The A And J Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £638,980 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
• Decision Time: Not applicable - trustee discretion
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England & Wales (presumed)
• Application Method: No public application process - invitation only/trustee discretion

Contact Details

Registered Address:

Via Dixon Wilson Chartered Accountants, London

Note: This trust does not operate a public website or provide direct contact information for grant applications.

Overview

The A and J Charitable Trust was registered in 1996 and has operated under three names: originally as The Minster Trust, then KPR Charitable Trust, and currently as The A and J Charitable Trust. With annual grant-making of approximately £639,000 (as of April 2024) and income of £838,000, this is a moderately sized discretionary trust. The trust operates with extremely broad charitable objectives, giving trustees complete discretion to support “such charitable purposes or charitable institutions as the trustees in their absolute discretion think fit.” The trust is administered through Dixon Wilson Chartered Accountants, a leading London-based firm specializing in charity administration. The trust has demonstrated consistent financial activity with significant income primarily from donations and legacies. With three trustees and no employees, this is a lean operation focused solely on grant-making rather than operational activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

This trust does not operate structured grant programs. All grants are made at the complete discretion of the trustees.

Priority Areas

The charitable objects are intentionally broad: “to benefit such charitable purposes or charitable institutions as the trustees in their absolute discretion think fit.” No specific priority areas are publicly disclosed. The Charity Commission register indicates the trust's beneficiaries may include:

• Children and young people
• Other charities or voluntary bodies
• Other defined groups
• The general public/mankind

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly disclosed. Given the discretionary nature of the trust, funding decisions are made entirely by trustees on a case-by-case basis.

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees (as of 2024):

• Sir Alan Parker (Chair) - Founder and Chairman of Brunswick Group, knighted in 2014 for services to business, charitable giving and philanthropy. Previously served as Chair of Save the Children International (2016-2018) and Save the Children UK (2008-2015). Also chaired The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conferences.
• Graham Leonard Chambers (appointed 2022)
• One additional trustee (name not publicly available)

Key Features:

• No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity
• No employees
• No trading subsidiaries
• Administered by Dixon Wilson Chartered Accountants

How to Apply to The A And J Charitable Trust

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process. The charitable objects specify that grants are made to institutions “as the trustees in their absolute discretion think fit,” indicating that:

• Grants are awarded through trustee initiative and discretion
• Applications are by invitation only or through pre-existing relationships
• There is no application portal, form, or guidelines
• Unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without a formal application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable.

Application Success Factors

Given that this trust operates without a public application process, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, understanding what characterizes the trust may provide insight:

Discretionary Operation: The trust deed explicitly grants trustees “absolute discretion” in selecting beneficiaries, suggesting they may:

• Identify causes and organizations through their own research and networks
• Respond to specific needs they become aware of through their professional or personal connections
• Support organizations known to trustees through board memberships or advisory roles

Trustee Profile: With Sir Alan Parker's extensive background in high-profile international charities (particularly Save the Children) and corporate advisory work through Brunswick Group, the trust may gravitate toward:

• Established charitable institutions with strong governance
• Organizations working with children and young people
• Causes connected to trustees' professional networks

Financial Pattern: The trust maintains healthy reserves while making substantial annual grants, suggesting a long-term strategic approach rather than reactive grant-making.

No Public Presence: Unlike many trusts of similar size, this trust maintains no website, no published guidelines, and no public list of beneficiaries, confirming its private, discretionary nature.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not an accessible funder for unsolicited applications - the trust operates entirely on trustee discretion without a public application process
• Trustee connections are essential - grants appear to be made through trustees' own research, networks, and initiatives rather than in response to applications
• No transparency on beneficiaries - the trust does not publish information about who it funds or typical grant sizes
• Professionally administered - the involvement of Dixon Wilson Chartered Accountants suggests proper governance and compliance, but not public accessibility
• Consider this a “closed” funder - organizations should not invest time attempting to apply unless they have direct trustee connections
• Financial stability - with consistent income and reserves, the trust appears committed to long-term grant-making, but access remains restricted to trustee discretion
• Focus elsewhere - grant writers would be better served focusing efforts on funders with public application processes

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Mcgreevy No 5 Settlement
• The George Cadbury Trust (george Henry T And Laurence J Cadbury Sections)
• Nineteen Eighty Nine Charitable Trust
• The Richard Harris Charitable Trust
• The Hugonin Family Trust
• Audrey Earle Charitable Trust
• The J And H Orlander Trust
• Outhwaite Charitable Trust
• The Rowse Family Trust
• The Harris Family Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - The A and J Charitable Trust (1058058): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1058058
• Charity Commission Register - Full Print View
• Dixon Wilson Chartered Accountants - Charities Services: https://dixonwilson.com/sectors/charities
• Brunswick Group - Sir Alan Parker Profile: https://www.brunswickgroup.com/alan-parker-i1453/
• Force for Good - Sir Alan Parker Advisory Council profile: https://www.forcegood.org/team/sir-alan-parker