Taunton Heritage Trust

Taunton Heritage Trust is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1177162).

Taunton Heritage Trust is a registered charity whose purpose is to provide relief in need for residents of its almshouses and other inhabitants of the Area of Benefit, by making grants of money for goods, services or facilities for individuals or other charities. It provides 67 self-contained flats in Taunton. Every year over 250 grants are awarded to individuals living in Taunton Deane, and it also grants to other charities, small organisations and students at schools in the Deane. It makes annual grants to Bishop Fox's School and, as part of the British School Fund, to other schools to further the education of children and young people, and its annual report shows £24,315 awarded in total, with no split between these programmes given.

Priority Areas

Taunton Heritage Trust makes grants to assist people living in Taunton Deane who are identified as in financial need, and also grants to other charities and small organisations. Its relief scheme supports items that people need but cannot afford, including furniture, clothing and equipment for a new baby, kitchen appliances, school uniform, disability aids and basic household items. The Trust also says it gives to students at schools in the Deane and makes annual school grants to further the education of children and young people. For relief-in-need applications, approved referral agencies apply on behalf of residents; the agency describes the family’s circumstances, need and expected benefit, and the Grants Panel must be satisfied that the request is for an essential need. Its stated objects also include supporting charities that assist local residents in financial need.

Themes

• Relief of financial hardship
• Education

Geographic Focus

Taunton Deane.

For the Relief in Need scheme, approved referral agencies registered with the Trust apply on behalf of residents in Taunton Deane; residents do not complete the form themselves.

Deadlines: By 5pm on the Thursday before the Grants Panel’s monthly meeting.

Who can apply:

• Grants to provide “relief in need”
  • Approved referral agencies registered with Taunton Heritage Trust (previously submitted grant applications) may apply on behalf of applicants, who must be living in Taunton Deane. Applicants must not complete the form.
  • All referral agencies must be registered with Taunton Heritage Trust prior to completing the online grants application form.

What to send:

• Grants to provide “relief in need”
  • Details of your organisation, the service that you provide and how you heard about Taunton Heritage Trust.
  • Details of the individual or family circumstances, the need and how the grant would benefit the applicant.
  • The applicant’s income and savings details.
  • Costs for all items and, where possible, a quote, except for white goods and furniture.
  • An explanation of how any balance would be met if the request is for a contribution towards an item.
  • For disability aids, home adaptations for disability or mobility scooters, details of applications made to other agencies or charities and any applicant savings.
  • The Data Protection Statement must be read by the applicant.

Applying again: Grants to provide “relief in need”: Persons living in Taunton Deane who are in conditions of need, hardship, or distress and who have not had an application submitted on their behalf in the previous 12 months (unless the grant is for school uniform, when the Trust will consider a second grant).

What the charity says:

• The panel must be satisfied that the request is for an essential need.
• Applications are considered on the total monthly household income.
• Laptop or PC requests are considered only in exceptional circumstances, which should be clearly explained on the form.