Mrs L D Rope's Third Charitable Settlement

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,961,930 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Quick response emphasized (specific timeframe not published)
• Grant Range: £11 - £1,300 for individuals; £5,000+ for organisations
• Geographic Focus: Primary area: Ipswich and south-east Suffolk; Limited UK-wide and international grants
• Total Assets: £73.9 million (2024)

Contact Details

• Website: www.theropetrust.org.uk
• Email: ropetrust@lucyhouse.org.uk
• Phone: 01473 333288
• Address: Lucy House, St. William Court, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 2QP
• Charity Number: 290533
• ICO Registration: Z3463654

Overview

The Mrs L D Rope Third Charitable Settlement, commonly known as The Rope Trust, was established in 1984 through a trust deed (amended 2004) to relieve poverty. Based in Kesgrave near Ipswich, this family grant-making trust holds assets of £73.9 million and distributed £1,961,930 in grants during 2023-24, representing an 18% increase from the previous year. The trust operates with a small dedicated team focused on supporting individuals and communities experiencing poverty in Suffolk, the UK, and internationally. With total grant-making expenditure of £2.3 million, the trust made 3,062 individual grants (£954,060) and substantial organisational grants (£1,007,870). The trustees emphasize quick, non-judgemental decision-making and excellent customer service, working closely with local support agencies across Suffolk.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Grants (£11 - £1,300)

• Applications only accepted via referral from front-line advice and social care agencies
• Cannot apply directly
• Quick response process emphasized
• Grants paid to referring organisation, not directly to individuals

Organisational Grants (ranges from under £5,000 to over £10,000)

• Primarily for Ipswich and south-east Suffolk organisations
• Limited grants available UK-wide
• Online registration required before full application
• Rolling basis with quick turnaround

Priority Areas

Primary Focus: Relief of poverty in Ipswich and south-east Suffolk

Individual Support (via agency referral only):

• Beds and bedding
• Clothing and footwear
• White goods (cookers, fridges, freezers, washing machines)
• Furniture
• Food and utilities
• Basic carpets
• School uniforms
• Bus passes

Organisational Support:

• Organisations providing essential services to those in greatest need in the Primary Area
• Services supporting children and adolescents
• Services for seniors and disabled people
• Local hospices
• UK and international poverty relief (via UK-based charities only)

What They Don't Fund

For Individuals:

• Laptops/computers
• Holidays
• Cash grants
• Retrospective grants (already purchased items)
• Driving lessons
• Counselling
• Music lessons
• Pet-related costs
• Moving costs outside Suffolk

For Organisations:

• New overseas projects
• Large national charities
• Capital grants for buildings
• Medical research/healthcare (except hospices in Primary Area)
• Schools outside Primary Area
• Environmental charities
• Animal welfare organisations
• Performing, literary or visual arts
• Large-scale matched funding

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• J Coplowe
• E M Jolly
• C S J Scott
• S C Serpell

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trustees were incorporated on 10 February 1994.

Approach to Grant-Making

The trust describes its approach as offering “excellent customer service, quick and timely decisions and an understanding approach through non-judgemental systems and procedures.” They emphasize: “When you need help you need it now – we pride ourselves on a quick response.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Individuals:

1. Cannot apply directly
2. Must be referred by a support worker from a statutory organisation, charity, social enterprise, co-operative, or community benefit society
3. Support worker registers online via www.theropetrust.org.uk
4. Once registration accepted, support worker receives email with full application form link
5. Only need to register once

For Organisations:

1. Register online via www.theropetrust.org.uk
2. If registration accepted, receive email with full application form link
3. Submit full application
4. Only need to register once

Eligibility Requirements:

• Individuals: Living in or moving into East Suffolk, Ipswich, Babergh, or Mid Suffolk
• Organisations: Must be statutory, charity, social enterprise, co-operative, community benefit society, or school (in Primary Area)

Decision Timeline

The trust emphasizes “quick and timely decisions” and states “we pride ourselves on a quick response.” Specific timeframes are not published, but the language consistently emphasizes speed.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. In 2023-24, the trust made:

• 3,062 grants to individuals (£954,060)
• 107 organisational grants over £5,000 (including 16 grants of £5,000-10,000 totalling £95,045, and 91 grants under £5,000 totalling £143,614)

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published on the website or in public documents. Contact the trust directly at 01473 333288 or ropetrust@lucyhouse.org.uk for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from the Funder

The trust explicitly states: “When you need help you need it now – we pride ourselves on a quick response to your application.”

Key emphasis areas:

• Immediate need: The trust understands urgency in poverty relief
• Non-judgemental approach: Systems designed to be understanding and supportive
• Working through agencies: For individuals, the trust relies on professional assessment from support workers
• Discretionary decisions: All grants made at trustees' discretion

Alignment Factors

Strong applications will demonstrate:

• Clear connection to poverty relief
• Location in Primary Area (Ipswich/south-east Suffolk) for most grants
• Essential items/services (not luxuries)
• Immediate, practical impact
• For organisations: direct service provision to those in greatest need

For agency referrals (individual grants):

• Professional assessment of need
• Clear explanation of how items will help change lives
• Focus on essential household items and clothing
• Evidence of financial hardship

For organisational grants:

• Services targeting those in greatest need in Primary Area
• Focus on children, elderly, disabled, or poverty relief
• Avoid excluded categories (arts, environment, animal welfare, etc.)
• Clear demonstration of how grant relieves poverty

Grant Distribution Pattern

The 2023-24 data shows the trust made:

• £1,007,870 to organisations (28% increase from previous year)
• £954,060 to individuals through 3,062 grants
• £53,812 for overseas work (through UK charities)

This demonstrates strong appetite for both individual and organisational grants, with organisational funding increasing significantly.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Speed matters: The trust prioritizes quick decisions and emphasizes immediate need—applications should reflect urgency and essential requirements
• Geographic targeting is critical: Unless you're a major poverty-relief organization, being in Ipswich/south-east Suffolk is essential for success
• Poverty relief is non-negotiable: Every application must clearly demonstrate connection to relieving poverty—this is the overarching aim
• Know the exclusions: Carefully review the extensive list of what they don't fund before applying; many typical charitable areas are explicitly excluded
• For individuals, agency referral is mandatory: Direct applications from individuals are not accepted under any circumstances
• Discretionary process: Trustees make all final decisions; meeting criteria doesn't guarantee funding
• Growing grant-making: With 18% increase in total giving and 28% increase in organisational grants, the trust is expanding its reach and may be receptive to new partnerships

References

• Charity Commission Register, MRS L D ROPE'S THIRD CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT - Charity Number 290533: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=290533
• The Mrs L D Rope Third Charitable Settlement official website: https://www.theropetrust.org.uk/
• How to Apply – Organisational, The Mrs L D Rope Third Charitable Settlement: https://www.theropetrust.org.uk/how-to-apply/
• How to Apply – Individuals, The Mrs L D Rope Third Charitable Settlement: https://www.theropetrust.org.uk/how-to-apply-individuals/
• About Us, The Mrs L D Rope Third Charitable Settlement: https://www.theropetrust.org.uk/about-us/
• Suffolk InfoLink - The Rope Trust: https://infolink.suffolk.gov.uk/kb5/suffolk/infolink/service.page?id=AZljm68mQF0&adultchannel=6
• Charity Commission Annual Report and Financial Statements 2023-24, MRS L D ROPE'S THIRD CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT
• Giving is Great Charity Factsheet - MRS L D ROPE'S THIRD CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=290533