Mr Willats' Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £486,600 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Twice yearly (March and October board meetings); notification within 10 working days
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £15,000 per year
• Grant Duration: Up to 3 years
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and Ireland
• Currently Supporting: 62 guides across the UK and Ireland

Contact Details

Website: www.willatstrust.org

Email: general@willatstrust.org | grants@willatstrust.org

Phone: 01225 331499

Application Portal: willatstrust.grantplatform.com

Charity Number: 202269

Overview

Founded in 1858 by William Willats, The Willats Trust is one of the UK's longest-standing grant-makers supporting Christian evangelistic work in deprived communities. The charity owns a property portfolio in Bath valued at over £35 million, with rental income funding grants to Christian workers (called “Guides”). In 2024, the Trust distributed £486,600 in grants supporting 62 Guides across England, Wales, and Ireland. The Trust transitioned from a stipend model to a grant-based approach in 2014 and rebranded as The Willats Trust in 2018 (marking its 160th anniversary). The Grants Programme is currently open for Expressions of Interest for funding beginning March 2026. The Trust's mission remains rooted in Mr Willats' original vision: to “take church to the people” by supporting workers who share the Gospel with the poorest and most marginalized in society.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Guide Grants: £5,000 - £15,000 per year for up to 3 years

• Financial contribution toward worker salaries (not projects or building work)
• Rolling application process via online portal
• Expressions of Interest currently open for March 2026 funding
• Board decisions made twice yearly (March and October)
• Applicants notified within 10 working days of trustee meetings

Priority Areas

The Trust funds Christian workers (“Guides”) who:

• Work in areas of high deprivation (measured by Index of Multiple Deprivation)
• Engage in direct evangelistic outreach
• Spend significant contact time with target communities (20 hours/week full-time; 14 hours/week part-time)
• Partner with Protestant churches and charities in England, Wales, and Ireland
• Serve marginalized groups including: homeless populations, refugees, people struggling with addiction, elderly in poverty, estate communities

What They Don't Fund

• Building work or capital projects
• General project costs unrelated to worker salaries
• Workers outside England, Wales, and Ireland
• Roles without significant direct evangelistic contact time
• Organizations without church/charity partnerships

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Roger Driver (Chairman): Anglican rector in Bath with 31 years of ordained ministry; enjoys cricket umpiring

Paul Suller (Vice-Chairman): Appointed December 2023; background in international finance; former CFO at global climate change NGO

Colin Sheppard: Chartered Surveyor and Professional Non-Executive Director; committed Christian with church leadership experience

Tim Friend: 20 years in youth ministry; oversees CPAS Venture and Falcon holidays; passionate about Gospel evangelism

Amanda Noyce: Trustee

Staff

Paul Taylor (CEO): paul.taylor@willatstrust.org

Kirsty Brown (Grants and Project Manager): Joined 2023; previous charity operations experience

Michele Tonner (Finance Manager): Joined April 2024; extensive business sector experience

Erica Palfreyman (Property Manager): With Trust since 2001; manages Bath property portfolio

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Review eligibility criteria and process at www.willatstrust.org
2. Submit Expression of Interest via online portal: willatstrust.grantplatform.com
3. Applications assessed by trustees who “individually and corporately seek to prayerfully assess applications against their criteria and Terms and Conditions”

Current Status: Grants Programme open for Expressions of Interest for funding beginning March 2026

Decision Timeline

• Board meetings: Twice yearly (March and October)
• Notification: Within 10 working days of trustee meeting
• Funding start: Typically the month following board approval

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not published, in 2023 the Trust appointed 19 new Guides and currently supports 62 Guides total. The Trust closed applications in early 2024 due to high application volumes, suggesting competitive demand.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated. Contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Key Selection Criteria

The Trust emphasizes three main criteria when appointing Guides:

1. Area of deprivation: Working in communities with high Index of Multiple Deprivation scores
2. Evangelistic approach: Clear Gospel-sharing focus (not just social action)
3. Contact time: Minimum 20 hours/week direct evangelistic contact (14 hours for part-time)

What They Look For

• Clear evangelistic timetable: Applications must demonstrate how time is spent in direct evangelistic contact with individuals from deprived backgrounds
• Partnership approach: Working alongside churches and charities, not independently
• Community relationships: Building trust and connections through consistent presence
• Practical and spiritual support: Combining Gospel message with meeting practical needs

Successful Examples

Alice (Toxteth, Liverpool): Engaging women and refugees through Bible studies and prayer groups; helped Sian (from Pakistani Imam family) find faith after personal tragedy. Alice stated: “I have a real love for people in this area, Jesus called us to share the Gospel to all nations.”

Pete (Mereside estate, Blackpool): Church Army worker running school assemblies, prayer tent at car boot sales, and 1:1 counseling. Grew church from 10 to 40 members in one year. The Willats Trust grant enabled Pete to stop running his business and work full-time in Gospel ministry.

Language and Terminology

• Use “evangelistic” and “Gospel-sharing” language explicitly
• Emphasize “deprivation” and “marginalized communities”
• Frame work as “partnership” with churches/charities
• Refer to “contact time” and “relationship-building”
• Connect to Mr Willats' vision of “taking church to the people”

Testimonial

Jonny Parker, Mission Worker: "Without the funding I would have had to work elsewhere and wouldn't be able to invest in building relationships."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Lead with deprivation data: Clearly establish the level of community deprivation using IMD or similar metrics. This is a primary selection criterion.

• Quantify evangelistic contact time: Break down weekly schedules showing minimum 20 hours (14 part-time) of direct Gospel-sharing contact with target communities.

• Emphasize partnership: Demonstrate strong backing from church/charity partners. The Trust funds workers in partnership, not independent missionaries.

• Show evangelistic focus: Social action alone is insufficient—applications must demonstrate explicit Gospel proclamation and discipleship.

• Tell transformation stories: Include specific examples of individuals coming to faith or deepening relationship with God through the ministry.

• Align with founding vision: Reference how your work connects to Mr Willats' 1858 vision of reaching those too poor to attend church.

• Apply early in the cycle: The Trust closed applications in 2024 due to high demand, suggesting funding is competitive and may be allocated before deadlines.

References

1. The Willats Trust official website - www.willatstrust.org
2. Charity Commission Register - MR WILLATS' CHARITY (202269) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=202269
3. "About The Willats' Trust" - https://www.willatstrust.org/news/about-the-willats-trust/
4. “Grants to Christian Outreach Workers” - https://www.willatstrust.org/grants-to-christian-outreach-workers/
5. “Our Grants” - https://www.willatstrust.org/grants-to-christian-outreach-workers/our-grants/
6. “Staff and Board Members” - https://www.willatstrust.org/trustees-and-staff/
7. “History” - https://www.willatstrust.org/history/
8. “Guide Story 1 - Alice” - https://www.willatstrust.org/guides-stories-people-we-support-christian-workers-case-studies/case-study-one/
9. “Guide Story 2 - Pete” - https://www.willatstrust.org/guides-stories-people-we-support-christian-workers-case-studies/case-study-two/
10. National Estate Churches Network - “Grants from The Willats Trust” (2023) - https://estatechurches.org/2023/08/grants-from-the-willats-trust/