The Ashworth Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £209,241 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not disclosed (very competitive - 52 grants from many applications)
• Decision Time: 3-4 months from deadline to decision; 6 weeks after trustee meetings
• Grant Range: £3,000 - £5,000 (occasionally lower or higher)
• Geographic Focus: UK and international humanitarian projects
• Eligibility: UK registered charities with annual turnover under £500,000

Contact Details

Website: www.ashworthtrust.org

Email: shiggins@vwv.co.uk

Phone: 0121 2273720

Address: Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP, Second Floor, 3 Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2JB

Overview

The Ashworth Charitable Trust (registered charity number 1045492) is a small grant-making charity created primarily to support humanitarian causes operating locally, nationally, and internationally. The Trust distributed 52 grants totalling £209,241 during the year ended 5th April 2023, compared to 49 grants totalling £167,274 in 2022. Most grants range between £3,000 and £5,000, with occasional lower and higher awards.

The Trust operates with five trustees who meet biannually and receive no remuneration. With total income of £199,754 for the year ending April 2024, the Trust prioritizes smaller charities where their grant can make a proportionally significant difference. Their work is guided by the principle that “all people everywhere should be able to share the fruits of and be empowered to participate in the construction of a just, prosperous and sustainable society.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme: £3,000 - £5,000 (occasionally up to £5,000)

• Fixed biannual deadlines (end of February and end of August)
• Project funding preferred over core costs
• Must apply online via the Trust's website

Priority Areas

The Trust supports humanitarian projects with these characteristics:

• Grassroots initiatives: Projects initiated by people at the grassroots who are empowered to find solutions to their own problems
• Capacity building: Developing the capacity of individuals, their communities, or institutions helping them to help themselves
• Social rehabilitation: Projects addressing social, physical, or educational rehabilitation
• Support for vulnerable populations: Those who are isolated, vulnerable, at risk, or disadvantaged
• Health and disability support: Information, support, relief, or equipment for illness or disability
• Human rights: Support for victims of torture or human rights abuses
• Carers: Support for those providing care
• Children and youth: Holidays for disadvantaged children, youth clubs (especially in disadvantaged areas)
• Housing and shelter: Women's refuges, homeless shelters, orphanages
• International development: Micro-loans and business enterprises in the developing world
• Basic needs in developing countries: Access to medical care, food, or water supplies

The Trust prioritizes smaller charities (turnover under £500,000, ideally under £1 million) where their grant can make a larger proportional impact.

What They Don't Fund

The Trust explicitly excludes:

• Non-humanitarian causes (with the exception of Ironbridge Gorge Museum)
• Individual sponsorships or personal travel
• Animal welfare organizations
• Religious proselytization or political activities
• Medical or general research
• Heritage projects and most museums
• UK hospices
• Projects with more than £40,000 remaining to raise
• Charities with disproportionately large reserves
• Core operational costs (preference is for specific projects)

Ready to write a winning application for The Ashworth Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The Trust operates with five trustees who meet biannually in May/June and October/November. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Individual trustee names are not publicly listed on the Trust's website or Charity Commission page.

The Trust is administered through Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP in Birmingham, with Sarah Higgins serving as the contact point.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Online only via www.ashworthtrust.org/application

• Hard-copy applications will not be considered
• All applicants must complete the standardized online form
• Incomplete applications will not be considered

Application Deadlines:

• End of February: For consideration at the May/June trustee meeting
• End of August: For consideration at the October/November trustee meeting

Required Information:

• Valid UK charity registration number
• Organizational details (establishment date, three years of accounts, staffing information)
• Project-specific details including objectives, cost breakdown, and impact measurement plans
• Use the “project proposal” or “feedback” sections for information not covered by standard questions

Decision Timeline

From submission to decision: Approximately 3-4 months

Notification timeline:

• Applications received September-February: Decisions by end of June
• Applications received March-August: Decisions by end of November
• Successful applicants notified within 6 weeks of the relevant trustee meeting

Important: The Trust does not respond to unsuccessful applications. If you have not received notification within the specified period, assume your application was unsuccessful. Due to the volume of applications, the Trust cannot justify administration costs for discussing rejections or providing feedback.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, the Trust awarded 52 grants in 2023 from what they describe as an “overwhelming number of applications.” The Trust explicitly states that “there were simply too many excellent causes to be able to support all the charities that applied,” indicating a highly competitive process.

Reapplication Policy

Three-year rule: If a charity has successfully received a grant, the Trust would not normally donate to them again in less than thirty-six months (3 years).

For unsuccessful applicants, there is no stated restriction on reapplying in future funding rounds.

Application Success Factors

The Trust provides specific guidance on what makes applications more competitive:

Demonstrate Clear Impact: “You are more likely to receive funding if the Trust can see clearly what difference the grant will make.” Applications should articulate tangible outcomes for beneficiaries.

Show Mission Alignment: Clearly explain “how it corresponds with their objectives” - explicitly reference the Trust's humanitarian focus and principles of empowerment, capacity building, and grassroots initiatives.

Financial Transparency: The Trust wants to see “how your funds are currently being utilized from your accounts.” Ensure your financial statements demonstrate responsible stewardship and that you don't have disproportionately large reserves.

Project vs. Core Costs: The Trust prefers “project rather than core costs.” Frame your request around a specific project or initiative rather than general operational expenses.

Urgency and Significance: Show that “their funds can be utilized sooner rather than later for the benefit of humanity” and avoid situations "where there's not a big funding discrepancy" (i.e., don't ask for £3,000 toward a £100,000 target).

Grassroots Characteristics: The Trust explicitly favors "projects initiated by people at the grassroots who are empowered to find solutions to their own problems, with simple, clear objectives that further the Trust's vision, and that develop the capacity of individuals, their communities or institutions helping them to help themselves."

Concise Communication: "When describing your project's objectives, explain this as clearly and concisely as you can, with reference to the objectives of the Ashworth Trust, and to the difference that the award of a grant would make."

Size Matters: Smaller charities have an advantage - the Trust “tries to prioritise smaller charities where their level of grant is comparatively significant.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Target your request: £3,000-£5,000 is the sweet spot; ensure this amount represents a significant proportion of your project budget
• Emphasize grassroots and capacity-building: Use language around empowerment, self-help, and community-led solutions that aligns with the Trust's core principles
• Be smaller to stand out: If your annual turnover exceeds £500,000, your chances diminish significantly; under £1 million is the stated maximum
• Projects over operations: Frame your application around a specific, time-bound project rather than general running costs
• No second chances for feedback: You won't receive an explanation if unsuccessful, so ensure your first submission is strong - there's no opportunity for clarification
• Plan for silence: Only successful applicants are notified; not hearing back means rejection, so plan alternative funding accordingly
• Three-year gap for repeat funding: If successful, don't expect another grant for at least 36 months - plan your organizational pipeline accordingly
• Complete applications only: Incomplete submissions are automatically rejected; review thoroughly before the deadline

References

• Ashworth Charitable Trust Official Website
• Ashworth Charitable Trust - Funding Page
• Ashworth Charitable Trust - Frequently Asked Questions
• Ashworth Charitable Trust - Application Page
• Charity Commission Register - The Ashworth Charitable Trust (1045492)
• Funding Scotland - Ashworth Charitable Trust Profile

Accessed: December 27, 2025