Norman Garon Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Information not publicly available
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: Southend-on-Sea, Sutton, and Rochford areas (Essex)
• Primary Beneficiaries: Youth projects and scouting organizations
• Charity Number: 1120656
• Established: 1982

Contact Details

General Enquiries:

• Email: info@normangarontrust.co.uk
• Phone: 01245 809 899
• Address: 3rd Floor, Marlborough House, Victoria Street South, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1LN
• Website: https://normangarontrust.co.uk

For Grant Applications:

• Non-scouting youth projects: Apply through FSJ Charity at https://fsjtrust.org.uk
• Contact: plangran@fsjtrust.org.uk
• Phone: 01245 809899
• Scouting projects: Apply through Essex Scouts at https://www.essexscouts.org.uk/support/grants-board

Overview

The Norman Garon Trust was established in 1982 with general charitable objects. In the 1990s, trustees decided to focus particularly on the provision of sporting and recreational facilities, which has expanded significantly over the years at Garon Park in Southend-on-Sea. The trust operates multiple sports facilities including cricket, football, golf, netball, and paddle tennis. Surplus income generated from these operations is used principally to support and promote scouting in the local and wider Essex area, and to support various local charitable groups in the youth sector through grant-making. The charity has total income of approximately £2.8 million and expenditure of £2.8 million, with charitable activities expenditure of over £1 million. In 2024, Karl Hepple was appointed CEO of the Trust.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Norman Garon Trust operates two distinct grant-making streams:

1. Youth Projects (Non-Scouting)

• Grant Range: £2,000 - £5,000
• Managed by: FSJ Charity
• Application Method: Rolling basis through FSJ Charity
• Average Grant: £2,000 - £3,000
• Meetings: Three times annually (February, May, September)
• Next Application Deadline: Check with FSJ Charity for current deadlines

2. Scouting Projects

• Grant Range: £2,000 - £5,000
• Managed by: Essex Scouts
• Application Method: Through Essex Scouts grants process
• Focus: Supporting and promoting scouting in local and wider Essex area

Priority Areas

The trust focuses on:

• Youth sector charitable organizations within Southend-on-Sea, Sutton, and Rochford areas
• Scouting activities and organizations across Essex
• Sports and recreational facilities for young people
• Community projects including sports bursaries
• Health, wellbeing, and activities for the less able
• Environmental enhancement projects

What They Don't Fund

• Projects outside the Southend-on-Sea, Sutton, and Rochford geographic areas (for non-scouting grants)
• Projects not focused on youth or scouting
• Grants exceeding £5,000
• Organizations that have received funding within the previous 12 months (FSJ-managed grants)

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Karl Hepple (appointed 2024) - PGA Professional with extensive experience in sports management

Historical Context: The trust was established with Philip Tolhurst, David Evans (farming company manager), and Alan Jordan of Savills serving as initial trustees. The charity currently has 5 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Non-Scouting Youth Projects:

• Brief description of your organization
• Outline of the project
• Total project costs
• Latest accounts
• Details of community impact

For Scouting Projects:

1. Apply through Essex Scouts grants board
2. Contact the County Grants Team Administrator through Essex Scouts website
3. Complete appropriate application form
4. Submit to Grants Administrator

Decision Timeline

FSJ Charity-Managed Applications:

• Trustees meet three times per year: February, May, and September
• Applications must be submitted before the deadline for each meeting
• Decision timeframe: Approximately 2-4 months depending on meeting schedule

Essex Scouts-Managed Applications:

• Three scheduled team meetings per year
• Specific timelines available from Essex Scouts grants team

Reapplication Policy

For FSJ Charity-managed grants: Organizations must wait 12 months between grants before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Key Considerations

1. Geographic Focus: Applications must clearly demonstrate benefit to youth within the Southend-on-Sea, Sutton, and Rochford areas (non-scouting grants) or Essex scouting community (scouting grants)

1. Youth Impact: Strong emphasis on demonstrating clear, measurable impact on young people through sporting, recreational, or developmental activities

1. Community Benefit: Articulate how the project will benefit the wider community and contribute to health, wellbeing, or activities for young people

1. Financial Clarity: Provide clear project costs and demonstrate value for money within the £2,000-£5,000 grant range

1. Organizational Credibility: Latest accounts required to demonstrate financial management capability

Strategic Alignment

The trust values:

• Projects supporting sporting and recreational facilities for youth
• Initiatives that promote health and wellbeing
• Activities for less able young people
• Environmental enhancement projects
• Sustainable, long-term community benefit

Application Approach

• Contact FSJ Charity or Essex Scouts before applying to discuss your project idea
• Keep applications concise but comprehensive
• Focus on community impact and youth benefit
• Demonstrate organizational sustainability and capacity to deliver

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Restriction: Grants are strictly limited to Southend-on-Sea, Sutton, and Rochford areas for non-scouting projects, or Essex for scouting projects - ensure your project fits this criteria
• Two Application Routes: Clearly identify whether your project is scouting-related (apply via Essex Scouts) or general youth work (apply via FSJ Charity)
• Grant Size: Typical grants range from £2,000-£5,000 - plan project scope accordingly
• Pre-Application Discussion: Contact the relevant managing organization (FSJ or Essex Scouts) before applying to discuss your project
• Meeting Schedule: Plan ahead for the three annual trustee meetings (February, May, September) to submit applications in time
• Youth Focus Essential: All projects must demonstrate clear benefit to young people through sporting, recreational, or developmental activities
• 12-Month Gap: For FSJ-managed grants, organizations must wait 12 months between awards

References

1. Norman Garon Trust Official Website - https://normangarontrust.co.uk/
2. UK Charity Commission Register - Norman Garon Trust (Charity Number 1120656) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4034235/charity-overview
3. FSJ Charity (Fowler Smith and Jones Trust) - https://fsjtrust.org.uk/
4. Essex Scouts Grants Team - https://www.essexscouts.org.uk/support/grants-board
5. LinkedIn - “Karl Hepple Appointed CEO Of Norman Garon Trust” (2024)
6. Golf Business News - “Norman Garon Trust appoints new CEO” - https://golfbusinessnews.com/news/corporate/norman-garon-trust-appoints-new-ceo/
7. Garon Park Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garon_Park