Sedel - Collings Foundation

Charity Number: 1120926

Annual Expenditure: £1.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??1,294,950 (2024/25)
  • Success Rate: 42% (Cornwall partnership data)
  • Decision Time: Varies by region - typically 6-12 weeks through community foundation partners
  • Grant Range: ??2,000 - ??10,000 (typically up to ??5,000 for Supporting the Supporters program)
  • Geographic Focus: Multi-regional (Jersey, Cornwall, Devon, Surrey) through community foundation partnerships

Contact Details

  • Email: ross.badger@hhllp.co.uk
  • Phone: 020 7930 7797
  • Alternative Email: trustees@s-cfoundation.org
  • Address: Ground Floor, 45 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JG
  • Charity Number: 1120926

Overview

The Sedel-Collings Foundation was established in 2006 by Rae Sedel and John Collings with a mission to empower and sustain vital community services across the UK. Following the death of the founders in 2021, the Foundation is now run by four volunteer trustees who manage the fund in line with the couple's original wishes. With total assets of ??361,078 and annual expenditure of approximately ??1.3 million (2024/25), the Foundation operates through strategic partnerships with community foundations across Jersey, Cornwall, Devon, and Surrey. The Foundation focuses on supporting frontline community services, addressing loneliness and disadvantage, and strengthening the wellbeing of staff and volunteers in charitable organizations. The Foundation takes a hands-on approach, with trustees regularly visiting funded projects to understand their impact and connect with beneficiaries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Supporting the Supporters (Devon, Jersey)

  • Amount: Up to ??5,000
  • Focus: Wellbeing of frontline workers in charitable organizations including community outreach workers, support workers, foodbank staff, and mental health workers
  • Application: Through Devon Community Foundation or Jersey Community Foundation

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Fund (Cornwall)

  • Amount: Up to ??10,000
  • Focus: Small charities and community groups addressing loneliness and disadvantage, particularly supporting older people and young carers
  • Application: Through Cornwall Community Foundation (42% success rate)

Care Leavers Support (Multiple regions)

  • Amount: Varies - Cornwall allocated ??80,000 total for care leavers
  • Focus: Supporting young people transitioning out of care homes, helping them navigate challenges of independent living
  • Application: Through regional community foundation partners

Priority Areas

  • Mental Health: Youth mental health, men's mental health, suicide prevention
  • Social Isolation: Programs addressing loneliness and bereavement
  • Vulnerable Groups: Care leavers, older people, young carers, women who have been victims of domestic violence
  • Frontline Support: Strengthening the wellbeing and capacity of staff, volunteers, and trustees in community-facing organizations
  • Education: Grants to help meet educational expenses for individuals and educational institutions
  • Poverty Relief: Support for individuals in straitened circumstances

Geographic Focus

  • Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
  • Jersey
  • Devon
  • Surrey
  • Broader England and Wales for direct applications to the Foundation

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly listed, but applications must align with charitable purposes focused on education advancement, poverty relief, and support for persons in need, hardship or distress.

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Governance and Leadership

Key Trustees

Ross Wyndham Badger - Trustee and primary contact. Badger serves as administrative trustee and also holds trusteeships with several other charitable trusts.

Rob Currie - Trustee who values direct engagement with funded organizations. Currie stated: “As a trustee/donor I really value connecting with the recipients, hearing their issues and getting a greater understanding of what life is like for them.”

The Foundation is governed by four volunteer trustees who work collaboratively with regional community foundations to ensure grants align with the founders' original vision of empowering and sustaining vital community services.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Through Community Foundation Partners

Applications are primarily made through regional community foundation partners rather than directly to the Sedel-Collings Foundation:

  • Cornwall Community Foundation: Online application portal at cornwallcommunityfoundation.com
  • Devon Community Foundation: For Supporting the Supporters grants
  • Jersey Community Foundation: Applications considered within Jersey Community Fund
  • Direct to Foundation: For some applications, contact trustees@s-cfoundation.org or ross.badger@hhllp.co.uk

Decision Timeline

Cornwall Partnership Process:

  1. Online application submission
  2. Eligibility review by grants team (may request additional information or arrange site visits)
  3. Application sent to grants panel for review
  4. Panel meeting where final decisions are made
  5. All applicants notified of outcome
  6. Successful applicants receive grants within 2 weeks of notification

Typical Timeline: 6-12 weeks from application to decision, depending on panel meeting schedules

Success Rates

  • Cornwall Community Foundation: 42% success rate for Sedel-Collings Fund applications

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly detailed. Contact the relevant community foundation partner or the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplication after unsuccessful attempts.

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from the Foundation

The Foundation values direct connection and understanding of funded organizations' work. Trustee Rob Currie emphasizes the importance of understanding “what life is like” for beneficiaries, suggesting applications should vividly describe the lived experiences of those being served.

Recently Funded Projects - Examples of Success

The Hugs Foundation (Cornwall) - ??14,500

  • Equine-assisted therapy for mental health and wellbeing
  • Delivered 642 hours of interventions to 109 young people
  • Impact: “Hugs sessions created a sense of purpose, grew confidence, and offered optimism for the future”
  • Addressed complex needs including trauma, social isolation, bullying, and suicidal ideation

Read Easy, North, East and West Devon - ??2,000

  • Volunteer costs to help adults improve reading skills
  • Focus on transforming lives through education

Unite Carers in Mid Devon - ??3,000

  • Befriending project supporting carers
  • Addressing isolation among those providing care

Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT) - ??2,000

  • Staff supervision and free yoga sessions
  • Supporting frontline workers' wellbeing

YouGrow CIC - ??4,991

  • Community garden development in Cranbrook
  • Building community connections

Key Themes in Successful Applications

  1. Frontline Impact: Clear demonstration of how the grant supports frontline workers or directly addresses community needs
  2. Addressing Loneliness and Disadvantage: Projects tackling social isolation, particularly among older people and vulnerable groups
  3. Wellbeing Focus: Mental health interventions, support for carers, and programs that build confidence and purpose
  4. Sustainable Outcomes: Evidence of lasting impact and organizational sustainability
  5. Innovation: Creative approaches to complex social issues (e.g., equine therapy, community gardens)

Application Language and Terminology

Use language that emphasizes:

  • Empowering communities and individuals
  • Sustaining vital services
  • Supporting frontline workers and volunteers
  • Addressing loneliness, disadvantage, and complex needs
  • Creating lasting impact in communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Partner Through Community Foundations: Applications are most successful when made through regional community foundation partners (Cornwall, Devon, Jersey) rather than directly to the Foundation.
  1. Focus on Supporting the Supporters: The Foundation has a unique emphasis on strengthening the wellbeing of frontline workers, volunteers, and trustees - not just end beneficiaries. Consider how your grant request addresses staff/volunteer capacity and wellbeing.
  1. Show Real-World Impact: Trustees value understanding the lived experiences of beneficiaries. Include vivid descriptions, case studies, and quotes that illustrate impact on real people's lives.
  1. Target Specific Vulnerabilities: Strongest alignment with projects addressing care leavers, older people experiencing loneliness, young carers, mental health challenges, and domestic violence survivors.
  1. Be Realistic with Grant Amounts: Most grants range ??2,000-??5,000, with larger grants (up to ??10,000) available through Cornwall partnership. Don't over-ask.
  1. Emphasize Sustainability: The Foundation seeks to “empower and sustain” - demonstrate how funding creates lasting change rather than one-off activities.
  1. Consider Multi-Year Partnerships: The Foundation works through established partnerships with community foundations, suggesting they value ongoing relationships over one-time grants.

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References