The Alan Edward Higgs Charity

Charity Number: 509367

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M
Geographic Focus: Warwickshire, Coventry City

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £372,461 (year ending April 2024)
  • Number of Grants: ~100 per year
  • Decision Time: Variable (trustees meet regularly)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £25,000+ (typical range)
  • Geographic Focus: Within 25 miles of Coventry city centre

Contact Details

Website: https://www.higgscharity.org.uk

Email: clerk@higgscharity.org.uk

Phone: 02476221311

Address: The Coventry Building Society Arena, Judd's Lane, Longford, Coventry CV6 6GE

Key Contact: Dr. Geoff Willcocks, Clerk to the Trustees

Overview

The Alan Edward Higgs Charity was established in 1979 following the death of Coventry businessman Alan Higgs, who left his entire estate of approximately £26 million to help deprived children. Motivated by his own childhood experiences of deprivation, Higgs believed that “a good start in life through access to opportunities is of more value than inherited wealth.” The charity now supports approximately 100 grants annually, with charitable expenditure of £372,461 in the year ending April 2024. The trustees prioritize strategic initiatives that create meaningful impact for disadvantaged young people, families, and communities experiencing resource deprivation within a 25-mile radius of Coventry, with particular focus on areas of multiple deprivation in postcodes CV1-6 and CV8-12.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: Rolling basis

  • Typical range: £1,000 - £25,000+
  • Supports refurbishment and re-equipping, some start-up salary costs, and some core costs
  • Applications screened by the Clerk; trustees meet regularly to make decisions
  • Large grants over £25,000 available for strategic initiatives
  • Applications can be made at any time

Alan Higgs Community Grants: Rolling basis (via Heart of England Community Foundation)

  • Maximum: £1,000
  • For small grassroots community-based organisations
  • Total project funding cannot exceed £2,000
  • Must be spent within 1 year
  • Priority given to organisations supporting children and young people
  • Available only in Coventry and Warwickshire

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • Young People: Supporting disadvantaged young people living at the margins of society, improving their skills, building confidence and resilience, and supporting transition into independence
  • Families & Children: Supporting family relationships and child development
  • Resource Deprivation: Addressing areas lacking core services like education, health, and support

Specific Areas of Interest:

  • Early years support
  • Family support programmes
  • Holiday programmes for disadvantaged children
  • Young Carers
  • Looked after children
  • Projects in areas of multiple deprivation (particularly postcodes CV1-6, CV8-12)

Strategic Initiatives: The charity supports large-scale projects affecting significant numbers of people, such as community facilities and regeneration projects.

What They Don't Fund

  • Applications from individuals
  • Statutory bodies and anything deemed the responsibility of the state
  • Nurseries, schools, and colleges
  • Hospitals and health authorities
  • Academic research, scholarships, or bursaries
  • Any organisation or project promoting religious belief or behaviour
  • Work outside the 25-mile beneficial area
  • Endowment appeals
  • Restoration and conservation of buildings (unless being repurposed for community use)
  • Retrospective funding (work already completed)
  • Round robin, widely circulated appeals
  • 100% funding requests (applicants must show other funding sources)
  • Core costs as a standalone request
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Alex Barrett (Chair): Senior communications specialist for a public service organization

Emily Barlow: Former Social Policy Manager at Princes Trust, Scotland

Rowley Higgs: Commercial lawyer and insurance company partner (family member)

Steve Cooke: Healthcare IT Project Consultant and school governor

Marilyn Knatchbull-Hugessen: Founder's daughter, former advertising professional and magistrate (family member)

Emma Bates: Voluntary sector programme manager

The board comprises both family members of Alan Higgs and independent trustees, all selected against pre-set criteria ensuring a mix of relevant experience and skill. The late Sir Derek Higgs, son of the founder, previously served as Chairman and contributed £1 million to the charity over his 20+ years of leadership.

Staff

Dr. Geoff Willcocks: Clerk to the Trustees (primary contact for grant applications)

Lesley Beadle: Finance Manager

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For grants over £1,000:

  1. Applications can be submitted at any time (rolling basis)
  2. Applications should be made in writing and include information requested on the website
  3. Initial contact is through the Clerk to the Trustees (clerk@higgscharity.org.uk)
  4. Important: For applications over £20,000, prior conversation with the Clerk is required
  5. Applications are screened by the Clerk to ensure alignment with charity objectives
  6. Trustees meet regularly to consider applications and make grants

For grants of £1,000 or below:

  • Apply through the Alan Higgs Community Grants programme via Heart of England Community Foundation

Decision Timeline

  • Trustees meet regularly throughout the year
  • Specific timeframes not published; varies by application size and complexity
  • The Clerk screens applications before presenting to trustees
  • Grants not taken up within 12 months will be withdrawn

Success Rates

Success rate data not publicly available. The charity makes approximately 100 grants per year. Due to the volume of applications, the charity is unable to enter into dialogue over unsuccessful or rejected grants.

Reapplication Policy

  • Successful grant recipients cannot apply again for one calendar year after receiving a grant
  • For annual applications, detailed evaluation of the previous year's work is required
  • The charity does not provide specific guidance on reapplication timelines for unsuccessful applicants

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from the Charity

The charity emphasizes the principle: “Measure and measure again before you cut” – careful preparation and planning are essential.

Key Success Factors

Demonstrate Clear Need:

  • Show evidence of beneficiary deprivation and disadvantage
  • Focus on high-deprivation areas (particularly postcodes CV1-6, CV8-12)
  • Explain the specific gap your project fills

Show Impact on Children and Young People:

  • Priority given to projects directly benefiting disadvantaged children and young people
  • Demonstrate how the project will improve beneficiaries' lives
  • Focus on building skills, confidence, resilience, and independence

Secure Match Funding:

  • Applications requesting 100% funding are not accepted
  • Demonstrate other funding sources or partnership contributions
  • Show financial sustainability beyond the grant period

Contact for Large Grants:

  • For applications over £20,000, have a prior conversation with the Clerk
  • This allows you to gauge interest and refine your approach before submitting

Focus on Practical Outcomes:

  • The charity supports refurbishment and re-equipping, start-up salary costs, and some core costs
  • Provide clear, measurable outcomes and evaluation plans
  • For repeat applications, show detailed evaluation of previous work

Examples of Funded Projects

Major Strategic Projects:

  • Alan Higgs Centre: £10 million sports and leisure facility for south Coventry
  • Music Coventry project: £500,000 for survey and design work to restore Drapers' Hall as a music venue for children and young people
  • 50 automatic external defibrillators placed across Coventry

Community Grants:

  • Young Minds Matter: £1,000 to fund a school mentor for three months supporting students with mental health issues

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic specificity matters: Ensure your project clearly serves beneficiaries within 25 miles of Coventry, with preference for high-deprivation postcodes CV1-6 and CV8-12.
  1. Children and young people are the priority: Projects directly supporting disadvantaged young people will be most competitive, particularly those building independence and resilience.
  1. Prepare thoroughly before applying: The charity values careful planning (“measure and measure again before you cut”). For grants over £20,000, contact the Clerk before submitting a formal application.
  1. Match funding is essential: The charity will not provide 100% of project costs. Demonstrate other funding sources or in-kind contributions.
  1. Small organisations should use the Community Grants route: For requests of £1,000 or below, apply through the Heart of England Community Foundation's Alan Higgs Community Grants programme rather than the main application process.
  1. Strategic vs. immediate impact: The charity funds both one-off grants to smaller organisations and large strategic initiatives affecting many people. Tailor your approach and ask accordingly.
  1. No dialogue on rejections: The charity cannot enter into discussion about unsuccessful applications, so ensure your first submission is thoroughly prepared and clearly aligned with their priorities.

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