Mobbs Memorial Trust Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £85,000 (approximate, dependent on investment performance)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle (notification shortly after meetings)
• Grant Range: £500 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: Buckinghamshire and Berkshire within 35-mile radius of St Giles Church, Stoke Poges

Contact Details

Website: www.mobbsmemorialtrust.com

Email: sandragreenslade@mobbsmemorialtrust.com

Phone: 0118 957 3238

Address: Victoria House, 26 Queen Victoria Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1TG

Overview

The Mobbs Memorial Trust Limited was established in 1956 by Sir Noel Mobbs with initial funding of £150,000. Registered as a charity on 29 March 1963, the Trust has evolved from supporting only a 4-mile radius (expanded to 35 miles in 1973) to become a significant local funder. In its recent financial year ending 2024, the Trust had a total income of £115,205 and total expenditure of £163,320. The Trust distributes approximately £85,000 annually through 20-25 grants, having awarded approximately £1.3 million to more than 280 organisations over a 25-year period (1988-2013), and approximately £650,000 to some 160 charitable organisations during Charles Mobbs' chairmanship (2013-2020). Its primary mission is twofold: preserving and maintaining St Giles Church in Stoke Poges and supporting charitable projects within a 35-mile radius covering parts of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. The Trust operates primarily through grant-making, with assets invested on the London Stock Exchange.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Grant Programme: £500 - £10,000 (rolling basis, quarterly decisions)
• Applications accepted at any time throughout the year
• Decisions made at quarterly trustee meetings (normally March, June, September, December)
• Approximately 20-25 grants awarded annually

Priority Areas

The Trust has two core objectives:

Primary Objective: Preservation and maintenance of St Giles Church, Stoke Poges, including:

• The ancient church building and any auxiliary church buildings
• The churchyard (where Thomas Gray wrote his famous Elegy)
• The Gardens of Remembrance
• The National Trust field adjacent to the churchyard

Secondary Objective: Supporting charitable causes within the geographic catchment area

Preferred Applications:

• One-off capital projects for public benefit
• Applications with match funding from other sources
• Community halls and sports clubs requiring facility refurbishment or enhancement
• Hostels, housing associations, or care centres for the young, elderly, disadvantaged, or disabled needing equipment
• Educational or medical charities requiring IT equipment

What They Don't Fund

• Running costs or operational expenses
• Requests from individuals or private companies
• National charities without a specific local need within their geographic area
• Projects that should be funded by government sources

Ready to write a winning application for Mobbs Memorial Trust Limited?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by four trustees, all members of the Mobbs family:

Sandra Greenslade (Chair) - 4th generation of the Mobbs family, trustee since 2004, became Chair in December 2020. Sandra expressed her delight at becoming Chair and stated she "looks forward to continuing the Trust's objectives, particularly helping as many charitable causes as possible."

Christopher Mobbs (Trustee)

Alexander Mobbs (Trustee)

Will Greenslade (Trustee)

The Trust maintains a strong family legacy, with leadership passing through four generations since Sir Noel Mobbs established the charity in 1956.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Mobbs Memorial Trust operates a simple, accessible application process:

No formal application form required. Applicants should:

• Detailed organizational information
• Comprehensive project description
• Total project costs breakdown
• Amount of funding requested from the Trust
• Details of other funding sources (secured and applied for)
• Latest signed accounts
• Bank details for potential payment

Contact for applications:

Email: sandragreenslade@mobbsmemorialtrust.com

Post: Victoria House, 26 Queen Victoria Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1TG

Decision Timeline

• Application submission: Rolling basis - applications accepted at any time
• Trustee meetings: Quarterly (normally March, June, September, December)
• Notification: Immediately after each quarterly meeting
• Total timeline: Dependent on when application is received relative to next quarterly meeting; could be anywhere from a few weeks to approximately 3 months

Each application is treated strictly on its own merit and, provided it complies with the Trust's objectives, is considered by trustees at their quarterly meetings.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. However, the Trust awards 20-25 grants per year from an approximate annual budget of £85,000, suggesting a selective but accessible process.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Applicants seeking clarification on reapplication after an unsuccessful attempt should contact the Trust directly.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's documented guidance and priorities, successful applications typically demonstrate:

Geographic Alignment: Projects must be located within a 35-mile radius of St Giles Church, Stoke Poges. This covers significant portions of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, including areas such as Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham. Applicants should clearly state their location and confirm eligibility.

Capital vs. Running Costs: The Trust explicitly prefers “one-off capital projects” rather than ongoing operational expenses. Recent successful applications include facility refurbishments, equipment purchases, and IT investments rather than salaries or recurring costs.

Match Funding: The Trust gives preference to applications that secure funding from other sources. Demonstrating a diversified funding strategy and showing that other funders have invested in the project significantly strengthens applications.

Public Benefit: Projects should benefit “the public at large” rather than serving narrow or private interests. Successful applications serve community halls, sports clubs, hostels, housing associations, care centres, educational charities, and medical charities.

Comprehensive Information: While there's no formal application form, the Trust expects detailed information covering organizational background, project specifics, full cost breakdown, other funding sources, and current financial position through recent accounts.

Alignment with Trust Objectives: Each application is “treated strictly on its own merit” and must comply with the Trust's dual objectives: supporting St Giles Church preservation and charitable causes within the geographic area.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Keep it simple: No formal application form means a well-crafted letter can be sufficient, but ensure all required information is included (organizational details, project description, costs, other funding, accounts, and bank details)

• Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable: Verify your organization falls within the 35-mile radius of St Giles Church, Stoke Poges before applying - this covers Buckinghamshire and Berkshire areas including Reading, Slough, Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham

• Capital projects win: Focus applications on one-off capital needs (equipment, refurbishments, IT) rather than running costs or operational support

• Match funding matters: Demonstrating other funding sources—both secured and applied for—significantly strengthens your application and aligns with the Trust's stated preferences

• Timing flexibility: Rolling applications mean you can apply when ready, but be aware decisions only happen quarterly, so plan accordingly based on meeting dates (March, June, September, December)

• Small but strategic: With grants ranging £500-£10,000 and only 20-25 awarded annually from an £85,000 budget, applications should be realistic about the amount requested and demonstrate how even smaller grants can make meaningful impact

• Family stewardship: The Trust has been guided by four generations of the Mobbs family with a genuine commitment to local charitable causes; applications reflecting strong community impact and local benefit resonate with this legacy

References

• Mobbs Memorial Trust Official Website - Homepage. Available at: https://www.mobbsmemorialtrust.com/

• Mobbs Memorial Trust - Application Guidelines. Available at: https://www.mobbsmemorialtrust.com/application-guidelines

• UK Charity Commission - Charity Details: MOBBS MEMORIAL TRUST LIMITED (Charity Number 202478). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/202478/full-print

• LEAP - Mobbs Memorial Trust Funding Information. Available at: https://leapwithus.org.uk/funding/mobbs-memorial-trust/

• Reading Voluntary Action - Mobbs Memorial Trust Profile. Available at: https://rva.org.uk/article/mobbs-memorial-trust/

• Mobbs Memorial Trust - News Page. Available at: https://www.mobbsmemorialtrust.com/news/