The Albert Hunt Trust

Charity Number: 1180640

Annual Expenditure: £7.9M
Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website: www.alberthunttrust.org.uk

Phone: 0330 113 7280

Email: info@alberthunttrust.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £7,241,600 (2022-23)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £40,000
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom-wide

Contact Details

Website: www.alberthunttrust.org.uk

Email: info@alberthunttrust.org.uk

Phone: 0330 113 7280

Operations Manager: Jane Deller Ray (Available Tuesday-Friday)

The Trust encourages potential applicants to contact them to discuss applications before submitting, particularly for health and wellbeing category applications.

Overview

The Albert Hunt Trust was established on 12 January 1979 by Miss Mary Kathleen Coyle and Miss Florence I Reakes, named after Albert Hunt, a successful businessman who died in 1957. Since its founding, the Trust has distributed more than £40 million in grants to UK charities. In 2018, the Trust converted from a traditional Charitable Trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). In a landmark strategic decision in 2023, the trustees announced plans to fully spend down the Trust's remaining assets (approximately £50 million) by January 2029, coinciding with its 50th anniversary. This “spend down” strategy significantly increased annual giving from £1.46 million in 2022 to £7.24 million in 2023. Chair of Trustees Breda McGuire explained that "adopting a spend down strategy will focus the trustees to utilise the resources of the Trust in a targeted way to achieve the Trust's objectives at a time of unparalleled need."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust provides three tiers of revenue funding (core or project-specific) through a rolling monthly application process:

  • Hospice Care (main priority): £20,000 - £40,000
  • Homelessness Support: £5,000 - £10,000
  • Health and Wellbeing: £1,000 - £5,000

Applications are accepted via an online application form on a rolling basis, with monthly submission deadlines on the last working day of each month.

Priority Areas

Hospice Care (primary focus): Core funding support for UK hospices providing palliative and end-of-life care services.

Homelessness Support: Services for people experiencing homelessness. Eligible charities must have annual income under £500,000. The Trust awarded nearly £100,000 to seven homelessness charities in recent funding to help develop service delivery plans.

Health and Wellbeing: From October 2024, priority is given to services supporting children and young adults up to age 25. Adult mental health organizations are no longer prioritized. Eligible charities must have annual income under £250,000. Applicants should contact the Trust before applying to confirm eligibility.

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital projects (only revenue funding is available)
  • Non-charitable organizations (CICs, Companies Limited by Guarantee, Companies Limited by Shares)
  • Organizations not registered with UK charity regulators (Charity Commission for England and Wales, Scottish Charity Register, or Charity Commission for Northern Ireland)
  • Adult mental health services (as of October 2024)
  • Multi-year funding commitments

Governance and Leadership

Chair of Trustees: Breda McGuire - Appointed 1997. Retired Registered Nurse in Community Health. Related to one of the two settlors. Led the decision to adopt the spend-down strategy.

Trustees:

  • Steve Harvey - Appointed 2015. Previously Senior Manager at Coutts and Co Trust team. Retired September 2015.
  • Ian Fleming - Appointed 2017. Over 40 years in private banking. Formerly Head of Charity Investment at Coutts and Co.
  • Kate McGuire - Appointed 2020. HR consultant with 18 years of industry experience. Related to one of the two settlors.

Operations Manager: Jane Deller Ray - Appointed 2019. Previously worked at Coutts and Co as a Trust Associate. Primary contact for application inquiries.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through an online application form available on the Trust's website. The application process is described as straightforward and includes:

  • Organization summary
  • Funding details and purpose
  • Web address/social media link
  • Recent signed bank statement

The Trust accepts applications from young or small organizations without audited accounts.

Decision Timeline

  • Submission deadline: Last working day of each month
  • Trustee review: By end of the following month
  • Notification: Successful applicants notified with donation within 2-3 weeks after trustee review (total approximately 6-8 weeks)
  • Unsuccessful applicants are also notified

Success Rates

The Trust awarded 1,030 grants in 2022-23, compared to 1,250 grants in 2021-22. Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. The significant increase in total funding (from £1.46m to £7.24m) suggests the Trust is prioritizing larger grants to fewer organizations as part of its spend-down strategy.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants can reapply one year from the date of their last application submission. Organizations that have received a grant can also apply again after one year. However, before reapplying, applicants are strongly advised to contact the Trust to check they meet current funding criteria, as priorities may evolve during the spend-down period toward 2029.

Application Success Factors

Pre-Application Contact: The Trust explicitly encourages potential applicants to make contact before applying, particularly for health and wellbeing applications. This helps ensure alignment with current priorities and avoids wasted effort.

Organizational Size: The Trust targets smaller organizations with income restrictions (under £500,000 for homelessness charities, under £250,000 for health and wellbeing), suggesting they want to support charities where their funding will have significant impact.

Focus on Core/Unrestricted Funding: The Trust provides core funding for general operating costs, not just project-specific costs, recognizing the importance of organizational sustainability.

Clear Communication: The straightforward application process and responsive staff suggest they value clear, honest communication about needs and impact.

No Formal Reporting Requirements: Generally no formal reporting is required, indicating the Trust values efficiency and trust over bureaucratic oversight.

Supporting Smaller/Younger Charities: Willingness to accept applications without audited accounts shows commitment to supporting emerging organizations.

Emphasis on Direct Service Delivery: Recent grants to homelessness charities for “service delivery plans” suggest they want to fund operational capacity, not just programs.

Recent Priority Shift: From October 2024, the health and wellbeing category prioritizes children and young adults up to age 25, indicating strategic focus on early intervention and long-term impact before closure.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Time-sensitive opportunity: With closure planned for 2029 and significant assets to distribute (£50m), this is a unique window for larger grants than historically available
  • Pre-application engagement is welcomed: Don't hesitate to contact Jane Deller Ray before applying, especially for health and wellbeing category
  • Size matters: If your annual income exceeds thresholds (£500k for homelessness, £250k for health/wellbeing), you're ineligible—check before investing time
  • Hospice care is the golden ticket: This is their main priority area with grant amounts up to £40,000, double the amounts in other categories
  • Core funding availability: Unlike many trusts, they explicitly support unrestricted/core funding, so articulate organizational sustainability needs
  • Rolling deadlines reduce pressure: Monthly cut-offs mean if you miss one deadline, the next opportunity is just weeks away
  • One-year reapplication cycle: Plan accordingly if unsuccessful—you can try again in 12 months after checking evolving criteria
  • Revenue only, no capital: Don't apply for building projects, equipment purchases, or other capital expenses—they will be automatically declined

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References