The Areti Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £140,752 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed twice yearly
• Grant Range: £150 - £26,000
• Geographic Focus: Lancaster City Council area (North West England)

Contact Details

Website: https://thearetitrust.com

Email: gary.rycroft@jajsolicitors.co.uk

Phone: 01524 63371

Clerk to the Trustees: Gary Rycroft, Joseph A Jones & Co Solicitors, 6 Fenton Street, Lancaster LA1 1TE

Overview

The Areti Charitable Trust was registered on 8 November 2017 (Charity Number 1175627) to support disadvantaged children and young people in the Lancaster City Council area. With an annual income of approximately £149,076 and total expenditure of £140,752 (2024), the trust makes grants to provide opportunities for young people from challenging social and economic backgrounds to experience and learn about the natural world. The trust is overseen by 2 trustees who receive no remuneration. Recent strategic shifts show the trustees are directing the majority of funding toward nature-based activities that raise awareness of environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change, while remaining open to traditional outdoor activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a twice-yearly grant cycle with applications reviewed in:

• Summer Round: Deadline 30 June
• Winter Round: Deadline 31 December

Applications are submitted via downloadable forms (organization, school, or individual) available on their website.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Nature-based activities that raise awareness of environmental challenges (biodiversity loss, climate change)
• Structured outdoor activities connecting young people with the natural world
• Educational residential courses and outdoor experiences
• Forest school programs and wildlife education
• Creation, expansion, or maintenance of natural environments with clear youth benefits

Eligible Activities:

• Outdoor residential trips and courses
• Visits to nature reserves and wildlife sites
• Environmental education programs
• Outdoor bereavement therapy for young people
• Summer holiday activities focused on nature and environment
• School-based wildlife and rewilding projects

Recent Grant Examples (2024-2025):

• £26,000 to ReWilding Roots for school wildlife projects
• £24,000 to “Where the Wildings Are!” for school food and wildlife activities
• £17,931.59 to Larksfoot CIC for forest school holiday programs
• £15,000 to Escape2Make for Big Green Festival
• £14,908 to Morecambe Bay Partnership for school visits to Arnside/Silverdale area sites
• £10,450 to Morecambe Bay Partnership for teacher environmental education
• £6,560 to St John's Hospice for Outdoor Bereavement Therapy for young people
• £5,000 to Lancashire Boys and Girls Club for summer activities
• £4,680 to Sandylands Primary School for Lake District residential trip
• £1,805 to Skerton Community Association for outdoor residential course
• £734.80 to St Mary's Primary School for Martin Mere visit
• £150 to Yealand Primary School towards forest school site

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the trust's focus is clearly defined:

• Activities must benefit young people aged 18 or under (or 18-year-olds in full-time education)
• Beneficiaries must live in Lancaster City Council area
• Activities should connect to the natural world and outdoor experiences
• Preference given to activities in the North West of England

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by 2 trustees who receive no remuneration or payments from the charity.

Administrative Contact: Gary Rycroft serves as Clerk to the Trustees and is a Senior Partner at Joseph A Jones & Co Solicitors in Lancaster.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Organization grant application
• School grant application
• Personal grant application (for individual young people)

1. Download from: https://thearetitrust.com/how-to/

• 30 June (for summer round)
• 31 December (for winter round)

1. Contact for assistance: Gary Rycroft at gary.rycroft@jajsolicitors.co.uk or 01524 63371

Eligibility Requirements

Age: Young people aged 18 or under; 18-year-olds in full-time education also eligible

Geography: Young people must live in Lancaster City Council area; activities preferably in North West England

Who Can Apply:

• Organizations, schools, or groups providing structured activities aligned with trust objectives
• Individual young people wishing to participate in group activities
• Organizations whose members aren't generally disadvantaged may apply on behalf of individual members from disadvantaged backgrounds

Decision Timeline

The trustees meet twice yearly to review applications:

• Applications submitted by 30 June are reviewed in summer
• Applications submitted by 31 December are reviewed in winter
• Grants are typically announced within 1-2 months of the deadline

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the trust distributes approximately £140,000 annually across multiple grants ranging from £150 to £26,000, suggesting they support numerous projects each year.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are mentioned. The trust has demonstrated willingness to fund organizations multiple years (e.g., “second year of funding” noted for Arnside & Silverdale AONB in 2023).

Application Success Factors

Strategic Priorities

The trust explicitly states: "The Trustees' are receiving an increasing number of applications for activities based in nature and in the local landscape that raise awareness of environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change and are minded to direct the major part of the Trust's income to this kind of project, but are still willing to consider more traditional outdoor activities."

Key Success Factors:

1. Environmental Focus: Applications that explicitly address biodiversity loss and climate change awareness appear most competitive. Projects like ReWilding Roots (£26,000) and “Where the Wildings Are!” (£24,000) received substantial funding.

1. Clear Youth Impact: Demonstrate how disadvantaged young people from Lancaster City Council area will benefit. The trust funded 875 schoolchildren from 12 local primary schools to visit RSPB Leighton Moss between June 2021 and March 2022.

1. Structured Activities: The trust emphasizes “organised activity” and “structured activities” - showing clear planning and educational outcomes strengthens applications.

1. Range of Grant Sizes: The trust funds everything from small school visits (£150 for forest school site enhancement) to major programs (£26,000 for rewilding projects), so don't be deterred by project size.

1. Partnerships and Proven Track Record: Organizations like Morecambe Bay Partnership and Lancashire Boys & Girls Club have received multiple grants, suggesting the trust values proven delivery.

1. Natural Environment Creation: The trustees explicitly welcome applications for “creation, expansion or maintenance of natural environments where there is a clear benefit to young people.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Emphasize environmental challenges: Frame your project around biodiversity loss and climate change awareness to align with current trustee priorities
• Be geographically specific: Clearly demonstrate how you serve young people from Lancaster City Council area and preferably deliver activities in North West England
• Document disadvantage: Explicitly explain how you identify and reach young people from challenging social and economic backgrounds
• Show structured outcomes: The trust values organized, educational activities with clear learning objectives - not just recreational outings
• Consider all grant sizes: Don't hesitate to apply for small amounts (£150+) or larger projects (£20,000+) - the trust funds across the spectrum
• Apply early: With only two deadlines per year, plan ahead to meet 30 June or 31 December submission dates
• Seek guidance if unsure: Contact Gary Rycroft for assistance completing application forms - they offer pre-application support

References

• The Areti Charitable Trust official website: https://thearetitrust.com
• Application Guidelines: https://thearetitrust.com/how-to/
• Charitable Objects: https://thearetitrust.com/the-trusts-charitable-objects/
• Grants Archive: https://thearetitrust.com/category/grants/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5103717
• “Grants awarded summer 2024”: https://thearetitrust.com/2024/08/22/grants-awarded-summer-2024/