St Giles-in-the-fields And William Shelton Educational Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £500,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 2-6 weeks depending on grant type
• Grant Range: £3,600 - £50,000 per annum
• Geographic Focus: Bloomsbury and south Westminster, London (primarily WC1 postcodes)

Contact Details

Website: www.stgilesandstgeorge.org.uk

Email: clerk@stgilesandstgeorge.org.uk

Phone: 07960691436

Address: St. Giles in the Fields Church, St. Giles High Street, London, WC2H 8LG

Overview

ST GILES-IN-THE-FIELDS AND WILLIAM SHELTON EDUCATIONAL CHARITY, operating as St Giles & St George Education Charity, is a historic grant maker with roots dating back to 1661. Formed through a 2005 merger of educational foundations including William Shelton's Educational Foundation (founded 1672), the charity manages permanent endowments generating income from investments and property assets. With annual grant distribution of approximately £500,000 in 2024, they focus exclusively on supporting children and young people aged 0-25 in Bloomsbury and south Westminster. The charity operates with a vision that “all children and young people growing up in south Westminster and Covent Garden are able to fulfil their potential.” Their approach emphasizes flexibility, trust-based relationships, and long-term partnerships with local organizations demonstrating consistent service delivery.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants: £3,600 maximum - One-off grants for revenue or capital projects. Applications accepted anytime, decisions within 6 weeks.

Project Grants: £12,000 maximum - One-off grants for projects lasting up to one year. Quarterly application deadlines, decisions within two weeks of trustee meetings.

Community Investment Grants: £18,500 per annum - Multi-year revenue funding up to three years. Not available to schools or school-based projects. Requires demonstrated commitment to local area and participation in local networks. Quarterly deadlines.

Partnership/Strategic Grants: £15,000-£50,000 per annum - Commissioned programmes up to three years addressing trustee-identified priorities. Requires initial discussion with Clerk before application. Unlikely to fund unfamiliar organizations.

Priority Areas

• Children and families support services
• Educational transitions and learning opportunities
• Emotional wellbeing and mental health
• Youth clubs and activities
• Digital inclusion initiatives
• Homelessness prevention for young people
• Family therapy and speech/language therapy
• Christian education
• Support for vulnerable families

What They Don't Fund

• Non-UK charities
• Grant-making organizations
• Political projects
• Retrospective work already completed
• Statutory obligations
• Large building projects (unlikely)
• Independent schools (unlikely)
• International school trips (unlikely)
• Organizations with significant unrestricted reserves (unlikely)

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Governance and Leadership

The charity operates through a corporate trustee structure (ST GILES-IN-THE-FIELDS AND WILLIAM SHELTON EDUCATIONAL TRUSTEE LIMITED). The board comprises eight trustees including four ex-officio positions: the Rector and one churchwarden from both St Giles-in-the-Fields and St George's Bloomsbury churches. Hazel Capper serves as Clerk to the Trustees since November 2014, managing the charity's first paid staff position. Notable trustees include Julian (Principal Director at TP Bennett architects), Catherine (Churchwarden of St Giles-in-the-Fields), and Revd Tom Sander (recently welcomed). The charity emphasizes: “Our vision is that all children and young people growing up in south Westminster and Covent Garden are able to fulfil their potential.”

How to Apply to St Giles-in-the-fields And William Shelton Educational Charity

How to Apply

• Online application forms available on website (www.stgilesandstgeorge.org.uk)
• Small Grants: Submit anytime
• Project and Community Investment Grants: Submit by quarterly deadlines
• Partnership Grants: Contact Clerk with short outline first - “unsolicited applications should NOT be submitted”

Decision Timeline

• Small Grants: Within 6 weeks of submission
• Project/Community Investment Grants: Within 2 weeks of quarterly trustee meeting
• Partnership Grants: Following initial discussion with Clerk

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. In 2024, awarded £500,000 across 17 grants. In 2023, awarded £303,052 from £343,000 budget across 11 grants.

Reapplication Policy

The charity demonstrates willingness to fund organizations repeatedly, with several recipients receiving multiple grants over years. Notable long-term relationships include Covent Garden Dragon Hall Trust (£83,376) and Soup Kitchen (£78,000).

Application Success Factors

Based on their funding patterns and stated priorities, successful applications demonstrate:

• Strong local presence: Organizations must operate within the defined Bloomsbury/south Westminster area (18 specific church parishes, primarily WC1 postcodes)
• Proven track record: The charity favors organizations they know well - “It is unlikely that they would fund an organisation for a strategic grant that they are not familiar with”
• Network participation: For Community Investment Grants, must show “consistent service delivery and participation in local networks”
• Clear impact on target age group: Focus specifically on children and young people aged 0-25
• Alignment with current priorities: Recent grants show strong focus on family support, homelessness prevention, and digital inclusion
• Relationship building for larger grants: Partnership Grants require preliminary discussion - sending “a short outline of your idea to the Clerk for an initial discussion”
• Appropriate reserves: Avoid applying if your organization has “significant unrestricted reserves”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic restrictions are strict - Only apply if operating within their 18 defined church parishes in Bloomsbury/south Westminster (check website for exact boundaries)

• Build relationships before applying for larger grants - Partnership/Strategic grants go to familiar organizations; start with smaller grants to establish credibility

• Schools face restrictions - Community Investment Grants explicitly exclude schools and school-based projects

• Timing matters - Small Grants offer year-round submission with faster decisions; larger grants require meeting quarterly deadlines

• Long-term funding is possible - Charity demonstrates willingness to fund same organizations repeatedly when delivering strong results

• Focus on vulnerability - Half of recent funding supported homelessness prevention; prioritize applications addressing acute needs

• Contact the Clerk for strategic opportunities - Don't submit unsolicited Partnership Grant applications; initiate dialogue first

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• St Andrew Holborn And Stafford's Charity
• Lady Gould's Charity
• Sir Walter St. John's Educational Charity
• Elft Charity
• The Hampstead Wells And Campden Trust
• Two Magpies Fund
• The Garrick Charitable Trust
• Young Camden Foundation
• John Lyon's Charity
• The Stroh Gestetner Foundation Ltd

References

1. St Giles & St George Education Charity Official Website. www.stgilesandstgeorge.org.uk..
2. Charity Commission Register. “ST GILES-IN-THE-FIELDS AND WILLIAM SHELTON EDUCATIONAL CHARITY (1111907)”. register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk..
3. Young Camden Foundation. "St Giles & St George Education Charity Funding". youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk/funding/st-giles-st-george-education-charity..
4. Voluntary Action Camden. “St Giles and St George Educational Grants”. vac.org.uk..
5. St Giles & St George. “Spring Education Grants Focusing on Families”. stgilesandstgeorge.org.uk/spring-education-grants-focusing-on-families/..
6. Unity Trust Bank. “Customer Story: St Giles-in-the-Fields and William Shelton Educational Charity”. unity.co.uk..