The Atherton Family Charitable Trust
Charity Number: 1156055
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £400,000 - £500,000
- Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
- Decision Time: Quarterly trustee meetings
- Grant Range: £1,000 - £50,000
- Geographic Focus: UK-wide
Contact Details
- Email: james.hardaker@stevens-bolton.com
- Phone: 01483 406989
- Registered Charity Number: 1156055
- Correspondence: c/o Stevens & Bolton LLP, Wey House, Farnham Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4YD
Overview
The Atherton Family Charitable Trust was established in 2014 as a private family foundation supporting UK charities across multiple sectors. With annual giving typically between £400,000 and £500,000, the trust operates as a grant-making charity that distributes funds to a diverse range of charitable organizations. The trust operates through trustee discretion rather than public applications, with grants distributed quarterly following trustee meetings. The trust's giving reflects the philanthropic interests of the Atherton family, with a particular focus on education, health, social welfare, and community development.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
- General Charitable Grants: £1,000 - £50,000 (supporting registered UK charities across multiple sectors)
- Grants awarded through trustee identification and recommendation
- Quarterly distribution cycles aligned with trustee meetings
Priority Areas
- Education and youth development
- Health and medical research
- Social welfare and community support
- Arts and cultural activities
- Environmental conservation
- Support for vulnerable populations
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
- Non-UK registered charities
- Political organizations
- Organizations not registered with the Charity Commission

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Governance and Leadership
The trust is governed by a board of trustees from the Atherton family. Legal and administrative support is provided by Stevens & Bolton LLP, a Guildford-based law firm, with James Hardaker serving as the primary contact for trust matters. The trust maintains a professional approach to grant-making while reflecting the family's personal philanthropic values.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their identification of suitable charitable organizations. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications through any formal channel.
Decision Timeline
Trustee meetings held quarterly
Grant decisions made at these meetings
Organizations typically notified within 2-4 weeks of trustee decisions
Application Success Factors
As this trust operates without a public application process, traditional application advice does not apply. The trust identifies beneficiaries through:
- Trustee networks and personal knowledge of charities
- Recommendations from professional advisors
- Existing relationships within the charitable sector
- Alignment with the family's philanthropic interests
Organizations receiving support typically demonstrate:
- Clear charitable purposes registered with the Charity Commission
- Strong governance and financial management
- Demonstrable impact in their field
- Alignment with one or more of the trust's interest areas
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- This is an invitation-only funder with no public application process
- Grants range from £1,000 to £50,000, distributed quarterly
- The trust supports a wide range of UK charitable causes
- All beneficiaries must be UK registered charities
- Contact is managed through Stevens & Bolton LLP law firm
- Focus on building sector reputation rather than direct applications
- Annual giving of approximately £400,000-£500,000 indicates substantial but selective grant-making
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References
- Charity Commission for England and Wales - Charity Details for The Atherton Family Charitable Trust (1156055)
- Annual Returns and Financial Statements filed with Charity Commission (2019-2023)
- Stevens & Bolton LLP professional services information
- Charity Commission Database entries