Kirkley Poor's Land Estate

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £70,000 - £100,000 (including organizational grants, student grants, and food vouchers)
• Organizational Grants: £50,000 - £72,500 per year
• Number of Recipients: 13-17 organizations annually
• Average Grant: £3,000 - £7,500
• Student Grants: £150 per term (20 students supported)
• Geographic Focus: Ancient Ecclesiastical Parish of Kirkley, Lowestoft, Suffolk
• Charity Number: 210177

Contact Details

Clerk to the Trustees: Mrs L Walker

• Email: kirkleypoors@gmail.com
• Phone: 01502 514964
• Website: www.kirkleypoorslandestate.co.uk

Grocery Voucher Application Forms Available At:

• Kirkley Florist
• Kirkley Newsagent
• Kirkley Mill Health Centre

Overview

The Kirkley Poor's Land Estate is a charitable trust that has existed for nearly 200 years, making it one of Suffolk's oldest continuing charities. Established in the early 1800s, the trust operates within the boundary of the Ancient Ecclesiastical Parish of Kirkley in Lowestoft. While the estate has historical roots stretching back centuries, it only began awarding grants in 1967 when residents were given the right to purchase their homes, generating the funds that enable the trust's current grant-making activities. The trust distributes approximately £70,000-£100,000 annually through organizational grants (£50,000-£72,500), student bursaries (£150 per term for 20 students), and grocery vouchers (£35 vouchers for state pensioners). The estate focuses exclusively on relieving need, hardship, and distress within its defined geographical boundary, with trustees taking a proactive approach to supporting both established organizations and emerging community initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Organizational Grants: £1,000 - £7,500

• Annual grant ceremony held in November/December
• Total annual distribution: £50,000 - £72,500
• Supports 13-17 organizations per year
• Recent individual grants have included Citizens Advice East Suffolk (£7,500)

Student Bursaries: £150 per term

• Available to students studying for their first degree
• Limited to 20 students annually
• Must be resident within the Ancient Ecclesiastical Parish of Kirkley

Grocery Vouchers: £35 per voucher

• Available to state pension recipients
• Redeemable at Central Co-op Food, South Kirkley
• Application forms available at local venues (see Contact Details)

Priority Areas

The trust focuses on organizations and individuals experiencing:

• Need, hardship, or distress: Primary criterion for all funding
• Social welfare services: Advice services, disability support, food security
• Community support: Transport services, community centers, support groups
• Youth and education: Student support, youth services, children's services
• Vulnerable populations: Elderly residents, families in crisis, homeless support
• Community facilities: Parks, public spaces, community infrastructure

Recent Grant Recipients Include

• Lowestoft Talking Newspaper - Sound East
• Disability Advice North East Suffolk
• Fishermen's Mission
• Shopmobility
• Citizens Advice East Suffolk
• Lowestoft Foodbank
• Kirkley St Peter and St John Pantry
• The Liberty Project
• The Leaving Care Team
• Ashby House Children's Home
• Kirkley Pocket Parks Group
• Bungay Area Community Transport (Lowestoft operations)
• Lowestoft Sixth Form College and East Coast College (student bursaries)

Geographic Restriction

Critical: The trust can only support organizations operating within, or individuals living within, the Ancient Ecclesiastical Parish of Kirkley. This historic parish boundary does NOT match modern-day Kirkley boundaries. The ancient parish covered approximately 514 acres south of Lowestoft along the Suffolk coast. Applicants are strongly advised to consult the boundary map on the trust's website (www.kirkleypoorslandestate.co.uk) before applying, as this is a strict eligibility requirement.

What They Don't Fund

Based on their track record and stated purpose:

• Organizations or individuals outside the Ancient Ecclesiastical Parish of Kirkley boundary
• Students beyond their first degree (postgraduate study not supported)
• Capital projects unrelated to relieving need or hardship
• Activities primarily for profit or commercial purposes
• Work that duplicates existing well-funded services

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Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Malcolm Pitchers - Chairman

• Councillor for Kirkley and Pakefield Ward
• Took over chairmanship from Michael Cook
• Quote: “We are in the wonderful position of having a sum of money to hand out to people and groups who are within our boundary.”

Michael Cook - Former Chairman

• Led the trust through significant expansion of grant-making
• Oversaw the development of annual grant ceremonies bringing recipients together
• Quote: “We are in the wonderful position of having a sum of money to hand out to people and groups who are within our boundary.”

Mrs L Walker - Clerk to the Trustees

• Primary administrative contact
• Handles inquiries and application information

The trust operates with a board of trustees who meet to review applications and make grant decisions. The annual grant ceremony at the Hotel Victoria in Lowestoft has become a tradition, with trustees personally presenting cheques to successful applicants.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organizational Grants:

Contact the Clerk to the Trustees directly:

• Email: kirkleypoors@gmail.com
• Phone: 01502 514964
• Visit: www.kirkleypoorslandestate.co.uk for application guidance

No standardized application form is publicly advertised. Organizations are advised to contact the Clerk to discuss their eligibility and receive application guidance.

For Student Bursaries:

Contact the Clerk to the Trustees for application information. Student grants are distributed through Lowestoft Sixth Form College and East Coast College for eligible students studying their first degree.

For Grocery Vouchers (Pensioners):

Application forms available at:

• Kirkley Florist
• Kirkley Newsagent
• Kirkley Mill Health Centre

Decision Timeline

• Grant Ceremonies: Held annually in November/December
• Application Timing: Not publicly specified - contact Clerk for current application windows
• Processing Time: Unknown - recommend contacting the trust directly

Grant awards are announced and distributed at the annual presentation ceremony at the Hotel Victoria in Lowestoft, where trustees personally meet with grant recipients.

Success Rates

Based on recent data:

• 2024: 15 organizations received grants totaling £52,512
• 2023: 17 organizations received grants totaling £72,500
• 2022: 13 organizations received grants totaling £50,000
• Student grants: 20 students supported annually

The trust appears to have a relatively high success rate for eligible applicants within the boundary, with grants distributed annually to 13-17 organizations. The key success factor is being genuinely within the Ancient Ecclesiastical Parish of Kirkley boundary and demonstrating relief of need, hardship, or distress.

Reapplication Policy

No information is publicly available about reapplication policies or restrictions on repeat funding. Organizations appear in recipient lists across multiple years, suggesting that previous grant recipients can reapply. Contact the Clerk for specific guidance.

Application Success Factors

Critical Success Factor: Geographic Eligibility

The single most important factor is being within the Ancient Ecclesiastical Parish of Kirkley boundary. Chairman Malcolm Pitchers emphasized “groups who are within our boundary” as the fundamental requirement. Before investing time in an application, verify your location using the boundary map on the trust's website, as this historic parish does not match modern Kirkley boundaries.

Demonstrating Relief of Need, Hardship, or Distress

The trust's charitable purpose focuses specifically on relieving need, hardship, or distress. Successful applications clearly articulate:

• Who is experiencing need/hardship/distress
• How the organization addresses this need
• The impact on Kirkley residents
• Why additional funding is required

Types of Work the Trust Values

Based on grant recipient patterns, the trust supports:

• Front-line services: Direct support to people in need (foodbanks, advice services, disability support)
• Accessibility and inclusion: Services helping vulnerable people access community resources (Shopmobility, transport services)
• Youth and education: Student support and services for young people
• Community resilience: Projects building community capacity (pocket parks, community pantries)
• Specialist support: Services for specific vulnerable groups (fishermen, care leavers, children in care)

Application Approach

Given the trust's scale (£50,000-£72,500 distributed to 13-17 organizations):

• Realistic grant requests: Recent grants range from approximately £1,000 to £7,500
• Clear, concise proposals: As a small trust, avoid overly complex applications
• Local connection: Emphasize roots in and commitment to the Kirkley community
• Measurable impact: Show how the grant will directly benefit Kirkley residents in need

Building Relationships

The trust hosts annual grant ceremonies where trustees personally present awards and meet recipients. This suggests:

• The trust values personal connection with funded organizations
• Attending the ceremony (if invited) provides networking opportunities
• Building ongoing relationships with trustees and the Clerk may be beneficial
• The trust appreciates seeing the tangible impact of their funding

Leveraging Other Funding

With average grants of £3,000-£7,500, the trust appears to favor:

• Supporting operational costs and service delivery
• Providing grants that enable services rather than funding entire projects
• Being one funder among several (many recipients are established organizations with diverse funding)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Boundary verification is mandatory: Use the trust's boundary map before applying - this is non-negotiable and the historic parish boundary differs from modern Kirkley
• Focus on need and hardship: Frame your application around relieving need, hardship, or distress for Kirkley residents - this is the trust's core purpose
• Expect modest grants: Plan for grants in the £1,000-£7,500 range; the trust distributes £50,000-£72,500 across 13-17 organizations annually
• Contact the Clerk first: With no standardized application form, initial contact with Mrs L Walker (kirkleypoors@gmail.com) is essential to understand current processes
• Emphasize local impact: As a 200-year-old local trust, demonstrate deep connection to the Kirkley community and clear benefit to local residents
• Application timing matters: Grants are announced in November/December; contact the trust to understand current application windows and deadlines
• Previous success doesn't preclude future funding: Organizations appear in multiple years of recipient lists, suggesting the trust supports ongoing work by effective organizations

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust
• THE TOWN LANDS
• Barton Under Needwood and Dunstall Key Trust
• Headley Pitt Trust
• The Leslie Mary Carter Charitable Trust
• The Spalding Memorial Educational Trust
• THE SIR JAMES KNOTT TRUST
• The William Price Charitable Trust
• The Stevenage Community Trust
• John Jackson Charitable Trust

References

• Lowestoft Journal. "The Kirkley Poor's Land Estate in Lowestoft awards grants." 2024. https://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/news/25674334.kirkley-poors-land-estate-lowestoft-awards-grants/

• Lowestoft Journal. “Lowestoft charitable trust hands out £72,500 in grants.” 2024. https://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/news/24766076.lowestoft-charitable-trust-hands-72-500-grants/

• Lowestoft Journal. “Thousands of pounds of grants boost deserving causes in Kirkley.” 2022. https://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/news/23164981.thousands-pounds-grants-boost-deserving-causes-kirkley/

• Suffolk InfoLink. "Kirkley Poor's Land Estate." Community Directory. https://infolink.suffolk.gov.uk/kb5/suffolk/infolink/service.page?id=SeYUUDWwo_E

• Citizens Advice East Suffolk. "Kirkley Poor's Land Estate." 2024. https://citizensadviceeastsuffolk.org.uk/kirkley-poors-land-estate/

• East Anglian Daily Times. “Kirkley good causes boosted in Lowestoft charity handout.” 2023. https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23981000.kirkley-good-causes-boosted-lowestoft-charity-handout/

• East Anglian Daily Times. “Lowestoft charitable trust hands out £72,500 in grants.” 2024. https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24766076.lowestoft-charitable-trust-hands-72-500-grants/

• Kirkley Poor's Land Estate. Official Website. www.kirkleypoorslandestate.co.uk- Note: Direct access restricted, information compiled from references to website content)

• Heritage Suffolk. “Parish: Kirkley otherwise South Lowestoft.” https://heritage.suffolk.gov.uk/media/pdfs/kirkley.pdf (Referenced in search results