Richard Watts Charities
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Richard Watts Charities' public description confines its support to people living, and schools and organisations based, in the Medway unitary authority area, so organisations and individuals outside Medway should not apply.
- Its annual report shows £86,900 paid out, of which £3,894 went to individuals, so individual awards are a small part of its giving.
- No grant range is stated, so a request should be sized to the work itself rather than to an assumed figure.
- Schools in Medway may apply by a simple letter to the address given on its website, budget permitting, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Local organisations are pointed to its Kent Community Foundation partnership, and individuals can only be supported through an application made by a body or organisation supporting them, which the trustees will fund only where they believe it will have a considerable positive impact on the person's life chances.
Overview
Richard Watts Charities is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 212828).
Richard Watts Charities was established following the death of its founder and has worked with the people of Rochester for over 400 years. Its charities provide assistance in times of need and help people live as independently as possible. Its current aims include providing almshouse accommodation, grants to people, schools and organisations, and acting as custodians of the Six Poor Travellers' House.
What they fund
Priority Areas
Richard Watts Charities provides almshouse accommodation and grants to people, schools and organisations, as well as services for people in need. Its public-facing description confines support to people living, and schools and organisations based, in the Medway unitary authority area. For organisational funding, it points local organisations to its Kent Community Foundation partnership, while schools may apply directly by letter. It also occasionally awards grants to individuals for education or training, with applications made by a supporting body or organisation. The trustees make this kind of award only when they believe the funding will have a considerable positive impact on the person's life chances. The charities also aim to help people in need access affordable housing when they reach state retirement age.
Themes
- Almshouse accommodation
- Education and training
Geographic Focus
Medway unitary authority area.
What they don't fund
- People or schools and other organisations serving people, living in the Medway unitary authority area
- Grants to Organisations only: local organisations
How to apply
Schools in the Medway unitary authority area may apply for organisational grants, budget permitting, by a simple letter addressed to admin@richardwatts.org.uk.
Who can apply:
- Grants to Organisations: Schools must be in the Medway unitary authority area.
- Support in Education or Training: Applications must be made by a body or organisation supporting the person.
What to send:
- Grants to Organisations: A simple letter.
- Support in Education or Training: A letter of application outlining the request.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- For education or training grants on behalf of an individual, the trustees award funding only when they believe it will have a considerable positive impact on that person’s life chances.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Richard Watts Charities.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2020 | £1,264,641 | £1,158,367 | £60,941 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2020 |
| year to 31 December 2021 | £1,198,021 | £1,199,636 | £32,405 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £1,279,976 | £1,327,701 | £60,417 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £1,416,871 | £1,420,795 | £81,419 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £1,544,562 | £1,714,004 | £86,900 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2020; year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2024: grants paid out in the year.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- richardwatts.org.uk · read on 30 October 2026
- richardwatts.org.uk/grants-for-organisations · read on 30 October 2026
- richardwatts.org.uk/support-in-education-training · read on 30 October 2026
- richardwatts.org.uk/grants-and-services · read on 30 October 2026
- richardwatts.org.uk/contact-us · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2024)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Richard Watts Charities?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 01634 842194source
- admin@richardwatts.org.uksource
- Administrative Offices, Watts Almshouses, Maidstone Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1SEsource
- richardwatts.org.uk
Applying to Richard Watts Charities?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 01634 842194source
- admin@richardwatts.org.uksource
- Administrative Offices, Watts Almshouses, Maidstone Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1SEsource
- richardwatts.org.uk