Strand Parishes Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Over £200,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks
• Grant Range: £50 - £500 (individuals); amounts for organizations not specified
• Geographic Focus: City of Westminster (London Borough), with preference for the parishes of St Mary le Strand and St Clement Danes

Contact Details

Website: www.strandparishestrust.org.uk

Email: sptwestminster@aol.com

Phone: 020 7848 4275

Address: 169 Strand, London WC2R 2LS

Clerk to the Trustees: Roy Sully

Overview

The Strand Parishes Trust was formed by merging four long-established charities from the ancient parishes of St Mary le Strand and St Clement Danes. Registered as a charity in November 2007 (charity number 1121754), the trust aims to distribute over £200,000 annually to support disadvantaged people in the City of Westminster. The trust's mission focuses on “relief of need and advancement in life through educational support” for those facing challenges such as poverty, ill-health, unemployment, or a lack of opportunity or education. The trust operates through grant-making to both individuals and community organizations, with grants paid through recognized sponsor organizations and third-party bodies rather than directly to individual applicants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Grants to Individuals (£50 - £500, averaging £250)

• One-off grants to assist disadvantaged Westminster residents
• Applications reviewed every six weeks
• Maximum of one grant per individual per 12-month period
• Applications must be submitted through sponsor organizations (Social Services, Citizens Advice Bureau, housing associations, or other recognized charities)

Grants to Organizations

• Awards grants to community organizations that assist disadvantaged residents of Westminster
• Application process for organizations can be made once per year
• Grant amounts for organizations not publicly specified

Priority Areas

The trust supports:

• Relief of poverty and financial hardship for residents or those employed in Westminster
• Education and training for advancement in life
• Support for people with disabilities (physical or mental)
• Young people under 25 resident in Westminster
• Religious activities furthering the work of the ecclesiastical parish of St Mary le Strand with St Clement Danes
• Elderly and old people
• Other charities or voluntary bodies serving Westminster

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals or organizations outside the London Borough of the City of Westminster (unless the individual works/has worked in the specified area)
• Needs normally funded by statutory sources
• Debt clearance
• Holidays abroad

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees

• Janet Audrey Crabtree - Appointed June 2022
• Professor Frank Keating - Appointed March 2021
• Rev Peter Gervase Babington - Appointed September 2020
• Charles Richard Spanton - Appointed July 2020
• Akua Nketiaa Kyei-Mensah - Appointed July 2020
• Christina Munday - Appointed March 2020
• Mary Foster - Appointed July 2018
• Julie Vanessa Thomas - Appointed July 2016
• Jane Marian Ker-Reid
• Peter Maplestone
• Margery Diana Roberts

Clerk to the Trustees: Roy Sully

Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Individuals: The Strand Parishes Trust does not accept applications directly from individuals. Applications must be submitted through recognized sponsor organizations such as:

• Social Services
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Charities
• Housing associations
• Other recognized third-party organizations

Sponsors should download the application form from the trust's website (www.strandparishestrust.org.uk) and complete it thoroughly, providing as much information as possible.

For Organizations: Only recognized third-party organizations (charities, housing associations, etc.) can apply. Organizations may apply once per year. Contact the trust directly for the organizational application process.

Decision Timeline

• Applications are considered every six weeks
• Applicants can expect a response within eight weeks
• The Clerk reviews completed applications and makes recommendations to the Trustees
• Trustees make the final decision on whether to award a grant

Payment Process

• Grants are paid to the sponsor organization, not directly to the individual
• Sponsors are responsible for ensuring appropriate use of the funds
• Alternatively, grants can be made payable to a retailer and sent to the sponsor

Reapplication Policy

For individuals: The trust will not normally consider more than one application for any given individual within a 12-month period.

For organizations: Applications can be made once per year.

Application Success Factors

Key Requirements for Individual Applications

1. Demonstrate genuine need: Applicants must be disadvantaged through physical or mental disability, or financial hardship
2. Establish local connection: Must be resident in or employed/formerly employed in the London Borough of Westminster
3. Work through appropriate sponsors: Applications must come from recognized organizations like Social Services or CAB
4. Show use of other services: Applicants should demonstrate they are taking advantage of all support offered by local services, including the referring organization
5. Provide comprehensive information: Sponsors are encouraged to complete application forms thoroughly with as much detail as possible
6. Avoid statutory overlap: Needs that would normally be funded by statutory sources are not supported

For Organizational Applications

1. Serve Westminster residents: Organizations must assist disadvantaged residents of the City of Westminster
2. Preference areas: Priority given to work in the parishes of St Clement Danes and St Mary le Strand
3. Target beneficiaries: Focus on people in financial need, those with disabilities, young people under 25, and elderly populations
4. Annual application cycle: Organizations should plan to apply once per year

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Indirect application only: This trust does not accept direct applications from individuals - you must work through an established sponsor organization (Social Services, Citizens Advice Bureau, housing associations, or recognized charities)
• Westminster focus is absolute: Geographic eligibility is strictly limited to the London Borough of Westminster for residents, or those employed/formerly employed in the area
• Modest grant amounts: Individual grants range from £50-£500, averaging £250, so this is best suited for immediate, practical needs rather than large projects
• Regular decision cycles: With applications reviewed every six weeks and responses within eight weeks, the trust offers relatively predictable timelines
• Emphasis on comprehensive applications: The trust explicitly encourages sponsors to provide thorough information - detailed applications are more likely to succeed
• Annual giving capacity: With over £200,000 distributed annually, the trust has meaningful capacity despite modest individual grant sizes
• Historic mission continuity: As a merger of four long-established parish charities, the trust maintains traditional charitable purposes including support for the ecclesiastical parishes

References

• Strand Parishes Trust official website: www.strandparishestrust.org.uk -
• Charity Commission Register: STRAND PARISHES TRUST (1121754) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1121754 -
• Individual Relief page: http://strandparishestrust.org.uk/individualrelief.html -
• Charity Commission Trustees page: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/sector-data/top-10-charities/-/charity-details/4035510/trustees -
• Turn2us Grants Search: Strand Parishes Trust information -