Southlands Methodist Trust

Charity Number: 1100660

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

Stay updated on changes from Southlands Methodist Trust and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 1100660
  • Annual Giving: £435,992 total income (2023-24)
  • Grant Range: Up to £4,000 per research grant; £2,000-£2,500 for student scholarships
  • Geographic Focus: London (University of Roehampton)
  • Eligibility: University of Roehampton academics only
  • Application Status: Currently on hold (as of late 2024)

Contact Details

Overview

Southlands Methodist Trust (charity number 1100660) is a charity of the Methodist Church in Britain, established to support educational activities through Southlands College at the University of Roehampton. The trust advances Christian and specifically Methodist scholarship, research, and innovation of local, national, and global significance. With a total income of £435,992 and total expenditure of £822,551 for the year ending August 2024, the trust carries out its purposes primarily through grant-making to individuals and organizations. The trust has 8 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration. Their activities include research grants, student scholarships and bursaries, support for the Susanna Wesley Foundation, and educational partnerships including funding for the Methodist Academies and Schools Trust (MAST).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Grants for Academics (Currently on hold)

  • Up to £4,000 per project
  • For University of Roehampton academics only
  • Projects typically last up to one year, though longer projects considered
  • Supports research and research-related activities aligned with trust purposes
  • Applications seeking matched funding considered favourably

Southlands Teaching Scholars

  • Two scholarships awarded annually
  • £2,500 per year for each year of study, up to four years
  • For students at University of Roehampton

Southlands Anniversary Scholars (Education)

  • Two scholarships awarded annually
  • £2,000 per year for each year of study, up to three years
  • For education students at University of Roehampton

Other Funding Activities

  • Susanna Wesley Visiting Fellowship
  • Study abroad opportunities
  • Educational partnership grants (e.g., MAST Head of Schools position)

Priority Areas

The trust focuses on seven key themes within their research and educational support:

  1. Amplifying Voices - Research that gives platform to underrepresented perspectives
  2. Promoting Wellbeing - Health, nursing, and mental health research
  3. Seeking Justice - Social justice and equity research
  4. Enabling Transformational Change - Research with practical impact
  5. Fostering Education - Educational research and inclusive practice
  6. Supporting Community - Community development and international student support
  7. Encouraging Creativity - Arts, music, and cultural research

Recent funded projects (2024-25) include:

  • Emotional labour in nursing
  • Supporting neurodiverse students
  • Mobile app for disabled youth in Nigeria
  • International students' dietary homesickness
  • African music and Black excellence
  • Dance education
  • BAME research students study (£3,500)

The trust prioritizes:

  • Research reflecting Methodist values and ethos
  • Projects with potential for practical change
  • Work considering both academic and church-based dissemination routes
  • Collaboration with Methodist Church institutions and communities

What They Don't Fund

Critical Exclusions:

  • Academics from institutions other than University of Roehampton
  • Organizations or individuals outside the University of Roehampton community (for research grants)
  • Projects not aligned with Methodist charitable purposes
  • Research without clear dissemination plans
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for Southlands Methodist Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The Southlands Methodist Trust has 8 trustees, with at least 50% appointed by the Methodist Council, demonstrating Methodist Church oversight. No trustees receive remuneration. The trust works closely with the Southlands Liaison Group (SLG), with significant membership overlap.

The trust reports annually to both the Methodist Council and the Charity Commission, ensuring accountability to church and regulatory bodies.

The trustees emphasize their excitement “to share the range of activities with which the SMT engages through Southlands College, the Methodist Church and the University of Roehampton.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: The research grant programme is currently on hold as of late 2024.

When active, the research grants programme operated as follows:

  • Applications submitted via downloadable application form
  • Rolling or annual timetable (typically with May 1st deadline mentioned in historical documentation)
  • Inquiries directed to Jackie Brown via the trust's online contact form

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be an academic staff member at University of Roehampton
  • Project must align with trust's charitable purposes
  • Must include dissemination plans for both academic and Methodist Church audiences

Application Materials:

  • Completed application form
  • Project description showing alignment with trust objectives
  • Budget details (maximum £4,000)
  • Dissemination strategy
  • Details of any matched funding sought

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. Grants are “normally given in two installments during the year” for those awarded.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The trust awards “a number of grants” each academic year, with the 2024-25 cohort featuring approximately 10 research projects listed on their website.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented. Contact Jackie Brown for guidance on reapplication if previously unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Methodist Values

  • Projects must reflect Methodist foundation and ethos
  • Consider how research connects to Methodist community needs
  • Frame work in context of charitable objectives

Dissemination Strategy

  • Strong applications include “detailed” consideration of academic AND church-based dissemination routes
  • “Preference will be given to applications which look to effect practical change”
  • Show how findings will reach Methodist Church audiences, not just academic journals

Matched Funding

  • “Applications seeking matched funding elsewhere will be considered favourably”
  • Demonstrates project sustainability and broader impact potential

Practical Impact

  • Trust prioritizes research that enables “transformational change”
  • Projects should show clear pathways to real-world application
  • Consider community benefit alongside academic contribution

Project Scope

  • Traditionally funded one-year projects, but willing to consider longer timelines
  • Keep budgets realistic within £4,000 maximum
  • Demonstrate value for money

Examples of Funded Research:

  • Dr Alaster Douglas: “Bridging the ethnic minority gap between educational development and doctoral supervision” (£3,500)
  • “Faith Long Lived: An Ecumenical Study of Experiences of Saying Creeds among Older Christians”
  • Various interdisciplinary projects spanning nursing, education, social justice, arts, and international development

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Extremely Limited Eligibility: This funder is ONLY for University of Roehampton academics - external organizations cannot apply for research grants
  • Currently Paused: The research grant programme is on hold; contact Jackie Brown before investing time in an application
  • Dual Dissemination Required: Success requires strong plans for both academic publication AND Methodist Church engagement
  • Practical Change Prioritized: The trust favours research that will lead to tangible improvements and real-world impact
  • Matched Funding Helps: Demonstrating co-funding from other sources strengthens applications
  • Methodist Connection Matters: While not exclusively for Methodist researchers, showing understanding of Methodist values and community benefit is important
  • Small Grants, Big Impact: Maximum £4,000 means projects must be focused and achievable within modest budgets

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References