The Amateurs Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £644,531 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: Luton, Bedfordshire, north Hertfordshire, Dorset, and overseas projects via UK charities

Contact Details

Address: 53 Bowbrookvale, Luton LU2 8SY

Phone: 020 7318 0845

Email: Not available

Website: No public website

Note: No website or email contact is publicly listed. Contact must be made by telephone.

Overview

The Amateurs Trust was established in 1999 through a bequest of over £9 million from businessman Ian Hutcheon. The trust is governed by a Declaration of Trust dated 30 June 1999, as amended by Deed dated 14 November 2011. As of the financial year ending 5 April 2024, the trust reported total income of £271,138 and total expenditure of £644,531, indicating active grant-making from reserves. The trust operates with four trustees who receive no remuneration. The trust's mission focuses on advancing education, relieving poverty and hardship, and supporting health-related causes, with a particular emphasis on specific regions in the UK and overseas projects managed by registered UK charities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates as a grant-making organization without publicly advertised grant programs or application deadlines. Based on Charity Commission records, the trust makes grants across the following areas:

• General charitable purposes
• Education and training
• Advancement of health or saving of lives
• Disability support
• Prevention or relief of poverty
• Economic, community development, and employment

Priority Areas

Geographic Focus:

• Luton, Bedfordshire
• North Hertfordshire
• Dorset
• Overseas projects run or overseen by registered UK charities (particularly in India and China based on historical grants)

Thematic Areas:

• Health, education, and relief of hardship
• Research, support, or care for public benefit
• Educational advancement (including knowledge of historical, artistic, geographical, and scientific matters)
• Bursaries and scholarships
• Relief for the elderly, sick, or disabled
• Protection and preservation of public health

Target Beneficiaries

• Children and young people
• Elderly people
• People with disabilities
• Other charities or voluntary bodies
• The general public

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented. Given the absence of a website or published guidelines, potential applicants should inquire directly.

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by four trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits. The trust was originally established by Ian Hutcheon with the intention of promoting education and supporting deserving recipients. According to the governing documents, the trust underwent governance changes in 2011 when the original trust deed was amended.

Governing Document: Declaration of Trust dated 30/06/1999 as amended by Deed dated 14/11/2011

Employee Information: The trust reports no employees with total benefits over £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Amateurs Trust does not maintain a public website or published application guidelines. Potential applicants must contact the trust directly by telephone at 020 7318 0845 to inquire about:

• Application procedures
• Eligibility requirements
• Documentation needed
• Grant amounts available
• Application deadlines (if any)

Given the absence of online application systems or published guidance, the trust likely operates through direct contact and personal relationships.

Decision Timeline

No information is publicly available regarding typical decision timelines.

Success Rates

No information is publicly available regarding application volumes or success rates.

Reapplication Policy

No information is publicly available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Due to limited publicly available information about successful grants and application processes, specific success factors are difficult to determine. However, based on the trust's stated priorities, the following factors are likely important:

Alignment with Geographic Focus: Projects based in or directly benefiting communities in Luton, Bedfordshire, north Hertfordshire, or Dorset appear to be priorities.

Clear Educational or Health Benefit: The trust's governing documents emphasize education and health, particularly projects that increase public knowledge or provide relief to vulnerable populations.

Registered Charity Status: For overseas projects, the trust specifically supports work “run or overseen by registered UK charities,” suggesting UK charity registration may be essential for international work.

Demonstrated Need: Given the trust's focus on “relief of hardship” and support for vulnerable populations, demonstrating genuine need and impact would likely be important.

Personal Contact: Without an online application system, building a relationship through initial telephone contact may be crucial to understanding the trust's current priorities and application expectations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This trust does not have a website or published guidelines; all inquiries must be made by telephone at 020 7318 0845.

• Geographic restrictions apply: Priority is given to projects in Luton, Bedfordshire, north Hertfordshire, and Dorset, though the trust does support some overseas projects through UK registered charities.

• Significant grant-making capacity: With annual expenditure of £644,531, the trust has substantial resources, though individual grant ranges are not published.

• Focus on education and hardship relief: Projects should align with advancing education, relieving poverty/hardship, or supporting health causes.

• No online presence: The absence of a website suggests the trust operates through personal relationships and direct contact rather than open application rounds.

• Limited transparency: Potential applicants should be prepared for limited public information and should ask detailed questions during initial contact.

• Historical international focus: Past grants have included projects in China and India, though these must be managed by UK registered charities.

References

• UK Charity Commission Register, THE AMATEURS TRUST - Charity Number 1076369. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3963745 []

• Charity Commission Financial Data for year ending 5 April 2024: Total Income £271,138, Total Expenditure £644,531

• Declaration of Trust dated 30/06/1999 as amended by Deed dated 14/11/2011 (referenced in Charity Commission records)

• Charity Choice Directory, Amateurs Trust entry. Available at: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-amateurs-trust-71566 []

• TotalGiving, The Amateurs Trust. Available at: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/the-amateurs-trust []