Santa Barbara Heights Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1189465
• Annual Giving: £134,013 (latest reporting period)
• Grant Range: £100 - £2,000
• Decision Time: Within 2 months of deadline
• Application Deadlines: 30th April and 30th October (bi-annual)
• Geographic Focus: England
• Founded: July 2020

Contact Details

Registered Address: 19 Shirehall Park, London, NW4 2QJ

Contact Information:

• Email: sbhct@yahoo.com
• Phone: 07740186899
• Website: www.sbhct.org.uk

Application Submissions: Email applications to sbhct@yahoo.com

Overview

The Santa Barbara Heights Charitable Trust was established in July 2020 by Tracey and Bernard Yardley and formally registered with the Charity Commission on 13 May 2020. This small but active charitable trust operates with a broad mandate “to advance, promote or carry out such charitable purposes as the trustees in their absolute discretion from time to time think fit,” focusing primarily on poverty relief and health advancement. With reported expenditure of £134,013 against income of £40,302, the trust demonstrates active grant-making despite being a relatively young organization. The founders are particularly passionate about funding research into life-shortening health conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. The trust operates with two volunteer trustees and no paid employees, maintaining a streamlined approach to charitable giving with particular encouragement for applications from charities benefitting the Jewish Community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme: £100 - £2,000

• For small capital items or project costs
• Bi-annual application rounds (April and October deadlines)
• Rolling consideration by trustees following each deadline
• Simple application process via email

Priority Areas

The trust welcomes applications from registered charities that address:

1. Poverty Relief

• Projects and initiatives that alleviate poverty in England
• Support for disadvantaged communities
• Financial assistance programmes

2. Health Research and Advancement

• Research into life-shortening health conditions
• Particular passion for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research
• Particular passion for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research
• Other serious health condition research

3. Disability Support

• Charities supporting people with disabilities
• Equipment and accessibility projects
• Services for disabled individuals

Special Interest: The trust particularly encourages applications from charities benefitting the Jewish Community, though this is not an exclusive requirement.

Who Can Apply

• Must be a registered charity in England
• Must be able to demonstrate work in one or more priority areas
• Must provide registered charity number with application

Beneficiary Groups

The trust supports charities working with:

• Children and young people
• Elderly people
• People with disabilities
• Other charities and voluntary bodies

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, as a small trust making grants of £100-£2,000, they are unlikely to fund:

• Large capital projects
• Core running costs or salaries for large organizations
• Projects outside England
• Non-registered charities
• Individuals (they only fund registered charities)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Bernard Nigel Yardley - Chair

• Appointed: 12 May 2020
• Co-founder of the trust with his wife Tracey

Tracey Debra Yardley - Trustee

• Appointed: 12 May 2020
• Co-founder of the trust

The trust operates with just two trustees who established the charity in July 2020. Both trustees are passionate about funding research into life-shortening health conditions, particularly Motor Neurone Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. The trust has connections to the Jewish community and operates from London.

Operational Structure

• 2 volunteer trustees
• No paid employees
• No trustee remuneration
• Does not own or lease property
• No trading subsidiaries

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Email submissions only

Email Address: sbhct@yahoo.com

Application Deadlines:

• 30th April (for spring round consideration)
• 30th October (for autumn round consideration)

Application Requirements:

The trust maintains a simple, streamlined application process:

• Email your application to sbhct@yahoo.com
• Include a budget with your application
• Clearly state your registered charity number
• No further documentation is necessary

The trust explicitly states that minimal documentation is required, making this an accessible opportunity for smaller charities.

Decision Timeline

Trustee Consideration: Applications are considered by the trustees following each deadline (30th April and 30th October)

Decision Notification: Within 2 months of the application deadline

Important Note: If you do not hear back from the trust within 2 months of the deadline dates, your application will not have been successful. The trust uses a “no news is bad news” approach - they will only contact successful applicants.

Success Rates

The trust does not publish success rate statistics, number of applications received, or number of grants awarded. This is typical for smaller charitable trusts.

Reapplication Policy

There is no explicit reapplication policy stated. Given the bi-annual application rounds, unsuccessful applicants could theoretically apply in subsequent rounds, particularly if their project or circumstances have changed.

Application Success Factors

Key Considerations for Applicants

1. Alignment with Priority Areas

Ensure your charity clearly addresses one or more of the trust's three main focus areas: poverty relief, health research (especially MND and MS), or disability support.

2. Jewish Community Connection

While not mandatory, the trust explicitly states they “particularly encourage charities benefitting the Jewish Community to apply.” If your charity serves or benefits the Jewish community, make this clear in your application.

3. Appropriate Grant Size

With grants ranging from £100 to £2,000, frame your request appropriately. This is ideal for:

• Small capital items (equipment, furniture, accessible facilities)
• Specific project costs (not general running costs)
• Defined, deliverable outcomes within the grant amount

4. Simplicity and Clarity

The trust asks only for a budget and your charity number - they want to keep bureaucracy minimal. This suggests they value:

• Clear, concise applications
• Straightforward budgets showing exactly what the money will fund
• Direct explanation of impact

5. Small Charity Friendly

With only minimal documentation required and grant amounts suited to smaller projects, this funder appears particularly accessible for small, local charities that may find larger funders' processes overwhelming.

Application Tips

• Be specific about outcomes: With grants up to £2,000, show clearly what this specific amount will achieve
• Budget precision: Since a budget is the only required documentation, ensure it's detailed and realistic
• Charity number prominence: Make sure your registered charity number is clearly visible
• Email timing: Submit well before the deadline to ensure your application arrives by 30th April or 30th October
• Connection to founders' passions: If your work relates to Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, or the Jewish community, emphasize this connection

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Young, active trust: Established only in 2020 but already demonstrating significant grant-making activity with expenditure of £134,013
• Simple application process: Email-only, minimal documentation - ideal for charities without dedicated fundraising staff
• Clear deadlines: Two annual opportunities (30th April and 30th October) - plan accordingly
• Defined decision timeline: You'll know within 2 months - efficient for planning purposes
• Small grant sweet spot: £100-£2,000 range perfect for specific equipment or project costs rather than core funding
• Health research passion: Founders have particular interest in MND and MS research - strong alignment here could be advantageous
• Jewish community encouragement: Explicitly welcomed though not required - if relevant to your charity, highlight this

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Amar Family Charitable Trust
• The Marks Family Charitable Trust
• Souter Charitable Trust
• The Albert Van Den Bergh Charitable Trust
• E F AND M G HALL CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Family Rich Charities Trust
• The Ashworth Charitable Trust
• THE TRUEMARK TRUST
• THE A.D. CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Rest-Harrow Trust

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - Santa Barbara Heights Charitable Trust (1189465): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5156422/ -

1. Santa Barbara Heights Charitable Trust official website: https://www.sbhct.org.uk/ -

1. Charity Choice - Santa Barbara Heights Charitable Trust profile: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/santa-barbara-heights-charitable-trust-275175 -