabilities, and health-related causes. According to their website, they are “supporting an incredible group of charities that meet our objectives and desired outcomes.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The King/Cullimore Charitable Trust does not operate formal grant programs with set application rounds. Instead, they provide ongoing support to a portfolio of existing charity partners through sustained, relationship-based funding.

Known Grant Amounts:

• Grants of £10,000+ have been documented (e.g., £10,000 to Edith's Home for infrastructure)
• Multi-year support packages for strategic partners like Missenden Walled Garden
• Match-funding arrangements for capital projects

Priority Areas

The trust focuses on three core areas:

1. Health - Supporting health-related charities and initiatives
2. Older People - Reflecting Peter Cullimore's background in care services through Universal Care
3. People with Disabilities - Funding inclusive and disability-focused organizations

Known Beneficiaries Include:

• Butterfly House
• Chilterns MS Centre
• Buckinghamshire MIND
• Hearing Dogs for the Deaf
• PACE
• Kids in Sport
• Crisis
• The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
• Missenden Walled Garden
• The Princes Centre
• Horizon Sports Club
• Aylesbury Vineyard
• The Woodland Trust
• Mind Over Mountains
• Edith's Home

What They Don't Fund

Information about explicit exclusions is not publicly available, though their focus on health, disability, and older people suggests they prioritize these areas over others.

Ready to write a winning application for King/cullimore Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save hours and increase your success rate.

Learn more >

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of latest Charity Commission filing):

• Peter Anthony Cullimore (son of founder Peter Cullimore MBE)
• Christopher John Gardner
• Jill Noelle Pye
• Richard Davies
• Amanda Lea Martin

The trust operates with four trustees who receive no remuneration. There are no employees with benefits over £60,000, and the trust has no trading subsidiaries (beyond owning Universal Care Ltd).

Founder's Legacy: Peter Cullimore MBE was deeply involved in Beaconsfield community life, serving as a member of Beaconsfield Rotary, Governor at The Beaconsfield School, supporter of Alfriston School, and long-time alumnus of UCL. His hands-on approach to philanthropy and community service continues to shape the trust's relationship-based funding model.

How to Apply to King/cullimore Charitable Trust

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Charity Commission page for the King/Cullimore Charitable Trust explicitly states: “No new applications for funding are being accepted as funding is reserved for Charities already being assisted.”

The trust operates on an invitation-only basis, providing sustained support to a select portfolio of charity partners. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on existing relationships rather than through competitive application rounds.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the trust does not accept unsolicited applications and works exclusively with existing charity partners.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the closed application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the trust does not accept applications from organizations they do not already support.

Application Success Factors

While the trust is closed to new applications, their funding patterns reveal what they value in charity partners:

Sustained Partnership Approach: The trust explicitly values long-term relationships. As noted on their website regarding Missenden Walled Garden: “Missenden Walled Garden has witnessed and appreciated the significant benefits of working in sustained partnership with the King Cullimore Charitable Trust (KCCT).” They provided kickstart support in 2018, enabled expansion in 2022, and continued with emergency support and match-funding in 2023.

Multi-Year Strategic Support: Rather than one-off grants, the trust demonstrates a pattern of ongoing investment in partner charities, including:

• Initial seed funding for pilot projects
• Follow-on support for expansion
• Emergency funding when needed (e.g., greenhouse collapse at Missenden Walled Garden)
• Match-funding for capital projects

Buckinghamshire Connections: While the trust supports national charities, there is a strong preference for organizations with connections to Buckinghamshire, reflecting Peter Cullimore's deep community roots in Beaconsfield.

Alignment with Core Values: Health, disability inclusion, and support for older people remain central themes, reflecting the founder's background in care services and personal philanthropic interests.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Closed to New Applications: The King/Cullimore Charitable Trust explicitly does not accept new funding applications and reserves funding for existing charity partners
• Relationship-Based Funding: The trust operates through sustained partnerships rather than competitive grant rounds, making it inaccessible to organizations without pre-existing relationships with the trustees
• Long-Term Strategic Partner: For their existing beneficiaries, the trust acts as a committed, flexible funder providing multi-year support, match-funding, and emergency assistance
• Buckinghamshire Focus: While supporting some national organizations, there is a strong connection to Buckinghamshire-based charities
• Legacy-Driven: The trust continues the philanthropic vision of founder Peter Cullimore MBE, focusing on health, disability, and older people
• Not a Target for New Grant Seekers: Grant writers should not pursue this trust for funding as they will not consider unsolicited applications
• Research Value Only: Understanding this trust is useful for sector knowledge but not for active fundraising strategies

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Northwick Trust
• The Inman Charity
• C A Redfern Charitable Foundation
• The Hamilton Wallace Trust
• The Gerald Micklem Charitable Trust
• The George Goodsir Charitable Trust
• The Roger And Jean Jefcoate Trust
• The Basil Samuel Charitable Trust
• The Thompson Family Charitable Trust
• Bill Brown's Charitable Settlement Of 1989

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities. “King/Cullimore Charitable Trust - Charity Number 1074928.” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3959144
• King Cullimore Charitable Trust. “Impact - Our Funded Organizations.” https://kingcullimore.org/impact/
• King Cullimore Charitable Trust. “About Peter Cullimore.” https://kingcullimore.org/about/peter-cullimore/
• King Cullimore Charitable Trust. “Missenden Walled Garden Partnership.” https://kingcullimore.org/missenden-walled-garden/
• OpenCharities. “King/Cullimore Charitable Trust - Charity Overview.” http://opencharities.org/charities/1074928
• Edith's Home. “Grant from the King/Cullimore Trust.” http://www.edithshome.com/donations-grants/grant-from-the-kingcullimore-trust/
• Universal Care Ltd. “Why Choose Universal Care - About Us.” https://www.universal-care.co.uk/why-us