St Aldates Parochial Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £190,000 - £360,000 (varies annually)
• Total Grants: Approximately £193,000 (recent year: £125,000 to church fabric/services, £68,000 to poverty relief)
• Geographic Focus: Oxford city, with preference for ancient parish of St Aldate
• Grant Type: Individual and organisational grants
• Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Primary Contact: Malcolm Taylor

Email: malcolmanddianne@btinternet.com

Phone: 01865 254800

Church Office: office@staldates.org.uk | 01865 254800

Address: 31 Cumnor Hill, Oxford OX2 9EY

Overview

ST ALDATES PAROCHIAL CHARITY (registered 2000) is a traditional parochial charity operating under a Charity Commission scheme dated October 20, 1999. With an annual income ranging between £190,000 and £360,000, the charity serves people in conditions of need, hardship, or distress in Oxford city, with particular preference for residents of the ancient parish of St Aldate.

The charity operates through two distinct branches: the Church Branch, which supports the fabric, services, and religious work of St Aldates Church, and the Poor's Branch, which provides poverty relief through grants to individuals and organisations. The charity is governed by seven trustees who receive no remuneration and has close ties with the Parochial Church Council of St Aldate, with overlapping trustees between the organisations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Church Branch Grants

• Maintenance and repair of parish church fabric
• Alterations and additions to church building
• Maintenance of church services
• Religious and charitable work of the Church of England in the parish
• Recent grants: £125,000 annually

Poor's Branch Grants

• Direct grants to individuals in need
• Grants to organisations supporting people in distress
• Items, services, or facilities to reduce need, hardship, or distress
• Recent grants: £68,000 annually

The trustees may delegate the Church Branch share of income to the Parochial Church Council of St Aldate, Oxford.

Priority Areas

Who They Help:

• Children and young people in need
• Elderly people experiencing hardship
• People with disabilities
• Charities and voluntary organisations working with vulnerable populations
• Residents of Oxford city (preference for ancient parish of St Aldate)

Types of Support:

• Prevention or relief of poverty
• Direct financial grants
• Payment for items, services, or facilities
• Support to intermediary organisations

What They Don't Fund

The charity's scheme does not explicitly list exclusions, but the geographic limitation to Oxford city (with rare exceptions “in exceptional cases” for people just outside city limits) is a practical constraint.

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by seven trustees (71.4% male, 14.3% female composition as of recent filings). No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Contact: Malcolm Taylor serves as the primary contact for the charity.

The charity maintains close ties with The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Aldates, Oxford (charity number 1131154), with the organisations being related parties by virtue of common trustees.

Trustee Changes: The board has seen recent changes with multiple trustees appointed in 2023 and 2025, suggesting active governance renewal.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This charity does not have a public application process. Grant-making decisions are made at the trustees' discretion, particularly for the Poor's Branch poverty relief grants.

The Church Branch grants are typically delegated to or coordinated with the Parochial Church Council of St Aldate, Oxford, reflecting the charity's close operational ties to the church.

For poverty relief grants (Poor's Branch), individuals or organisations seeking support should contact Malcolm Taylor directly using the contact details provided above. Given the charity's structure and lack of published application guidelines, grants may be:

• Made on trustee initiative to known beneficiaries
• Awarded through referrals from the church or related organisations
• Allocated to local charities and voluntary bodies working in the area
• Provided to individuals known to the trustees or church community

Decision Timeline

No specific decision timelines are published. As a charity operating under trustee discretion rather than fixed application rounds, decisions are likely made on an ongoing basis as needs arise and are brought to the trustees' attention.

Success Rates

No data available on application success rates, as there is no formal public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the charity's structure and operations, the following factors appear important:

Geographic Alignment: The charity has a statutory preference for residents of the ancient parish of St Aldate within Oxford city. Being based in this specific area or serving beneficiaries from this parish would significantly strengthen any informal approach.

Connection to St Aldates Church Community: With overlapping trustees between the parochial charity and the church council, and the Church Branch representing a significant portion of annual grants, connections to the church community likely influence grant decisions.

Focus on Poverty Relief: The Poor's Branch specifically targets people “in conditions of need, hardship or distress.” Demonstrating clear, acute need rather than general charitable purposes aligns with the charity's formal objectives.

Support for Vulnerable Groups: The charity specifically lists children/young people, elderly people, and people with disabilities as beneficiary groups. Projects or individuals within these categories align with stated priorities.

Organisational Track Record: For charities and voluntary bodies seeking grants, having an established presence in Oxford and demonstrated impact in poverty relief or support for vulnerable populations would be beneficial.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this charity operates through trustee discretion and likely supports known beneficiaries or organisations with existing relationships
• Geographic focus is highly specific - preference for the ancient parish of St Aldate within Oxford city limits makes this a very localised funder
• Dual-branch structure - approximately 65% of grants support church activities, with 35% directed to poverty relief through the Poor's Branch
• Personal contact recommended - approach Malcolm Taylor directly to discuss potential support, as formal application materials do not exist
• Strong church connection - overlapping trustees and operational ties to St Aldates Church suggest that church-affiliated organisations or individuals known to the church community may have better access
• Individual and organisational grants available - the charity supports both direct beneficiaries and intermediary organisations
• Variable annual income - grants fluctuate with the charity's investment income, ranging widely from £190,000 to £360,000 annually

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, ST ALDATES PAROCHIAL CHARITY (1080062), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3966563
• Giving is Great, Charity Factsheet: ST ALDATES PAROCHIAL CHARITY, https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1080062
• Oxford City Council, St Aldate's Parochial Charity Outside Body Details, https://mycouncil.oxford.gov.uk/mgOutsideBodyDetails.aspx?ID=335
• Charity Commission Scheme for the regulation of St Aldates Parochial Charities