Petplan Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1199327

Annual Expenditure: £0.8M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £850,000+
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £25,000 (Welfare), £12,500 (Pump Primer Scientific)
  • Geographic Focus: UK (with occasional overseas projects)
  • Total Distributed: £11.5+ million (890 grants since 1994)

Contact Details

Website: www.petplancharitabletrust.org.uk

Email: catherine.bourg@allianz.co.uk

Phone: 020 8580 8013

Trust Administrator: Catherine Bourg MSc

Overview

Founded in 1994 by Petplan founders Patsy Bloom and David Simpson, the Petplan Charitable Trust promotes the health and welfare of animals in the UK and beyond. With over 30 years of operation, the Trust has awarded 890 grants totalling over £11.5 million to more than 300 animal charities. Funded through donations from pet owners taking out Petplan insurance, the Trust focuses on non-invasive veterinary research and animal welfare projects benefiting dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits. In 2024, the Trust emphasized community projects and outreach work, with the three largest grants supporting initiatives that highlight the increasing importance of education and awareness in tackling animal welfare issues. The Trust awarded over £850,000 in grants last year.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Welfare Grants: £5,000 - £25,000 (annual application cycle)

  • Support for animal welfare projects benefiting dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits
  • Funding for rescue and rehoming charities
  • Animal-assisted therapy programs
  • Education in animal welfare
  • Capital expenses, revenue costs, vehicles

Scientific Grants (two categories):

  • Pump Primer Grants: £12,500 for pilot studies (typically 1 year)
  • Initial Scientific Grants: Larger awards for studies running 1-3 years (requires initial application, then full application and interview)

Application Method: Annual grant rounds (welfare and scientific applications open separately). Registration form required before full application. Applications for welfare grants typically close in December with decisions in March.

Priority Areas

  • Non-invasive veterinary research into life-saving treatments
  • Animal rescue and rehoming charities with demonstrated rehoming records
  • Education programs in animal welfare
  • Animal-assisted therapy (with demonstrated long-term welfare provisions for therapy animals)
  • Community outreach and awareness initiatives
  • Emergency support for smaller charities (demonstrated through Covid-19 Equine Rescues Emergency Fund)
  • Projects benefiting human charities where animal welfare is clearly enhanced

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

  • Breed studies (unless beneficial to many other breeds)
  • Clinical research involving invasive procedures
  • Studies using experimental animals (under no circumstances)
  • Grants to help organizations attain registered charity status
  • Rescue centres that keep animals permanently or take in more than they can reasonably manage
  • Tuition fees or qualification costs (e.g., thesis writing expenses)
  • Projects not directly benefiting dogs, cats, horses, or rabbits

Additional Restrictions:

  • Must be a registered charity or scientific institution
  • Scientific studies must be of non-invasive nature only
  • Must demonstrate direct benefit to supported species
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Governance and Leadership

Founders: Patsy Bloom and David Simpson (1994)

Trust Administrator: Catherine Bourg MSc (catherine.bourg@allianz.co.uk)

Parent Organization: Petplan/Allianz

The Trust operates through a board of trustees who meet to make funding decisions, typically in February or March each year. Specific trustee names are available through the UK Charity Commission register (Charity Number 1199327).

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Complete online registration form at petplancharitabletrust.org.uk
  2. Submit full application through online portal
  3. For scientific grants: successful initial applications proceed to full application and interview

Application Cycles:

  • Welfare grants: Annual cycle (typically closing early December)
  • Scientific grants: Annual cycle (separate from welfare grants)
  • Applications open once per year for each grant type

Decision Timeline

  • Application Deadline: Typically early December (e.g., 9th December 2024)
  • Trustee Meeting: February or March
  • Final Decisions: March (approximately 3-4 months from application deadline)
  • Notification: Applicants informed after trustees' meeting

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages not publicly disclosed. However:

  • 890 grants awarded since 1994
  • Over 300 charities supported over 30 years
  • Awarded over £850,000 in most recent year

Reapplication Policy

For Successful Applicants:

  • Charities should not expect to be successful every year
  • If successful for two consecutive years, must take a 2-year break before reapplying

For Unsuccessful Applicants:

  • Policy not explicitly stated
  • Annual grant cycles suggest reapplication possible in subsequent years

Application Success Factors

Key Requirements:

  • Must demonstrate direct benefit to dogs, cats, horses, or rabbits
  • Strong preference for projects with clearly demonstrated animal welfare benefits
  • Rehoming charities should show “reasonable record of rehoming”
  • Animal-assisted therapy programs must detail current and long-term animal welfare provisions

Successful Project Examples:

  • StreetVet: £18,000 for 2 years' operating costs to provide veterinary care for dogs of homeless people (community outreach)
  • Pet Blood Bank UK: £100,000 for mobile blood bank unit (capital equipment)
  • Service Dogs UK: £25,000 over 3 years for training assistance dogs and owners for PTSD (animal-assisted therapy)
  • British Horse Society: Funding for virtual reality film for “Dead Slow” driver safety campaign (education/awareness)
  • RSPCA Mid Norfolk/North Suffolk: £3,000 for Feral Friends project (welfare project)
  • Hugs Foundation: Grant from Covid-19 Equine Rescues Emergency Fund enabled staff retention and continued rescue animal care (emergency support)
  • Borders Pet Rescue: £5,000 to Scottish animal welfare charity
  • Canine Partners: Support for assistance dog charity
  • Bath Cats & Dogs Home: Grant recipient (specific amount not disclosed)

What Makes Applications Stand Out:

  • Focus on education and community outreach (emphasized in 2024/2025 priorities)
  • Demonstrated track record in animal welfare
  • Clear benefit to supported species
  • Non-invasive approaches
  • Combination of direct animal care with broader awareness/education impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Species-Specific Focus: Applications must clearly demonstrate direct benefit to dogs, cats, horses, or rabbits only
  • No Invasive Research: The Trust will under no circumstances fund invasive procedures or experimental animal studies
  • Education Valued: Growing emphasis on education, awareness, and community outreach projects
  • Registration Required First: Complete the online registration form before submitting full application
  • Plan for 3-4 Month Timeline: December deadline with March decisions means plan project start dates accordingly
  • Demonstrate Track Record: Especially for rehoming charities, show evidence of successful outcomes
  • Two-Year Success Rule: If funded two consecutive years, you'll need to wait two years before next application
  • Non-Consecutive Applications Welcome: No explicit restriction on unsuccessful applicants reapplying annually

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