Star Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £999,304 (2023-24)
• Annual Grant Giving: £240,660 (2023-24)
• Grant Range: £100 - £300
• Decision Time: Not specified (contact for details)
• Geographic Focus: National (UK), with focus on local communities
• Application Method: Contact-based (rolling)

Contact Details

Website: www.starfoundation.org.uk

Email: info@starfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 07779096467 or 01283 741406

Address: Derby Road, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1RS

Overview

STAR Foundation (Charity Number 1160614) is a unique UK charity that combines social enterprise with youth development. Founded by Pete Tryner, the charity operates a textile recycling program called “Rags2Riches” that generates income to fund grants and direct sponsorship for young people engaging in sports, arts, and creative activities. With an annual income exceeding £999,000 (2023-24), the foundation distributed £240,660 in charitable activities during the same period. The charity operates with 32 employees, 3 trustees, and 20 volunteers, demonstrating a significant commitment to grassroots community support. STAR works with clubs, schools, and organizations nationwide, providing individuals who show potential and determination with equipment and funding to participate in their chosen sport or career field, with a particular focus on underprivileged areas and supporting all religions and minorities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants and Sponsorship Programme: £100 - £300

• Available to all young people, clubs, schools and organisations
• Funding can be used to help schools/clubs keep young people creative and active
• Support for individuals towards training and travel costs
• Equipment provision for young people showing potential and determination
• Direct sponsorship to youngsters with recognised potential through affiliated schools

Application Method: Contact-based, appears to operate on a rolling basis

Priority Areas

• Youth Sports Development: Supporting young people in various sports activities, including football, martial arts, and fitness
• Creative Arts: Music, arts, and media activities within schools and community-led projects
• School and Club Support: Funding for sports groups, schools, and leisure centres to maintain youth engagement
• Individual Sponsorship: Direct support for individuals showing determination to pursue their chosen sport or career field
• Underprivileged Communities: Specific focus on supporting disadvantaged areas, including all religions and minorities nationwide

What They Don't Fund

Information not explicitly stated in available sources. Contact the foundation directly for specific exclusions.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Craig Savage - Chairperson
• Charlie Reid - Secretary
• Andy Rudkin - Trustee
• Gavin Scothorn - Trustee

Key Personnel

Pete Tryner - Founder and CEO

Pete Tryner has stated: “I have always wanted to give young people the chance to learn skills outside of the education environment.” He emphasizes the foundation's commitment to youth development, noting: "The construction students at Burton and South Derbyshire College have been just amazing. This project has given them the chance to learn new skills onsite. It's great to see a building in the community being rebuilt by young people for young people."

Organizational Structure

• 32 employees
• 3 trustees (no trustee remuneration reported)
• 20 volunteers
• No employees receiving total benefits exceeding £60,000

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The STAR Foundation operates a contact-based application system. Interested applicants should:

1. Contact the foundation directly via email (info@starfoundation.org.uk) or phone (07779096467 or 01283 741406)
2. Grants and sponsorship applications are available for amounts between £100-£300
3. For schools and clubs: Consider participating in the Rags2Riches recycling campaign, which both raises funds and provides access to the foundation's grant programs
4. The foundation liaises with affiliated schools nationwide for direct sponsorship opportunities

The Rags2Riches Model

A unique aspect of STAR Foundation is their social enterprise approach:

• Schools and clubs can have a STAR clothing bank installed (free service)
• Organizations collect unwanted clothes, shoes, CDs/DVDs, books, and videos
• STAR converts these items into funding
• The more clubs/schools participating, the more grant funding becomes available
• This creates a sustainable funding cycle for community projects

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Contact the foundation directly for information about processing times for grant applications.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The charity distributed £240,660 in charitable activities during 2023-24, demonstrating active grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

No information available. Contact the foundation for details about reapplication procedures for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrated Examples

The foundation has supported various initiatives, including:

• Stretton Eagles Under 13's - Training kit sponsorship
• Hannah Ward - Captain of Derby County Ladies FC received sponsorship
• Meg Wheatley - Received £150 sponsorship to help achieve her goals
• St Peters Primary School Netherseal - Participated in StarActiv8 day with free activities

What the Funder Values

Based on leadership statements and funding patterns:

• Potential and Determination: Pete Tryner emphasizes supporting individuals who “show potential and determination”
• Community Engagement: The foundation values schools and clubs that engage with their recycling campaign, creating sustainable community partnerships
• Youth Development Outside Traditional Education: Tryner's stated goal is providing “young people the chance to learn skills outside of the education environment”
• Local Community Impact: Focus on grassroots support and reinvesting into local communities

Strategic Approach

• The foundation operates a dual model: generating income through social enterprise while providing grants
• They emphasize building long-term relationships with schools and clubs through the Rags2Riches program
• The more organizations that participate in recycling campaigns, the more funding becomes available for grants
• Focus on accessibility with small grant amounts (£100-£300) that can make meaningful differences for youth activities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small Grants, Big Impact: STAR focuses on modest grants (£100-£300) that can make meaningful differences for young people's participation in sports and arts
• Consider the Recycling Partnership: Schools and clubs that engage with the Rags2Riches campaign may have stronger relationships with the foundation and better access to funding
• Demonstrate Individual Potential: Applications supporting specific young people should emphasize their determination and potential for development
• Community-Focused: The foundation values grassroots community projects that keep young people active and creative
• Inclusive Approach: STAR explicitly welcomes applications supporting underprivileged areas and diverse communities
• Contact-Based Process: Direct contact with the foundation is essential; there's no online application portal mentioned
• Youth Development Focus: Emphasize how funding will provide opportunities for skills development and participation rather than just equipment or costs

References

1. UK Charity Commission - STAR (Charity Number 1160614) - Financial data for year ending April 4, 2024. Accessed: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1160614&subid=0

1. Staffordshire Connects - Star Foundation Directory Entry. Information about grant ranges (£100-£300) and funding purposes. Accessed: https://www.staffordshireconnects.info/kb5/staffordshire/directory/service.page?id=kc4MoDoNwoU

1. Burton and South Derbyshire College - “Students help Star Foundation to give building a new lease of life” - Quotes from CEO Pete Tryner. Accessed: https://www.bsdc.ac.uk/news/702-students-help-star-foundation-to-give-building-a-new-lease-of-life-2

1. STAR Foundation Official Website - About Us page. Mission statement and operational details. Accessed: http://starfoundation.org.uk/about-us/

1. Web search results - Information about sponsorship examples including Stretton Eagles, Hannah Ward (Derby County Ladies FC), and Meg Wheatley. Accessed via multiple sources