Pen Trust
Stay updated on changes from Pen Trust and other funders
Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £86,372 (2024/25)
- Total Given Since Inception: Over £500,000
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (evidence of substantial grants including minibus donations and facility construction)
- Geographic Focus: England, Scotland, and Wales
Contact Details
- Website: https://thepentrust.org/
- Phone: 07711168711
- Charity Number: 1171715
- Also Known As: Wavestone UK Trust
Overview
PEN Trust was established in 2016 to support causes of public interest, with a particular focus on charities that advance education and help young people in need. The trust is funded by a proportion of revenues from PEN Partnership (now part of Wavestone), an independent management consultancy specializing in Financial Services and Life Sciences. Since inception, the trust has distributed over £500,000 to UK charities. The trust operates primarily as a grant-giving charity, directing funds to other UK charities registered in England, Scotland, and Wales. In addition to financial support, PEN Trustees and volunteers provide limited non-financial support to organizations with which they have strong relationships. The trust currently operates with 3 trustees and 4 volunteers, with no paid staff.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
PEN Trust does not operate formal grant programs with published funding tiers. Evidence of their grant-making includes:
- Major capital grants (e.g., minibus donations, gym construction)
- Programme funding (e.g., dedicated staff positions for specific initiatives)
- Event support (e.g., community Christmas parties)
- Fundraising support (e.g., Deep to Peak challenge for adapted minibus)
Priority Areas
- Education advancement: Support for educational programmes, particularly those involving Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM)
- Youth support: Relief of those in need by reason of youth
- Community youth services: Youth clubs and community organizations serving young people and families
- Sports and disability inclusion: Programmes promoting physical activity and inclusion for disadvantaged young people
Partner Charities (Known Recipients)
- Lord's Taverners: Support for table cricket programme and specially adapted minibuses for schools
- Downside Fisher Youth Club: Minibus donation, gym construction funding, Christmas party funding
- Renaissance Foundation: Funding for dedicated team member to oversee schools programme involving STEAM education venue visits
What They Don't Fund
The trust's governing documents indicate grants must align with:
- Activities consistent with the definition of public benefit under the Charities Act 2011
- Organizations registered in England, Scotland, and Wales
- Advancement of education and relief of youth in need
Ready to write a winning application for Pen Trust?
Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.
Governance and Leadership
The trust operates with 3 trustees and 4 volunteers. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed on their website or in readily available public documents.
The trust is connected to Wavestone (formerly PEN Partnership), with the consultancy's belief that business should achieve charitable goals alongside core business objectives driving the trust's funding model.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. The trust works closely with a small number of partner charities and other organizations of public interest on a periodic basis, as agreed within the trustee group. Grant decisions are made at the trustees' discretion.
The trustees may authorize distribution of grants or other funding to charities registered in England, Scotland, and Wales and to other organizations deemed by the trustees to be engaged in activities consistent with public benefit definitions.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly available. Decisions appear to be made on a discretionary basis by the trustee group without published timelines.
Success Rates
Not applicable - the trust does not accept unsolicited applications.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - the trust does not accept unsolicited applications. However, evidence suggests the trust maintains long-term relationships with partner organizations, providing multiple grants over time (e.g., multiple forms of support to Downside Fisher Youth Club between 2017-2019).
Application Success Factors
Since PEN Trust does not accept public applications, success in securing funding would depend on:
Existing Relationships: The trust explicitly works with “a small number of partner charities” and provides support “where the Trust has a good relationship” with organizations. Evidence shows multi-year support to the same organizations.
Strategic Alignment: Organizations must advance education or relieve those in need by reason of youth. The trust's known grants align closely with:
- STEAM education initiatives
- Youth community services
- Sports and physical activity for disadvantaged young people
- Facility and equipment needs that enable programme delivery
Scale and Impact: Known grants include substantial capital investments (minibuses, gym construction) and programme funding (dedicated staff positions), suggesting the trust is interested in making meaningful, transformational contributions rather than small grants.
Non-Financial Support: The trust notes that “PEN Trustees and Trust volunteers will provide limited non-financial support” to partner organizations, indicating value placed on deeper engagement beyond financial contributions.
Geographic Focus: All known partner organizations operate in England, serving local communities.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No public application process exists - this trust operates through trustee discretion and works with a select group of partner charities
- Focus areas are clear: education advancement (particularly STEAM) and youth support are consistent themes across all known grants
- Long-term partnerships: Evidence of multi-year, multi-grant relationships with partner organizations suggests preference for sustained engagement over one-off grants
- Substantial capital grants: The trust has funded major capital items (minibuses, gym facilities) alongside programme costs, indicating willingness to fund infrastructure needs
- Beyond money: The trust offers non-financial support through trustee and volunteer involvement with partner organizations
- Connection to Wavestone: The trust is funded by revenues from Wavestone (formerly PEN Partnership), a management consultancy in Financial Services and Life Sciences
- Geographic scope: England, Scotland, and Wales, with known grants concentrated in England
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
References
- Charity Commission Register of Charities: PEN Trust (1171715) / Wavestone UK Trust - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5093139 -
- PEN Trust Official Website - https://thepentrust.org/ -
- Lord's Taverners: "PEN Trust to take on 'Deep to Peak' challenge" - https://www.lordstaverners.org/news/pen-trust-to-take-on-deep-to-peak-challenge/ -
- Downside Fisher Youth Club Partners Page - Referenced in web search results -
- Wavestone Press Release: “PEN Partnership and Wavestone join forces” (2022) - https://www.wavestone.com/en/financial-report/wavestone-and-pen-partnership-join-forces-to-become-a-leading-uk-player-in-transformation-consultancy/ -