Riverside Charitable Trust Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £114,255 (2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: Rossendale area, Lancashire

Contact Details

Phone: 01706 874961

Email: mark.butterworth@esutton.co.uk

Address: Riverside Mill, Newchurch Road, Bacup, Lancashire, OL13 0DT

Registered Office: E Sutton & Sons Ltd, PO Box 2, Bacup, OL13 0DT

Overview

Riverside Charitable Trust Limited was established on 5 April 1972 as "John Willie's Trust Limited" and changed to its current name on 30 April 1993. The trust has a unique heritage connected to the footwear industry in Rossendale, Lancashire, with its registered office at E. Sutton & Sons Ltd, a historic shoe manufacturer in Bacup. With annual expenditure of £114,255 in 2024, the trust operates as a grant-making organisation supporting both individuals and organisations. The trust's focus on relieving poverty among those employed in the shoe trade reflects the rich industrial heritage of the Rossendale Valley, which was once at the centre of the UK's footwear industry employing 60,000 people at its peak. The trust prioritises activities in the Rossendale area and operates through six trustees who receive no remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust makes grants to both organisations and individuals, though specific grant amounts and program names are not publicly advertised.

Priority Areas

• Education: Establishing, maintaining and supporting places of education
• Health and Social Care: Relief for sickness, infirmity, and the aged
• Poverty Relief: Relieving poverty among persons employed or formerly employed in the shoe trade
• Geographic Priority: Activities in the Rossendale area

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available.

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees/Directors:

• Barry John Lynch (Chair, appointed pre-1991) - Company Director
• Ian Barry Dearing (appointed 1993) - Solicitor
• Brian Terry (appointed 2003)
• Angela O'Gorman (appointed 2009)
• Mark Alan Foster (Secretary and Director, appointed 2009) - Accountant
• Nicholas Green (appointed 2018) - Stock Controller

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity, ensuring all resources are directed towards charitable purposes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. There is no publicly available website, application portal, or published guidelines for applying for grants. The trust appears to operate through trustee discretion, likely identifying beneficiaries through existing connections to the shoe trade industry and the local Rossendale community.

Prospective applicants may wish to:

• Contact the trust directly via telephone (01706 874961) or email (mark.butterworth@esutton.co.uk)
• Write to the registered address to introduce your organisation and funding needs
• Demonstrate alignment with the trust's charitable objectives, particularly if connected to the shoe trade, education, support for the elderly/infirm, or poverty relief in Rossendale

Getting on Their Radar

Given the trust's connection to E. Sutton & Sons Ltd and the footwear industry heritage, organisations working with former footwear industry workers in the Rossendale area, elderly residents of Bacup and surrounding areas, educational initiatives in Rossendale, or poverty relief in the local community may wish to establish contact by writing to the trustees explaining how their work aligns with the trust's historical mission and current priorities.

Decision Timeline

No public information available about decision-making timelines or meeting schedules.

Success Rates

No public data available on application success rates or number of grants awarded annually.

Reapplication Policy

No public information available regarding reapplication policies or restrictions.

Application Success Factors

• Connection to Trust's Mission: The trust's unique focus on supporting those “employed or formerly employed in the shoe trade” alongside general charitable purposes suggests applicants should clearly demonstrate how their work serves the Rossendale community
• Local Focus: The trust explicitly prioritises activities in the Rossendale area, making local presence and impact essential
• Alignment with Core Purposes: Projects that combine the trust's interests (education, health and social care for the elderly, poverty relief) may be particularly appealing
• Given the trust's expenditure (£114,255) exceeds its income (£56,046) in 2024, they are actively drawing down reserves to support their charitable purposes, suggesting a commitment to grant-making during this period

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private trust without a public application process - direct contact is required
• Strong local focus on the Rossendale area of Lancashire, particularly Bacup
• Unique heritage connected to the shoe trade and footwear industry workers
• Makes grants to both individuals and organisations
• Six trustees operate without remuneration, suggesting dedicated stewardship
• Annual expenditure exceeding income suggests active grant-making phase
• The trust's connection to E. Sutton & Sons Ltd and local industry may provide entry points for engagement

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Rasche Family Charitable Trust
• THE S AND Y CHARITABLE TRUST
• Ross Russell Trust
• The St James's Trust Settlement
• The Anna Rosa Forster Charitable Trust
• Equitable Charity Trust
• MRS WATERHOUSE CHARITABLE TRUST
• John Jacob Astor Charitable Trust
• The Hotspur Trust
• Brian Wilson Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - RIVERSIDE CHARITABLE TRUST LIMITED (264015): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=264015&subid=0
• Companies House - RIVERSIDE CHARITABLE TRUST LIMITED (01048511): https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01048511
• Companies House Officers Information: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01048511/officers
• OpenCharities - RIVERSIDE CHARITABLE TRUST LIMITED: http://opencharities.org/charities/264015