Mrs Jane Cart's Trust

Charity Number: 200166

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £192,827 (2025)
  • Annual Expenditure: £222,559 (2025)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Three-stage process (timeframe not specified)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000 (individual grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Diocese of St Albans (Bedfordshire and surrounding areas)

Contact Details

Website: www.janecarttrust.org

Email: jct@blcf.org.uk (for main trust) / administrator@blcf.org.uk (general)

Phone: 01525 306690

Address: c/o Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation, Room 314 Endeavour House, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire MK45 4HS

Administered by: Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation

Overview

Established in 1736 upon the death of Mrs Jane Cart of Dunstable, the Mrs Jane Cart's Trust has been supporting Church of England clergy and vulnerable women in Bedfordshire for nearly 300 years. The trust consists of two distinct entities: the main Mrs Jane Cart's Trust, which provides financial support to clergy and their dependents who have served in the Diocese of St Albans, and the Mrs Jane Cart's Almshouse Trust, which supports housing for poor single women near Dunstable. With an annual income of approximately £193,000, the trust operates under the governance of seven trustees and is administered by the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation. The trust maintains its historical mission while adapting to contemporary needs, hosting a biennial Service of Blessing and Thanksgiving to celebrate Mrs Cart's enduring philanthropic legacy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Trust (Individual Clergy Support)

  • Standard Living Grant: Up to £1,250 annually - Means-tested support for clergy facing exceptional costs and circumstances (rolling applications)
  • Special Grant: Up to £5,000 one-off - For financial hardship arising from unforeseen circumstances such as illness, accident, or wellbeing support including respite and vacation (rolling applications)
  • Newly Appointed/Retiring Clergy Grant: £1,000 one-off - For clergy arriving or retiring in the Diocese of St Albans (incumbent status only; rolling applications)
  • Retreats for Clergy: Amount varies - Grants to meet costs of retreats at St Mary & Martha or similar approved venues for clergy with 20+ years in ministry (rolling applications)
  • Church Property Improvements: Up to £5,000 - Minor improvements to church property, particularly vicarages (rolling applications)

Almshouse Trust (Organizational Grants)

  • Grants to charitable organizations providing housing for single women, whether permanent or temporary, near Dunstable (amount varies; no public application process)

Priority Areas

  • Church of England clergy serving or who have served in the Diocese of St Albans
  • Clergy widows and widowers whose spouse served in the Diocese of St Albans
  • Maiden daughters of clergy (aged over 45)
  • Financial hardship arising from unforeseen circumstances
  • Wellbeing and respite support for clergy
  • Housing support for poor single women near Dunstable (through organizational grants)

What They Don't Fund

The Trust will not normally make grants to support:

  • Private education
  • Private medical and healthcare costs
  • Rental or mortgage payments
  • Motor car acquisition
  • Debt repayment
  • Office equipment
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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by seven trustees who serve without remuneration. The trust has no employees earning over £60,000 and operates no trading subsidiaries.

The trust was originally established with five Trustees and a Clerk in 1736, four months before Jane Cart's death at age 83. She transferred all her properties to this trust structure, charging them with administering the properties and distributing annual revenue to specific beneficiaries.

Day-to-day administration is handled by the Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation, which manages both the main trust and the almshouse trust.

In October 2024, clergy and the community gathered at the Priory Church of St Peter to celebrate Mrs Cart's legacy through a biennial Service of Blessing and Thanksgiving. According to Mrs Cart's will, a sermon should be preached annually on the Sunday nearest to the anniversary of her death on October 15, demonstrating the trust's commitment to honoring its founder's wishes nearly three centuries later.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Main Trust (Individual Clergy)

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines. The application process follows three stages:

  1. Information Review: Initial review of application with clarification if needed
  2. Grants Committee: Committee evaluation of the application
  3. Trustee Board: Final approval by the Board of Trustees

To apply:

  1. Contact the administrators at 01525 306690 or email jct@blcf.org.uk to request an application form
  2. Complete the 2025 JCT Application Form (available on the website)
  3. Submit your completed application to the administrators

Almshouse Trust (Organizational Grants)

The Almshouse Trust does not have a public application process. It makes grants to charitable organizations providing housing for single women near Dunstable at the discretion of the trustees.

Decision Timeline

The trust operates a three-stage decision process, but specific timeframes are not publicly documented. Applicants can expect:

  • Initial information review and clarification
  • Grants Committee review
  • Final Trustee Board approval

The exact duration of this process is not specified on the trust's website or public documents.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available. The trust does not publish data on the number of applications received or the percentage of applications funded.

Reapplication Policy

The trust offers both annual grants (Standard Living Grant) and one-off grants (Special Grant, Newly Appointed/Retiring Clergy Grant). The availability of reapplication for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated in public materials. Contact the administrators for clarification.

Application Success Factors

While the trust does not publish extensive guidance on what makes applications successful, the following factors can be inferred from the trust's structure and priorities:

Eligibility is paramount: The trust has very specific eligibility criteria focused on Church of England clergy and their dependents with connections to the Diocese of St Albans. Ensure you clearly demonstrate this connection.

Focus on genuine need: The Standard Living Grant is means-tested and designed for “exceptional costs and circumstances,” while the Special Grant addresses “unforeseen circumstances such as illness or accident.” Applications should clearly articulate the specific financial hardship being experienced.

Match to appropriate grant category: The trust offers distinct grant programs for different purposes. Ensure your application is directed to the appropriate category and meets the specific criteria for that program.

Clarity about excluded items: Be aware that the trust explicitly excludes private education, private healthcare, rent/mortgage, vehicle purchases, debt repayment, and office equipment. Applications for these purposes will not be considered.

Wellbeing is valued: The trust explicitly mentions wellbeing support, including respite and vacation, under the Special Grant category, indicating an understanding that clergy mental health and wellbeing are legitimate funding priorities.

Long service is recognized: The retreat grants are available to clergy with 20+ years in ministry, suggesting the trust values and supports experienced clergy members.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Highly specialized funder: This trust exclusively supports Church of England clergy and their dependents connected to the Diocese of St Albans, plus housing charities supporting single women near Dunstable. If you don't fit these criteria, this is not the right funder.
  • Rolling applications offer flexibility: With no fixed deadlines, applicants can apply when need arises rather than waiting for specific funding rounds.
  • Three-stage process requires patience: Applications undergo review at three levels (information review, Grants Committee, Trustee Board), so build in time for this multi-stage approval process.
  • Grant amounts are modest: Individual grants range from £1,000 to £5,000, making this suitable for specific needs rather than large-scale projects.
  • Historic trust with contemporary approach: Nearly 300 years of operation demonstrates stability and commitment, while the inclusion of wellbeing support shows adaptation to modern clergy needs.
  • Administered by community foundation: The Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation handles day-to-day administration, providing professional management and accessible contact points.
  • No public data on competitiveness: Without published success rates or application numbers, it's difficult to assess how competitive the process is - contact administrators for guidance on your specific situation.

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