The Alison Hillman Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £302,600 (charitable activities, year ending April 2024)
• Total Income: £550,369 (year ending April 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Application Method: Not publicly available - appears to be a private trust

Contact Details

Address: 153A Metchley Lane, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 0JL

Phone: 0121 428 1666

Email: Not publicly available

Website: None identified

Note: No public application portal or pre-application guidance has been identified. This appears to be a private charitable trust.

Overview

The Alison Hillman Charitable Trust was registered with the Charity Commission on 16 September 1994 (Charity Number 1040855). With an annual income of approximately £550,000 and charitable expenditure of over £300,000, the trust is a grant-making foundation that focuses primarily on epilepsy-related causes. The trust operates throughout England and Wales, making grants to organisations rather than individuals. The trust maintains a low public profile with no identified website or published grant guidelines. Two of the three trustees (Andrew Fisher and Ian George Humphrey) also serve as trustees for The Anne and John Walters Charitable Trust (Charity Number 1040859), which has identical charitable objectives, suggesting these may be related family trusts operating in coordination.

Funding Priorities

Primary Focus Areas

Epilepsy Research and Support

• Research into the causes, prevention and treatment of epilepsy
• Alleviation of suffering from epilepsy
• Care, treatment and support for people with epilepsy and their families

Other Local Charitable Purposes

• The trust's objects include “such other local charitable purposes as the trustees determine”
• Evidence suggests support has been provided to arts organisations (reference to Armonico Consort listing the trust as a supporter)
• Geographic focus on local (Birmingham/West Midlands region) causes

Grant-Making Approach

The trust operates as a grant-making foundation, providing donations to organisations and other charities rather than making grants to individuals. Based on financial filings, charitable activities expenditure was £302,600 in the year ending April 2024, indicating active grant-making.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the trust's charitable objects indicate it does not fund:

• Grants to individuals (only to organisations)
• Causes outside England and Wales
• Activities unrelated to epilepsy support/research or local charitable purposes

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits:

1. Andrew Fisher - Also serves as trustee for The Anne and John Walters Charitable Trust
2. Ian George Humphrey - Also serves as trustee for The Anne and John Walters Charitable Trust
3. Clare Wishart

The overlap in trustees between The Alison Hillman Charitable Trust and The Anne and John Walters Charitable Trust (both registered in 1994 with identical charitable objects focused on epilepsy) suggests these are coordinated family trusts, possibly established by related families or in memory of specific individuals.

Staffing

The trust has no employees earning over £60,000 and operates without trading subsidiaries, indicating a lean operational structure typical of family-run grant-making trusts.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: No public application process has been identified for this trust. The trust appears to operate as a private charitable foundation where trustees proactively identify and support organisations aligned with their charitable objectives.

There is no evidence of:

• An online application portal
• Published application guidelines
• Expression of interest forms
• Specified application deadlines

Organisations interested in support may consider:

• Direct written approach to the trustees at the Birmingham address
• Telephone inquiry to 0121 428 1666 to determine if unsolicited applications are considered
• Networking through existing grant recipients if known

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Without information about the number of applications received versus grants awarded, no success rate can be determined.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information, the following insights may be relevant for organisations considering an approach:

Alignment with Epilepsy Mission

• Strong preference for organisations working in epilepsy research, prevention, treatment, or support
• Projects that directly alleviate suffering or provide care for people with epilepsy and their families
• Research initiatives into causes, prevention, and treatment of epilepsy

Local Connection

• The trust includes “local charitable purposes” in its objects and is based in Birmingham
• West Midlands-based organisations may receive particular consideration
• National organisations with local impact in the Birmingham/West Midlands area could be relevant

Organisational Track Record

• As a grant-making trust supporting organisations (not individuals), established charities with clear governance structures are likely preferred
• Evidence of effective use of funds and measurable impact would be important

Discrete Funding Needs

• Without known grant ranges, organisations might consider project-specific funding requests rather than general operating costs
• Clear articulation of how funds will be used and impact measured

Trustee Discretion

• With broad objects including “such other local charitable purposes as the trustees determine,” the trustees have significant discretion
• Personal connections or prior awareness of the organisation may influence funding decisions
• The trust has demonstrated support beyond epilepsy (e.g., arts organisation Armonico Consort), suggesting trustees exercise their discretionary powers

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Private Trust Model: This appears to be a private family trust without a public application process; proactive trustee selection of beneficiaries is likely the primary grant-making model

• Epilepsy Focus is Central: While trustees have discretion for other local causes, the core mission centers on epilepsy research and support; strongest alignment is essential

• Local Birmingham Connection Matters: Based in Birmingham with “local charitable purposes” in the objects, geographic proximity or local impact may be advantageous

• Limited Public Information: The absence of website, published guidelines, or grant recipient lists suggests a deliberately low-profile operation; research into the trustees' interests and connections may be valuable

• Related Trust Network: The trustee overlap with The Anne and John Walters Charitable Trust suggests coordinated philanthropic activity; organisations funded by one trust might approach the other

• Significant Grant-Making Capacity: With over £300,000 in annual charitable expenditure, this is not a small trust; substantial grant awards are possible

• Direct Approach May Be Necessary: In the absence of formal application processes, a well-crafted letter to the trustees explaining the organisation's work, alignment with trust objectives, and specific funding need may be the best approach

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - THE ALISON HILLMAN CHARITABLE TRUST, Charity Number 1040855. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1040855&subid=0 [Accessed: 12 November 2025]

1. Charity Commission Register - Trustees of THE ALISON HILLMAN CHARITABLE TRUST. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1040855/trustees [Accessed: 12 November 2025]

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - THE ANNE AND JOHN WALTERS CHARITABLE TRUST, Charity Number 1040859. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1040859&subid=0 [Accessed: 12 November 2025]

1. Financial information based on accounts filed with the Charity Commission for the year ending 5 April 2024