Rotary Club Of Woking District Trust Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £86,795 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £97,528 (2024)
• Total Raised Since Inception: Over £800,000
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £4,717 (based on recent awards)
• Geographic Focus: 75% Woking area, 25% international projects
• Decision Process: Trustee discretion, no formal public application
• Registered Charity Number: 1024154

Contact Details

Address: 5 Horsell Rise Close, Woking GU21 4BB

Phone: 01483 755730

Email: ian.kitch@wokingdistrictrotary.org.uk

Website: www.wokingdistrictrotary.club

Contact for Enquiries: Ian Kitch (Trustee) - organizations interested in funding can use the contact form on the website, which sends requests to several club members.

Overview

The Rotary Club of Woking District Trust Fund (Charity No. 1024154) is a volunteer-run grant-making charity that has raised over £800,000 since its inception. Registered with the Charity Commission as focusing on “raising money for local and international charities,” the Trust Fund distributes approximately 75% of raised funds to organizations and charities in the Woking area, with the remaining 25% supporting charitable projects abroad. The club operates with 4 trustees and 29 volunteers, with no paid employees, and meets fortnightly on Wednesday evenings at Hoebridge Golf Centre. With an annual income of £86,795 and expenditure of £97,528 in the 2024 financial year, the club raises funds through high-profile community events including the Woking Fireworks Extravaganza held in Woking Park each November, a classic car event in Ripley, Christmas supermarket collections, and Prestige Lectures. The club comprises around 40 members who are committed to supporting worthwhile causes both locally and internationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust Fund does not operate formal grant programs with fixed application cycles. Instead, they make responsive grants to “carefully selected organisations and charities, mainly in Woking.” Grants are awarded on a rolling basis through trustee discretion.

Recent Grant Examples:

• Crossroads Care Surrey: £1,000 for dementia training for 16 care support workers
• Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care: £4,000 to continue offering bootcamp telephone counselling service in Woking
• Freemantles School: £4,717 to fill funding gap for replacement minibus for pupils with complex social communication needs
• Woking & Sam Beare Hospices: £1,000 for keyworker food and £3,293 for AV equipment
• Let's Read Ltd: Ongoing support for literacy charity providing free books to pupils at 13 Woking schools (35,000+ books distributed over 12 years)
• Woking Foodbank: Both hands-on volunteer support and financial donations

Priority Areas

Based on their charitable objects and recent grants, the Trust Fund prioritizes:

• Education and Training: Supporting literacy programs, school equipment, and skills development
• Healthcare and Social Care: Hospices, dementia care training, drug and alcohol support services
• Children and Young People: School programs, special educational needs, youth development activities including 'Youth Speaks', 'Kids Out', and 'Gasp'
• Community Support: Foodbanks, services for elderly people and people with disabilities
• Poverty Prevention and Relief: Both locally and internationally
• International Development: Projects in less-developed countries (25% of funds)

The Trust Fund shows particular interest in filling funding gaps for essential services and equipment that would otherwise leave vulnerable people unsupported.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, their focus on Woking-based charities and international development projects suggests they are unlikely to fund:

• Organizations outside the Woking Borough (unless international development)
• Individual requests (they focus on organizational grants)
• Purely capital projects without clear community benefit
• Commercial or profit-making ventures
• Activities that duplicate services already provided in the area

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Trust Fund is governed by four trustees who control the work, management and administration of the charity:

1. David Clayfield - Trustee (appointed 1 June 2023)
2. Ian James Kitch - Trustee (appointed 20 November 2019) - serves as primary contact for charitable enquiries
3. Irene Holden - Trustee (appointed 20 November 2019)
4. Michael Holden - Trustee (appointed 21 November 2018)

Club Leadership

Gill Colbeck - Club President (quoted in media about grants): "Many local charities are struggling in today's difficult financial circumstances. Through the generosity of Woking's citizens... we are able to continue to make a series of grants such as these to very worthy local causes."

The club operates with approximately 40 members who meet fortnightly on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month at Hoebridge Golf Centre.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Rotary Club of Woking District Trust Fund does not operate a formal public application process with deadlines or application forms. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the club's awareness of community needs and their selection of “carefully selected organisations and charities.”

To Make Contact:

• Use the contact form on their website (www.wokingdistrictrotary.club) - submissions are sent to several club members
• Email Ian Kitch directly: ian.kitch@wokingdistrictrotary.org.uk
• Call: 01483 755730

Getting on Their Radar

Since this funder does not accept formal applications, organizations should focus on building relationships and making their needs known:

Community Visibility: The Rotary Club is actively involved in the Woking community through regular volunteer work at the Foodbank and attendance at community events. Being visible and active in Woking increases the likelihood of being noticed by club members.

Direct Appeals: Evidence suggests the club responds to direct appeals from organizations in urgent need. The Freemantles School minibus example shows they will “step up and pledge to fill the gap” when made aware of critical funding shortfalls, particularly when there is a clear community benefit and the need is immediate.

Existing Beneficiaries: Organizations already receiving support (like Let's Read, which has received ongoing support for 12 years) demonstrate that the club maintains long-term relationships with charities aligned with their values.

Club Events: Attend their public fundraising events (Fireworks Extravaganza in November, Classic Car Show in Ripley) to network with members and demonstrate your organization's engagement with the community.

Woking-Based Focus: Being based in or directly serving the Woking Borough significantly increases likelihood of support, as 75% of their funds are distributed locally.

Decision Timeline

Decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis as needs arise and are brought to the club's attention. The Freemantles School example shows the club can make decisions and distribute funds “quickly to enable the bus to be brought into service as early as possible” when the need is urgent.

The club meets fortnightly on Wednesday evenings, which likely provides regular opportunities for trustees to discuss and approve funding decisions.

Success Factors

Given the lack of a formal application process, success depends on:

1. Clear Community Need: Demonstrated gap in funding or service provision
2. Woking Connection: Strong preference for organizations serving the Woking Borough
3. Vulnerable Beneficiaries: Focus on children, young people, elderly people, people with disabilities, and those in poverty
4. Urgency or Critical Need: Evidence suggests they respond well to time-sensitive funding gaps
5. Complementary Funding: Willingness to “fill the gap” rather than necessarily fund entire projects
6. Relationship Building: Being known to club members through community engagement

Application Success Factors

Since there is no formal application process, gaining support from Woking District Rotary Club depends on strategic relationship building and being well-positioned when funding decisions are made:

Demonstrate Clear Local Impact: The club prioritizes organizations making a tangible difference in Woking. As Gill Colbeck stated, they focus on “very worthy local causes” particularly when "many local charities are struggling in today's difficult financial circumstances." Projects serving vulnerable populations in the Woking Borough receive preference.

Show Funding Gaps, Not Just Needs: The Freemantles School minibus case demonstrates the club's willingness to "pledge to fill the gap between what was needed... and what the Friends' campaign would eventually raise." They appear to value stepping in where other funding sources fall short rather than being the sole funder.

Align with Rotary's Values: Projects that match Rotary International's focus areas (peace, disease prevention, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, community economic development) are likely to resonate with club members. Their support for Let's Read (literacy) and Freemantles School (special educational needs) exemplifies this.

Be Ready to Act Quickly: When the club commits funding, they move quickly. The Freemantles School received their £4,717 rapidly “to enable the bus to be brought into service as early as possible.” Organizations should be prepared to deploy funds efficiently if support is offered.

Provide Specific, Measurable Outcomes: The club has supported training (16 care workers receiving dementia training), equipment (AV equipment for hospice), and services (telephone counselling for drug and alcohol care). Clear outcomes matter: “35,000 books given out over the past 12 years” or “enable 16 of its experienced care support workers to receive vital training.”

Demonstrate Volunteer Engagement Opportunities: With 29 active volunteers, the club values hands-on involvement. They “help on a regular basis with food deliveries” at the Foodbank and support organizations with “their own hands and brains.” Opportunities for Rotary members to volunteer alongside receiving funding may strengthen applications.

Consider the Annual Fundraising Cycle: Major fundraising occurs through the November Fireworks Extravaganza and other annual events. Understanding their fundraising calendar may help organizations time their approaches when the club has recently raised funds and is considering distributions.

Leverage Existing Relationships: Long-term relationships matter - Let's Read has received support across 12 years. Organizations receiving initial support should maintain communication and demonstrate effective use of funds to build ongoing partnerships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No formal application process exists - this is a relationship-based funder where trustees select organizations through community awareness and direct engagement
• Strong local focus: 75% of funds stay in Woking Borough - being based in or directly serving Woking is critical
• Responsive, not proactive: Evidence suggests they respond to known community needs rather than soliciting applications
• Modest but meaningful grants: Recent awards range from £1,000 to £4,717, typically supporting specific projects or filling funding gaps
• Quick decision-making: Can move rapidly when urgent community needs are identified
• Volunteer-driven organization: All 29 volunteers and 4 trustees are unpaid, reflecting a grassroots community commitment
• Long-term relationships valued: Ongoing support to organizations like Let's Read demonstrates they maintain multi-year partnerships with aligned charities
• Make yourself known through community engagement: Attend their public events, connect with club members, and demonstrate your organization's value to Woking residents
• Contact Ian Kitch directly to introduce your organization and express interest in potential support
• Be specific about funding gaps rather than general organizational needs - they have shown willingness to “fill gaps” in critical projects

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Betty Riseley Trust for Children
• The Billmeir Charitable Trust
• The Prince Philip Trust Fund
• Wokingham United Charities
• Community Foundation for Surrey
• The Gerald Micklem Charitable Trust
• The Paul Strank Charitable Trust
• THE MICHAEL AND BETTY LITTLE TRUST
• FB Coales No 4 (Family) Trust
• The Stevenage Community Trust

References

1. UK Charity Commission - Rotary Club of Woking District Trust Fund (Charity No. 1024154). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1024154 []

1. Woking District Rotary Club Official Website. Available at: www.wokingdistrictrotary.club []

1. “Generous Woking Rotary grants support two local charities” - Woking News & Mail, October 2024. Available at: https://www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk/news/generous-woking-rotary-grants-support-two-local-charities-728296 []

1. “Woking District Rotary Club Provide Funding for Key Workers at Local Hospice” - Woking & Sam Beare Hospices. Available at: https://www.wsbhospices.co.uk/news/woking-district-rotary-club-provide-funding-for-key-workers-at-local-hospice/ [Referenced January 2025]

1. Charity Commission Trustee Information for Charity 1024154 []

1. Various search results regarding Rotary Club of Woking District activities, grants, and community engagement [January 2025]