Queenborough Fishery Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £193,951 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £176,026 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Quarterly trustee meetings
• Grant Range: Not specified (supports both small and large projects)
• Geographic Focus: Swale area - Isle of Sheppey, Sittingbourne, and Faversham

Contact Details

Address: C/O The Alexander Centre, 15-17 Preston Street, Faversham, Kent ME13 8NZ

Website: http://queenboroughfisherytrust.org/

Email: info@queenboroughfisherytrust.org

Overview

The Queenborough Fishery Trust has a long history dating back to 1937 when a trust was formed to manage shoreline and seabed properties. The decision to re-establish as an independent registered charity was made in early 2015, with the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) being registered on 26th April 2018 and assets transferred on 29th April 2019. With an annual income of approximately £194,000, the trust generates revenue primarily through leasing properties it owns, particularly to Peel Ports for vehicle storage and wind farm oversailing rights. The charity operates with 9 trustees, no paid staff, and minimal overhead costs, allowing it to maximise funds available for grant-making. The trust focuses on supporting the Swale area, with particular emphasis on Queenborough, helping poor, sick, or disabled people and providing recreational, leisure-time, and educational facilities for local residents.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The trust operates a single grant programme with quarterly decision-making meetings. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Both individuals and organisations can apply, though most grants are awarded to organisations. Individual applications are considered when supported by an appropriate organisation.

Priority Areas

The trust supports:

• Poverty relief: Assistance for poor, sick, or disabled people in the Swale area
• Recreational facilities: Community projects that provide leisure-time activities
• Educational facilities: Projects that advance education in the local area
• Community infrastructure: Improvements to public facilities and community spaces
• Cultural activities: Support for arts, festivals, and cultural events
• Sports and recreation: Equipment upgrades and accessibility improvements

Recent grant examples include:

• Faversham Literary Festival (start-up funds)
• Kent Creative Arts' Faversham 365 project
• Faversham Buildings Preservation Trust
• Abbey Physic Community Garden (path improvements)
• Faversham Christmas lights
• Faversham Town Football Club (floodlight overhaul)
• Faversham Swimming Club (underwater speakers)
• Local swimming pool (hoists for disabled swimmers)
• Faversham Assembly Rooms (accessibility improvements)
• Army veterans (equipment for apprenticeships)

What They Don't Fund

The trust cannot provide funding that replaces provision by a local authority or school where there is a legal duty. Grants must bring additional benefit to local residents beyond statutory obligations.

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Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Ted Wilcox was appointed as a trustee in 2013 and has served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees since approximately 2014. He has lived in Faversham for over 40 years, served 19 years on the Town Council and 9 years on Swale Council, and was Mayor of Faversham from 2008-2010. He is also treasurer of AgeUK Faversham and Faversham Rotary Club, and a trustee of Faversham Municipal Charities and Faversham Buildings Preservation Trust.

Secretary: Laurence Young has been involved with the charity for more than 12 years and serves as Secretary.

The board consists of 9 trustees who serve without remuneration. According to Ted Wilcox: "The QFT trustees are very pleased to be able to support Kent Creative's latest Faversham 365 project," demonstrating their commitment to local community initiatives.

How to Apply to Queenborough Fishery Trust

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Application forms and guidance notes are available for download from the trust's website at www.queenboroughfisherytrust.org. Applications should demonstrate how the grant will bring benefit to local residents in the Swale area, particularly Queenborough.

Geographic eligibility: In operational terms, the area of benefit is the Isle of Sheppey, Sittingbourne, and Faversham.

Who can apply: Both individuals and organisations are eligible, though most grants are made to organisations. Individual applications are considered when supported by an appropriate organisation.

Decision Timeline

Trustees meet quarterly to consider grant applications and conduct the business of the charity. Specific quarterly meeting dates are not publicly advertised, so applicants should contact the trust for the next meeting schedule and submission deadlines.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volumes are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

The trust's policy on reapplication is not specified in public materials. Applicants should contact the trust directly to discuss reapplication opportunities if unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's funded projects and stated priorities, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear local benefit: Projects must bring tangible benefits to residents in the Swale area (Isle of Sheppey, Sittingbourne, and Faversham), with particular reference to Queenborough
2. Alignment with charitable objects: Focus on helping poor, sick, or disabled people OR providing recreational, leisure-time, and educational facilities
3. Additionality: Funding must be for something additional to, not replacing, statutory provision by local authorities or schools
4. Community impact: Projects that serve the wider community are favoured, as evidenced by grants to swimming pools, assembly rooms, sports clubs, and cultural events
5. Infrastructure and access improvements: The trust has funded multiple accessibility projects (hoists, path improvements, assembly room access)
6. Cultural and educational enrichment: Support for festivals, arts projects, and educational opportunities
7. Support from appropriate organisations: Individual applicants should have backing from relevant community organisations

The trust appears to take a broad view of its charitable purposes, with trustees having discretion to “make grants for other charitable purposes as they see fit.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic specificity matters: Ensure your project clearly serves residents in the Swale area (Isle of Sheppey, Sittingbourne, or Faversham)
• Low overhead, high impact: The trust operates with no staff and minimal costs, maximising grant-making capacity from their £194,000 annual income
• Quarterly decision cycle: Plan your application timing around quarterly trustee meetings; contact the trust for the next deadline
• Broad interpretation of priorities: Past grants show flexibility - from literary festivals to swimming pool hoists to football club floodlights
• Additionality is key: Demonstrate that your project adds value beyond what statutory providers should deliver
• Community benefit focus: Emphasise how your project benefits local residents, particularly those who are poor, sick, or disabled
• Rolling applications accepted: You can apply at any time, though decisions are made quarterly

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• National Lottery
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• The Mohn Westlake Foundation
• Kent Community Foundation
• The Dulverton Trust
• John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust
• The Wheler Foundation
• The Pilgrim Trust
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• Kent County Council
• The Wolfson Foundation
• Benefact Trust Limited
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• The Brickworks

References

• Queenborough Fishery Trust official website: http://queenboroughfisherytrust.org/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1178117&subid=0
• Faversham Life article on Queenborough Fishery Trust: https://favershamlife.org/queenborough-fishery-trust/
• Kent Creative Arts Faversham 2018 Partners page: https://kentcreative.org/project-365/faversham-2018/faversham-2018-sponsors-and-partners/
• Charity Commission financial data for year ending March 31, 2024