Tarn Moor Estate

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £138,590 (expenditure for year ending 31 March 2025)
• Grant Range: Capital grants of all sizes; revenue grants for educational purposes
• Geographic Focus: Skipton Parish, North Yorkshire
• Application Method: Yorkshire Common Application Form (YCAF)
• Decision Schedule: Quarterly trustee meetings

Contact Details

Address: 17 Albert Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 1JX

Phone: 01943 885391

Email: tarnmoorclerk@gmail.com

Website: https://www.tarnmoor.co.uk

Clerk to the Trustees: Mrs N Lyon

Overview

The Tarn Moor Estate (Charity No. 1078472) is a historic grant-making charity established under the Enclosure Act 1767, originally supporting the Poor of Skipton. Today, it operates for the general benefit of inhabitants of Skipton Parish, North Yorkshire. The charity manages 265 acres of land (largely grassland with some woodland) to the north and west of Skipton, plus commercial properties within the town itself. With an annual income of approximately £164,056 and expenditure of £138,590 (year ending 31 March 2025), the Estate makes charitable donations for capital works and educational purposes exclusively benefiting Skipton residents. Skipton Town Council acts as Custodian Trustee for the land, with management undertaken by seven managing trustees. The charity participates in the Yorkshire Common Application Form initiative to simplify the application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Capital Grants

• Available for all sizes of capital projects
• Must benefit Skipton residents within the parish boundary
• Application via Yorkshire Common Application Form (YCAF)

Revenue Grants for Educational Purposes

• Available for educational initiatives
• Must benefit Skipton residents within the parish boundary
• Application via YCAF

Note: Individual and student grants are currently suspended (as of 2022).

Recent Funded Projects

• Skipton Camerata: Concerts targeted at young people
• Local Nursery: Funding to support Skipton-based nursery operations
• Skipton Cricket Club: Support for local sports groups
• Skipton Bowling Club: Support for local sports groups
• Sandyland Sports Centre: Substantial grant for all-weather pitch resurfacing
• Carers Resource: Financial support for new Skipton offices

Priority Areas

• Capital works for community benefit
• Educational purposes and opportunities
• Sports and recreation facilities
• Cultural activities for young people
• Support for vulnerable families (through partnerships with Sylvester Petyt Trust and Carers Resource)

What They Don't Fund

• Applications that do not benefit Skipton residents within the parish boundary
• Individual grants (currently suspended)
• Student grants (currently suspended)
• Projects outside Skipton Parish

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee Structure

The charity is managed by seven managing trustees:

• Two nominated by Skipton Town Council
• Five co-opted trustees serving in their own right

Current Trustees

• Tony Barrett
• Charles Burton
• Peter Madeley
• Ruksana Mahmood
• Karen McIntyre
• Jane Carol Markham (also listed in Charity Commission records)

Governance Features: The charity maintains documented policies covering conflicts of interest, financial reserves, risk management, and investment procedures. No trustees receive remuneration or benefits. The charity employs no staff earning over £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Tarn Moor Estate participates in the Yorkshire Common Application Form (YCAF) initiative, which standardizes funding questions across local funding bodies in Yorkshire. The YCAF is recommended for grants in the region of £5,000 or less, though the Estate accepts applications for capital grants of all sizes.

Required Documents:

• Grant Application Form (Common) - available on the Tarn Moor Estate website
• Grant Application Form (Common) Guidance Notes - available on the website

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applications must be from organizations or groups (not individuals)
• Proposals must benefit Skipton residents within the parish boundary
• Can apply for capital grants of any size or revenue grants for educational purposes

Contact for Enquiries: tarnmoorclerk@gmail.com

Decision Timeline

The board of trustees meets normally on a quarterly basis, when grant applications are considered. Specific meeting dates and notification methods are not published on the website. Applicants should contact the Clerk to the Trustees for information about upcoming meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Specific success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not published. Unsuccessful applicants should contact the Clerk to the Trustees for guidance on whether and when to reapply.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Specificity is Critical: The charity's charitable objectives explicitly limit funding to “the general benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit” within the Parish of Skipton. Applications must clearly demonstrate how Skipton residents within the parish boundary will benefit.

Capital Projects Welcome at Any Scale: Unlike many funders that set minimum or maximum grant amounts, Tarn Moor Estate explicitly states it accepts “capital grants of all sizes.” This suggests both small community improvements and substantial infrastructure projects are considered on merit.

Educational Purpose for Revenue Funding: Revenue grants are specifically designated for educational purposes. Applications for ongoing costs should frame their work within an educational context to align with the Estate's objectives.

Community Facilities and Youth Focus: Recent grants demonstrate support for community infrastructure (sports facilities), cultural activities for young people (Skipton Camerata), and support services (Carers Resource). Projects serving these areas appear well-aligned with trustee priorities.

YCAF Simplification: By participating in the Yorkshire Common Application Form initiative, the Estate has committed to standardized, simplified application processes. Applicants should use the common form and guidance notes provided rather than creating custom proposals.

Partnership Approach: The Estate's collaboration with Sylvester Petyt Trust and Carers Resource suggests they value partnership working and coordinated support for vulnerable families and educational opportunities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable: Only applications benefiting Skipton Parish residents will be considered—verify your beneficiaries fall within the parish boundary before applying
• Use the YCAF: The charity has committed to this standardized form to make applications easier and more consistent—use the templates provided on their website
• No size restrictions on capital grants: Don't self-exclude based on project size; the Estate explicitly welcomes capital applications of all sizes
• Quarterly decision cycle: Plan your application timeline around the quarterly trustee meetings—contact the Clerk for specific meeting dates
• Educational framing for revenue costs: If seeking revenue funding, clearly articulate the educational purpose and outcomes
• Community infrastructure and youth activities are priorities: Recent grants show strong support for sports facilities, cultural programs for young people, and community services
• Direct contact encouraged: With no published deadlines or detailed guidelines, contacting tarnmoorclerk@gmail.com for specific guidance is advisable

References

• Tarn Moor Estate - Grants & Applications -
• Charity Commission Register - TARN MOOR ESTATE (1078472) -
• Tarn Moor Estate - The Trustees -
• Tarn Moor Estate - Welcome Page -
• Yorkshire Funders - YCAF Initiative -
• Skipton Town Council - Tarn Moor Estate -