Quaker Housing Trust Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Financial information pending 2024 accounts publication
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 8-12 weeks
• Grant Range: £6,000 - £30,000
• Geographic Focus: England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands & Isle of Man

Contact Details

• Website: www.qht.org.uk
• Phone: 020 7663 1036
• Email: involveme@qht.org.uk
• Address: Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ

Overview

The Quaker Housing Trust Limited, established in 1967, is a charitable foundation providing grants and interest-free loans to small charitable organisations delivering secure, appropriate and affordable rented housing. The Trust focuses on supporting housing projects for vulnerable people during transitional periods. Operating from Quaker values, they use a unique decision-making approach through their volunteer Council of Management. Grant-making was suspended for much of 2021 due to pandemic disruptions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Best Practice Grants: £6,000 maximum

• Environmental Assessment Grant: Funds professional fees for identifying environmentally-friendly housing options
• Feasibility Study Grant: Covers professional fees for testing feasibility of affordable rented housing proposals
• Quaker Asset Grant: Support for utilising Quaker meeting buildings/land for social housing

Main Grants and Loans Programme:

• Grants up to £25,000 for housing projects
• Interest-free loans up to £30,000 for income-generating capital projects (5% admin fee)
• Combined awards up to £50,000 (blended grant and loan)

Priority Areas

Particular interest in:

• Geographically underrepresented areas: East of England, Wales, Southwest England (Somerset, Devon, Cornwall)
• Organisations working with people with No Recourse to Public Funds
• Projects for vulnerable people during transitions
• Permanent housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness
• Refugee and asylum seeker accommodation
• Housing for older people (preference noted)

What They Don't Fund

• Direct funding to individuals
• Self-help groups
• Fully mutual co-operatives
• Community or co-housing groups
• Organisations that discriminate based on ethnicity, gender, religion, sexuality, or disability
• Organisations with annual turnover exceeding £1.5 million
• Projects that can be funded from other sources

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust operates through a volunteer Council of Management of up to twelve people, each a practising Quaker, using the Quaker Business Method for decision-making. Applications are assessed at Council of Management Meetings held five times yearly. The Trust has nine trustees who receive no remuneration. Jennifer Allott serves as Secretary to the Quaker Housing Trust. The organisation emphasises that "a safe, stable home at these moments of transition can make an enormous difference to a person's life."

How to Apply to Quaker Housing Trust Limited

How to Apply

Two-stage application process for Main Grants and Loans:

1. Submit Expression of Interest form via online portal
2. If successful, submit second-stage application

Best Practice Grants:

• Single-stage application via online portal

Application portals:

• Best Practice Grant: https://ja1tx3ykndm.typeform.com/to/meZ9CEza
• Expression of Interest: https://ja1tx3ykndm.typeform.com/to/AEWJTQL4

Decision Timeline

Main Grants and Loans:

• Two-stage process with Expression of Interest followed by full application
• Council meetings occur five times yearly
• Typical assessment period: 8-12 weeks from Expression of Interest to outcome

Best Practice Grants:

• Single-stage application process
• Assessment at next available Council meeting

Council meetings typically occur with deadlines in April, July, September, and December.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific waiting period published. If unsuccessful, the Trust provides a brief explanation. In some cases, applications requiring more information may be resubmitted for assessment at a future meeting.

Application Success Factors

Essential Requirements:

• Well-progressed project with completed feasibility studies
• Robust budget established
• Relevant planning permissions secured
• Professional assessment reports completed
• Must demonstrate inability to fund from other sources
• Clear evidence of meeting “real housing need”

Funding Timeline:

• Funding release can take up to 24 weeks
• Best Practice funding must be drawn down within 6 months

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small charities (under £1.5m turnover) have best chances - this is a hard requirement
• Focus on capital projects creating permanent housing solutions, not temporary accommodation
• Highlight work with No Recourse to Public Funds populations for consideration
• Projects in underrepresented areas (East England, Wales, Southwest) may receive preference
• Two-stage process requires significant lead time - plan 4-6 months ahead
• Quaker affiliation not required, but understanding Quaker values helpful
• Must demonstrate project readiness with planning permissions and professional assessments already in place

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation
• Point North Community Foundation
• Imagine Foundation
• The Barratt Developments Plc Charitable Foundation
• The Nationwide Foundation
• People's Health Trust
• The Fidelity Uk Foundation
• The Allen Lane Foundation
• The Truemark Trust
• The Pilgrim Trust

References

• Quaker Housing Trust official website (www.qht.org.uk) -
• Quaker Housing Trust Apply for Funding page (www.qht.org.uk/apply-for-funding) -
• Charity Commission Register entry 254704 (register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk) -
• Funding Scotland - Quaker Housing Trust programs (funding.scot) -
• Quakers in Britain blog “An update on the Quaker Housing Trust” (www.quaker.org.uk/blog) -
• Action Together - Quaker Housing Trust profile (www.actiontogether.org.uk) -