St Peter's, Saltley Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Expenditure: £164,654 (2024-25)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Applications considered twice yearly (April and September)
• Grant Range: £500 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: West Midlands region (England)

Contact Details

Website: www.saltleytrust.org.uk

Email: director@saltleytrust.org.uk

Phone: 0121 427 6800

Director: Ian Jones

Bursar (Small Grants): Lynne Hayes-James (bursar@saltleytrust.org.uk)

Overview

St Peter's, Saltley Trust is an educational charity (registered charity number 528915) that has been operating in the West Midlands region for decades. The Trust works as funders, critical friends, researchers and evaluators, resource developers and project partners with churches, schools, colleges and faith organizations. Rooted in the Christian faith, the Trust works with and for people of all faiths and none. From April 2024, the Trust dedicated one third of its annual grants budget specifically to funding grassroots projects developed by individual churches, schools, or colleges, reflecting a strategic commitment to supporting local, community-led initiatives. The Trust emphasizes partnership working, bringing benefits beyond grant funding through active collaboration with the organizations they support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Fund: £500 (approximately)

• Around 10 grants per year
• Available for resource development, training, research expenses, conferences, events, or exhibitions
• Four application dates per year (usually February, April, September, and November)
• Contact: Lynne Hayes-James (bursar@saltleytrust.org.uk)

Medium-Sized Projects Fund: £1,000 - £10,000

• Projects lasting more than one year are eligible to apply
• Requires partnership working with the Trust in addition to grant funding
• Applications considered twice yearly (April and September deadlines)
• Initial contact required with Director before application

Talents Fund: Up to £500 (invitation-only)

• Pilot program for Church of England churches in financially deprived areas
• Focused on new work in Christian discipleship, learning, and development
• By invitation only

Consolidation and Development Fund: Variable amounts

• For exceptional cases where existing or recently completed projects have been particularly fruitful
• Given only in exceptional circumstances
• Applications considered twice yearly (April and September)

Major Projects: Typically larger than £10,000

• The Trust normally supports only 1-2 such projects at any given time
• Requires initial contact with Director to explore partnership opportunities

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses on three main spheres of work:

• Particularly amongst the most marginalized in church and society
• Growing vision, understanding, gifts and capacities of people at grassroots level
• Leadership development in local churches

• Christian presence and contribution to FE sector
• Religious literacy in Further Education settings
• Support for students and staff in colleges

• Teaching and learning about and from Christianity
• Religious literacy and spiritual development
• Support for RE teachers and curriculum development
• Religion & Worldviews education for home educators

From October 2022, the Trust has adopted new working priorities within these three main areas, affecting the types of projects the Trustees support.

What They Don't Fund

• Projects without meaningful connection to or benefit for the West Midlands region
• Projects that concentrate power and expertise into the hands of a privileged few experts rather than benefiting grassroots communities
• Projects outside the Trust's three main spheres of work
• Grants exceeding £10,000 for standard projects (Major Projects are rare exceptions)
• Projects that do not demonstrate creativity, innovation, or exploratory/experimental approaches

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Governance and Leadership

Director: Ian Jones is also Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Worcester, with research specialisms in the history of Christianity, social research on contemporary religion, and religious and theological education.

Trustees: The Board includes five nominated representatives of the region's diocesan bishops, a representative from the St Peter's association for former students (the 'Old Salts'), and further trustees co-opted for their expertise in the Trust's areas of interest. The five Anglican diocesan bishops of the region serve as Patrons of the Trust.

Director's Philosophy: Ian Jones describes the Trust's unique approach: "There are very few organisations like St Peter's Saltley Trust: an endowed charity seeking to be a catalyst and a resource to the churches' work in education within a particular region; not just dispensing grant funding but seeking to bring additional benefits by working in partnership with the organisations we support. I love the incredibly varied work that we do: as project partners, critical friends, researchers and evaluators, resource-writers, seers of visions and dreamers of dreams."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Small Grants (up to £500):

• Contact Lynne Hayes-James (bursar@saltleytrust.org.uk) in the first instance
• Four application deadlines per year (usually February, April, September, November)
• Exact dates change annually, so confirm current deadlines with the Trust

For Medium-Sized Projects (£1,000 - £10,000):

• Contact Ian Jones (director@saltleytrust.org.uk) for an initial conversation before applying
• Applications considered twice yearly (April and September deadlines)
• Partnership working with the Trust is required alongside grant funding

For Major Projects or Consolidation Grants:

• Contact Ian Jones (director@saltleytrust.org.uk) to explore partnership opportunities
• Applications considered twice yearly (April and September)

For Talents Fund:

• By invitation only; contact director@saltleytrust.org.uk or call 01527 882449 if you have received an invitation

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed and decisions made following the application deadlines in April and September (for medium and major projects) or at the four annual deadlines for small grants. Specific decision notification timelines are not publicly disclosed; applicants should inquire when submitting their application.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Trust makes approximately 10 small grants per year from the Small Grants Fund and supports a limited number of medium and major projects annually.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants should contact the Trust directly to discuss reapplication possibilities.

Application Success Factors

Partnership Approach: The Trust emphasizes that they are not just dispensing grant funding but seeking to work in partnership with organizations, serving as project partners, critical friends, researchers, and evaluators. Applications should demonstrate openness to this collaborative approach.

Selection Criteria: Project proposals are judged upon:

• Degree of fit with priority areas identified by the Trust
• Extent to which project is felt to be creative, innovative, exploratory or experimental
• Degree of meaningful partnership with St Peter's Saltley Trust
• Evidence of meaningful connection with/potential benefit to needs identified within the West Midlands region
• Potential for the project to benefit the most marginalized in church and society, and to grow the vision, understanding, gifts and capacities of people at grassroots level

Grassroots Focus: The Trust explicitly states they do not fund projects that concentrate power and expertise into the hands of a privileged few experts. Applications should demonstrate how they empower and benefit people at the grassroots level.

Recent Project Examples: Understanding what the Trust has recently funded can help inform applications:

• RE:Connect Teacher Fellowship programme (2023-24) exploring RE and environmental/climate crisis
• Religion & Worldviews Home Educators' Fund for West Midlands home educators
• Evaluation of "All God's People" project developing leadership and discipleship in diverse parish communities at St Chad's and St Mark's, Wolverhampton (2023-26)
• Birmingham Interfaith Climate Action Partnership evaluation (2024-27)
• RE Matters “Bullying and Belief Toolkit” funded jointly with Westhill Endowment
• Harbury C of E Primary School project exploring Jesus' parable of the sower through creative lessons and events
• Birmingham Mission Apprentice Scheme, supporting lay leaders in highly urbanized areas

Language and Approach: The Trust values creativity, innovation, exploration, and experimentation. Applications should use language that demonstrates thoughtful engagement with the intersection of religion, education, and society, and show how projects will develop “committed, authentic Christian discipleship” or “high-quality religious literacy.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Partnership is essential: The Trust seeks meaningful collaboration beyond simple grant-giving; be prepared to engage with them as critical friends, evaluators, or project partners
• Start with a conversation: For medium and major projects, initial contact with Director Ian Jones is required before formal application
• Demonstrate grassroots impact: Show how your project empowers marginalized communities and develops capacity at the local level rather than concentrating expertise
• West Midlands connection is mandatory: Projects must have clear benefit to or connection with the West Midlands region
• Innovation matters: The Trust values creative, exploratory, and experimental approaches rather than standard or conventional projects
• April 2024 strategic shift: One-third of the budget is now ring-fenced for grassroots projects from individual churches, schools, or colleges, creating stronger opportunities for smaller local organizations
• Plan ahead for deadlines: With only two or four annual deadlines depending on grant type, timing your application is critical

References

• St Peter's, Saltley Trust official website: https://www.saltleytrust.org.uk/
• “What We Support” page: https://www.saltleytrust.org.uk/what-we-support/
• “About” page: https://www.saltleytrust.org.uk/about-us/
• St Peter's Saltley Trust Talents Fund: https://www.saltleytrust.org.uk/st-peters-saltley-trust-talents-fund/
• Charity Commission register entry for charity 528915: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/528915
• Projects page: https://www.saltleytrust.org.uk/projects/
• Birmingham Churches Together profile: https://www.birminghamchurches.org.uk/st-peters-saltley-trust/