Souter Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £6-7 million (based on recent activity)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Monthly trustee meetings
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £3,000 (typical)
• Geographic Focus: UK and overseas (must be UK registered charity)
• Total Distributed Since 2006: Over £130 million across 20,000+ grants

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 7412, Perth, PH1 5YX

Phone: 01738 450 408

Email:

• General enquiries: enquiries@soutercharitabletrust.org.uk
• Grant applications: application@soutercharitabletrust.org.uk

Website: www.soutercharitabletrust.org.uk

Charity Number: SC029998 (Scottish registered charity)

Overview

The Souter Charitable Trust was established in 1992 by Sir Brian Souter and Lady Elizabeth Souter. Since 2006, the Trust has awarded more than 20,000 grants totalling over £130 million, making it one of the UK's most active charitable trusts. Over the last five years alone, the Trust has awarded over 3,200 grants worth more than £32 million. The Trust is funded exclusively by the Souter family and their interests. As committed Christians, Sir Brian and Lady Elizabeth are particularly interested in projects that promote both physical and spiritual welfare, though they also support secular projects. The Trust's mission is guided by John Wesley's quote: “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.” The Trust works with charities sharing their values to “uplift communities, provide essential support and create positive change for those in need,” with a particular focus on vulnerable and underserved populations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme: £1,000 - £3,000 (typical)

• One-off grants for projects lasting at least one calendar year
• No fixed minimum or maximum amounts
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis
• Monthly trustee meetings to review applications
• Recent example: At the October 2024 meeting, 342 applications were received and just over £600,000 was awarded

Priority Areas

The Trust supports projects engaged in the relief of human suffering in all aspects, including:

• Disaster and emergency services
• Healthcare and wellbeing initiatives
• Religious activities and spiritual welfare (particularly, but not exclusively, Christian emphasis)
• General charitable activities addressing human suffering
• Community support projects (e.g., school meal programs in Africa)
• Disease prevention programs (e.g., combating malaria)
• Short-term or gap year projects (minimum one calendar year duration)

What They Don't Fund

• Capital building projects or renovation works (specifically excluded)
• Personal health and educational needs of individuals (not normally funded)
• Direct grants to overseas organizations (due to due diligence limitations - must be UK registered charity working internationally)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Sir Brian Souter (Co-founder)
• Lady Elizabeth Souter (Co-founder)
• Ann Allen (Trustee)

Participating Family Members:

• Amy Henley
• Calum Souter

Sir Brian's four children have become increasingly active as trustees in the organization.

Leadership Philosophy

Sir Brian Souter has stated: “I have been amazingly fortunate to form three partnerships in my life. One with my sister, Ann, to build Stagecoach; another, with Andy Macfie, to launch Souter Investments, our family office; and the third, with my wife, Betty, to establish the Souter Charitable Trust.”

The Trust emphasizes that it is guided by deeply held Christian values, though it supports both faith-based and secular projects that align with its mission of relieving human suffering.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Methods:

• Online application form via website
• Email to: application@soutercharitabletrust.org.uk
• Post to: Souter Charitable Trust, PO Box 7412, Perth, PH1 5YX

Application Format:

• Keep it concise: No more than two sides of A4
• No formal application form required for postal/email applications
• Applications may be submitted at any time (rolling basis)

Required Documents:

• Brief outline of project aims
• What the funding is required for
• Budget (optional but recommended)
• Latest audited charity accounts (mandatory)
• Supplementary reports supporting the project proposal

Monthly Deadline: Applications must be submitted by close of business on the last Monday of each month to be considered at the following month's trustees' meeting.

Decision Timeline

• Trustee meetings: Once per month
• Acknowledgement: All applications are acknowledged, whether successful or not
• Typical timeline: Applications submitted by the monthly deadline are considered at the next trustees' meeting (approximately 1-4 weeks after submission depending on when you apply in the monthly cycle)
• Final decisions: Rest entirely with trustees and are non-negotiable

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, the Trust is highly active, having awarded over 20,000 grants since 2006, suggesting a relatively accessible funding opportunity for eligible projects.

Recent data point: At the October 2024 trustees' meeting, 342 applications were received and just over £600,000 was awarded across multiple grants.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication is permitted, but only after one full calendar year has passed since the previous application.

Application Success Factors

What the Trustees Look For

The trustees seek:

• Brief, focused proposals: Maximum two sides of A4
• Clear project aims: Specific explanation of what you want to achieve
• Defined funding purpose: Exactly what the funding will be used for
• Projects lasting at least one calendar year (including short-term/gap year projects)
• Alignment with mission: Projects addressing relief of human suffering
• Christian emphasis welcomed: While not mandatory, projects promoting spiritual welfare alongside physical relief are particularly of interest

Project Examples

The Trust has supported thousands of diverse projects, including:

• Combating malaria prevention programs
• Supplying daily meals to school children in Africa
• Emergency and disaster relief services
• Healthcare and wellbeing initiatives
• Faith-based community support projects

Application Best Practices

1. Be concise: The Trust explicitly requests brevity (two sides of A4 maximum)
2. Focus on impact: Clearly articulate how your project relieves human suffering
3. Include financial documentation: Always submit latest audited accounts
4. Demonstrate project sustainability: Show the project extends at least one calendar year
5. Align with values: If your project has a Christian ethos or promotes spiritual welfare, make this clear as it aligns with the founders' interests
6. Be specific about funding needs: Clearly state what the grant will purchase or enable
7. Target the typical grant range: Most grants are £1,000-£3,000, so design your request accordingly

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Applying for capital building or renovation projects (automatically excluded)
• Requesting funding for individual personal needs
• Submitting lengthy, complex applications (keep to two sides of A4)
• Missing the monthly deadline
• Reapplying before one full calendar year has passed
• Failing to include audited accounts

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• High volume funder: With 20,000+ grants since 2006, this Trust is very active and accessible
• Small grants, big impact: Typical awards of £1,000-£3,000 make this ideal for smaller projects or specific program elements
• Simplicity valued: Two sides of A4 maximum - trustees appreciate concise, focused applications
• Christian ethos welcomed: While secular projects are funded, those with Christian emphasis align particularly well with founders' values
• Rolling applications: Apply at any time, but aim for the monthly deadline for consideration at the next meeting
• Relief of suffering is key: Frame your project clearly in terms of how it alleviates human suffering
• UK charity requirement: Must be UK registered charity, even if working internationally
• Quick turnaround: Monthly trustee meetings mean relatively fast decisions compared to many funders

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• BBC Children in Need
• P F Charitable Trust
• Awards for All
• THE CHILDWICK TRUST
• THE SCREWFIX FOUNDATION
• The Tudor Trust
• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• The Shanly Foundation
• Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust
• The Henry Smith Foundation
• THE EVESON TRUST
• THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND
• Suffolk Community Foundation
• National Lottery
• Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust
• HENRY SMITH
• THE COLE CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE FOYLE FOUNDATION

References

1. Souter Charitable Trust official website - www.soutercharitabletrust.org.uk
2. Souter Charitable Trust “How to Apply” page - https://www.soutercharitabletrust.org.uk/how-to-apply
3. Souter Charitable Trust “Contact Us” page - https://www.soutercharitabletrust.org.uk/contact-us
4. Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) - Charity Details for SC029998 - https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC029998
5. Funding Scotland - Souter Charitable Trust profile - https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000000Ng8XEAS/souter-charitable-trust
6. Sir Brian Souter official website - www.sirbriansouter.com
7. Souter Investments - Sir Brian Souter profile - https://www.souterinvestments.com/our-team/sir-brian-souter
8. Various charity support websites including ACVO TSI, Action Together, and fundsforNGOs