St. Martin-in-the-fields Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £5.13 million (charitable activities expenditure 2023-24)
• Total Grants Distributed: £1,780,676 through VRF (2023-24)
• Decision Time: 5 working days (VRF applications)
• Grant Range: £350 - £500 (individual crisis grants); £500 - £1,500 (training); £223,000+ (strategic partnerships)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide
• Grants Awarded: 4,508 individual grants in 2023-24

Contact Details

Website: https://www.smitfc.org

Email: info@stmartinscharity.org.uk

Phone: 020 8148 1328

Vicar's Relief Fund:

Email: vrf@stmartinscharity.org.uk

Phone: 020 3795 5746 (voicemail)

Application Portal: https://smitf.flexigrant.com

Training Fund:

Email: frontline@stmartinscharity.org.uk

Overview

St. Martin-in-the-Fields Charity (registered charity 1156305) was established to transform the lives of homeless and vulnerable people across the UK. With total income of £5.19 million and charitable expenditure of £5.13 million in 2023-24, the charity provides direct financial assistance to individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, alongside strategic funding for frontline organizations and workers. In 2023-24, the charity awarded 4,508 grants totaling £1,780,676 through the Vicar's Relief Fund, helping 7,512 people secure or keep their homes. The charity operates through the Frontline Network, supporting workers across voluntary, statutory, and public sectors. Led by CEO Duncan Shrubsole (appointed June 2024), who brings extensive experience from Lloyds Bank Foundation and Crisis, the charity takes a comprehensive approach: preventing homelessness through crisis grants, strengthening the sector through training and resources, and advocating for systemic change.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Vicar's Relief Fund (VRF) - Rolling applications via online portal

• Individual crisis grants: up to £500 per client per 12 months
• Provides funding for rent arrears (up to £350), deposits, rent in advance, ID fees, emergency accommodation, and removal costs
• Only accessible through paid frontline workers, not direct public applications
• 4,508 grants awarded in 2023-24 totaling £1,780,676
• Decisions within 5 working days

Training Fund - Rolling applications

• Individual frontline workers: up to £500
• Group training: up to £1,500
• Must apply at least 6 weeks before course start date
• Supports professional development for homelessness sector workers

Frontline Fund - Competitive multi-year funding

• Strategic partnerships with organizations: £223,000+ per year
• Three-year funding commitments
• Most recent round awarded £1.5 million across six organizations from 81 applications
• Supports transformative projects preventing homelessness

Mental Health Fund - Past competitive funding (closed)

• Multi-year grants up to £600,000 over three years
• Three organizations funded in 2023 with £223,399 in year one
• Focus on mental health support outside healthcare settings

Access to Accommodation Fund - Details limited

• Designed for smaller and grassroots organizations
• Focus on unlocking housing solutions in local communities

Priority Areas

• Homelessness Prevention: Funding to secure accommodation, clear rent arrears, prevent evictions
• Accommodation Access: Deposits, rent in advance, ID documentation, removal costs
• Frontline Workforce Development: Training and skills development for homelessness workers
• Mental Health Support: Targeted mental health interventions for people experiencing homelessness
• Legal and Healthcare Access: Projects providing legal advice and healthcare pathways
• LGBTQ+ and Youth Homelessness: Supporting vulnerable young people and marginalized groups
• Housing Transitions: Critical support at key transition points in housing journeys

What They Don't Fund

• Applications where the organization becomes the client's new landlord
• Grants for clients who already have access to new accommodation
• Costs already paid before grant approval
• Direct applications from members of the public or volunteers
• Organizations operating only outside the UK
• Training costs where employer funding is available

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Governance and Leadership

CEO: Duncan Shrubsole (appointed June 2024) - Former Director of Policy, Research and Communications at Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, with over 20 years in the charity sector including nine years at Crisis. Duncan states: "Everyone deserves a safe place to call home but far too many are denied this. St Martin's is unique in providing direct financial assistance to individuals to help prevent eviction or to move on from homelessness, together with support for frontline charities and workers across the UK."

Board of Trustees (10 trustees, no remuneration):

• Mark Devlin (Chair) - CEO of Young Epilepsy, former COO of UNICEF UK
• Prof Michelle Cornes - Professor of Health and Social Policy Inequalities at Salford University, member of DHSC's Governance Board for Out-of-Hospital Care, previously on government's Rough Sleeping Task Force
• Myles Edwards - Digital, marketing and commercial experience with housing sector expertise
• Victoria Hill - CEO of Hammersmith United Charities
• Carol Hilsum - Senior Director of Product Innovation at Farfetch
• Keith Leslie - Former partner at McKinsey and Deloitte, Chair of Samaritans, Chair of ACCA Global Forum
• Frances Stratton - Private family lawyer with international legal experience
• Revd Dr Sam Wells - Vicar at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church
• Julian Worricker - Journalist and broadcaster, BBC World Service presenter

Staff: 22 employees managing grant programs, frontline support, and fundraising operations

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Vicar's Relief Fund (VRF):

1. Only paid frontline workers from registered organizations can apply
2. Register account at https://smitf.flexigrant.com
3. Validate email address and submit New User Registration form
4. Line manager verification required
5. Account activation within 5 working days
6. Submit applications through Flexi-Grant portal (open Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm)
7. Include completed and signed client consent form
8. Provide evidence of intended use

Training Fund:

1. Contact frontline@stmartinscharity.org.uk
2. Apply at least 6 weeks before course start date
3. Demonstrate training need, benefit to service users, and lack of employer funding
4. Provide full cost, training dates, and number of attendees

Strategic Funds (Frontline Fund, Mental Health Fund):

• Competitive application processes announced periodically
• Previous rounds have been time-limited with fixed deadlines
• Most recent Frontline Fund selected 6 organizations from 81 applications
• Multi-year funding commitments for successful applicants

Decision Timeline

VRF: 5 working days from submission to decision and payment (if approved)

Training Fund: Applications assessed after receipt, requiring 6+ weeks lead time before training

Strategic Funds: Varies by funding round; multi-stage process with letters of inquiry followed by full proposals

Success Rates

VRF 2023-24: 4,508 grants approved totaling £1,780,676. In Q1 2024 alone, 1,103 grants awarded totaling £450,329. Specific rejection rate not published, but common rejection reasons include client ineligibility, incomplete documentation, client already housed, or costs already paid.

Frontline Fund: Approximately 7.4% success rate in most recent round (6 awards from 81 applications)

Reapplication Policy

VRF: Maximum £500 per client per 12-month period. If application returned to portal, this indicates missing information, not rejection - resubmit with required evidence. Account suspension occurs if evidence of spend not provided within 8 weeks.

Training Fund: No stated restrictions on reapplication

Strategic Funds: Organizations can reapply in subsequent funding rounds

Application Success Factors

VRF Applications

• Work through proper channels: Must be paid frontline worker with registered organization
• Timing is critical: Ensure client has not already moved into accommodation or paid costs
• Evidence is essential: Provide complete documentation including signed consent form
• Show clear need: Demonstrate how grant prevents homelessness or secures accommodation
• Follow up promptly: Submit evidence of expenditure within 8 weeks to maintain account status
• Use available resources: Review video guides and Help Page on Flexi-Grant portal

Training Fund Applications

• Demonstrate sector relevance: Show how training relates to homelessness work
• Plan ahead: Six-week minimum lead time required
• Show organizational gap: Confirm employer cannot fund the training
• Identify need systematically: Best applications arise from supervisions, staff surveys, or team meetings
• Use recommended providers: Consider Homeless Link, Shelter, Homeless Network Scotland for established courses

Strategic Funding

• Alignment with mission: Focus on helping people find and maintain safe homes
• Evidence-based approach: Show understanding of gaps in provision (e.g., 75% of frontline staff described accessing mental health support as difficult)
• Sustainable impact: Multi-year funding demonstrates commitment to long-term outcomes
• Collaborative approach: Partnership working with St Martin's over funding period
• Fill sector gaps: Projects addressing unmet needs in homelessness prevention

Recent Funded Projects

• Pathway: Healthcare and legal advice for people experiencing homelessness
• akt: Supporting LGBTQ+ young people (16-25) facing homelessness
• Caring in Bristol: Young people experiencing homelessness
• TGP Cymru: Vulnerable children and families in Wales
• Legal Services Agency: Preventing homelessness for people in criminal justice system
• Extern: Counseling for vulnerable people in Ireland

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Know your route in: Organizations cannot apply for VRF grants on behalf of service users - this funding only flows through paid frontline workers acting as intermediaries. Consider building relationships with frontline workers who can access these funds for clients you support.

• Fast decision-making but strict criteria: The 5-day turnaround for VRF demonstrates efficiency, but applications fail on technicalities - client already housed, costs already paid, or missing documentation. Ensure complete evidence before submission.

• Training Fund is underutilized resource: Up to £1,500 for group training with rolling applications is accessible funding for capacity building. The six-week lead time is the primary planning requirement.

• Strategic funding is highly competitive: 7.4% success rate for Frontline Fund indicates need for exceptional applications. Multi-year commitment (three years, £1.5m total) shows they invest deeply in fewer organizations rather than spreading funding widely.

• Leadership values systems change: CEO Duncan Shrubsole's background in policy and research at Lloyds Bank Foundation indicates strategic thinking beyond crisis intervention. Applications showing upstream prevention and systemic solutions likely resonate.

• Evidence of sector knowledge matters: Trustee board includes Professor Michelle Cornes (government Rough Sleeping Task Force), CEO of Young Epilepsy, and Chair of Samaritans - deep expertise in homelessness and vulnerable populations. Applications should reflect current sector challenges.

• They fund beyond their network: While based at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, funding reaches UK-wide - Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and England - demonstrating genuine national scope.

References

1. St. Martin-in-the-Fields Charity official website (https://smitfc.org) -
2. Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1156305 (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1156305&subId=0) - Financial year ending March 31, 2024 -
3. Frontline Network - Vicar's Relief Fund (https://www.frontlinenetwork.org.uk/vicars-relief-fund/) -
4. Frontline Network - Training Fund (https://www.frontlinenetwork.org.uk/training/training-fund/) -
5. “St Martin in the Fields Charity selects Pathway for funding” - Pathway press release (https://www.pathway.org.uk/press%20releases/st-martin-in-the-fields-charity-selects-pathway-for-funding/) -
6. “Duncan Shrubsole joins St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity as CEO” (https://www.smitfc.org/duncan-shrubsole-joins-st-martins-charity-as-ceo/) - June 2024
7. “Our Trustees” - St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity (https://smitfc.org/our-trustees/) -
8. “How Homeless Prevention Grants and Funds Make a Difference” (https://smitfc.org/how-homeless-prevention-grants-make-a-difference/) - 2024 statistics
9. "St Martin's Homeless Charity: Real Impact Stories from 2024" (https://www.smitfc.org/st-martins-homeless-charity-real-impact-stories-from-2024/) - 2024 statistics
10. “Frontline Fund: Mental Health and Homelessness” (https://www.smitfc.org/frontline-fund-mental-health-and-homelessness/) - 2023
11. VRF FAQs (https://www.frontlinenetwork.org.uk/vicars-relief-fund/faqs/) -