The Austin And Hope Pilkington Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £282,254 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2 months from closing date
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide
• Grant Rounds: 4 per year (February, April, July, September)

Contact Details

Website: www.austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk

Email: admin@austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk

Phone: 0151 236 6666

Charity Number: 255274

Overview

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust was founded in 1968, connected to the prominent Pilkington family that established the renowned glass manufacturing business. The Trust supports UK registered charities working with “those in society who face the greatest challenges and whose opportunities are most limited.” Operating with minimal overheads (employing only a part-time administrator to maximize grant funding), the Trust awarded 79 grants totaling £282,254 in 2023. The Trust operates a distinctive three-year rolling criteria cycle, with different priority areas funded each year, ensuring focused support for specific vulnerable populations. This structured approach allows the Trust to develop expertise in particular areas while maintaining broad support across social welfare sectors over time.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates four grant rounds annually with alternating grant amounts:

• Rounds 1 & 3 (February & July): £1,000 grants for charities with annual income £100,000-£1,000,000
• Rounds 2 & 4 (April & September): £5,000 grants for charities with annual income over £1,000,000

Application windows are open for one month only during each round. Applications are submitted online through the Trust's website.

Three-Year Rotation Priorities

2025:

• Rounds 1-2: The Arts - Improving Attendance - Projects that improve audience engagement with and attendance of live professional performing arts (theatre, dance, or music), particularly for audiences who do not usually have the opportunity to attend performances
• Rounds 3-4: Refugees and Asylum Seekers - Projects focusing exclusively on refugees and/or asylum seekers as beneficiaries, without extending services to other groups

2026:

• Rounds 1-2: People experiencing or at risk of homelessness - Focus on projects providing life skills including food education, healthy living, and budgeting. Priority given to people leaving the armed forces, prison, or care
• Rounds 3-4: Unpaid carers - Projects providing therapeutic support, including healthy eating and outdoor activities. Projects must focus exclusively on unpaid carers

Recent Priorities:

• 2024: Disability (employment and training) and Food Poverty
• 2023: Rehabilitation of prisoners/ex-prisoners and children/young people in care (79 grants awarded)

What They Fund

• Specific projects aligned with current year's priorities
• Projects supporting those facing the greatest challenges in society
• Both small and large UK registered charities (based on income thresholds)
• Some core funding considered if accompanied by details of specific projects undertaken

What They Don't Fund

• Capital appeals or equipment
• Religious charities
• Animal welfare organizations
• Holidays or respite care
• Individual hospices
• Individual grants to people
• Minibuses or other vehicles
• Overseas projects
• Schools
• Scouts, Guides, or Sea Cadets
• Shopmobility schemes
• Students
• Village halls
• Church-related funding
• Charities that are Community Interest Companies (CICs) or other non-registered charity structures
• Salary costs for charity staff (unless specifically employed for the funded project)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Penny Badowska
• Harry Shankar
• Eleanor Stride
• Louis Shankar

Administrator:

• Karen Frank

The Trust operates with exceptional efficiency, employing only a part-time administrator to minimize overhead costs and maximize funds available for grants. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted exclusively through the online application form available on the Trust's website during each grant round window:

• Round 1: February (£1,000 grants)
• Round 2: April (£5,000 grants)
• Round 3: July (£1,000 grants)
• Round 4: September (£5,000 grants)

Each application window is open for one month only.

Application Process:

1. Review current round's priorities and confirm eligibility
2. Download and review the sample application form to prepare responses offline
3. Submit online application during the relevant grant round month
4. The form requires financial information first to verify income/expenditure eligibility
5. Save your application link if you cannot complete immediately

Critical Rules:

• Only one application per charity per calendar year will be considered
• Submitting multiple applications in one round will result in all applications being rejected
• Charities must have both income AND expenditure above the threshold (not just one or the other)

Decision Timeline

• Decision timeframe: Within 2 months of the closing date
• Notification timing by round:
• Round 1 (February): Late March
• Round 2 (April): Late June
• Round 3 (July): Late August
• Round 4 (September): Late November

All charities are contacted whether successful or unsuccessful. Unsuccessful applicants may wait several weeks for notification.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, the Trust awarded:

• 2023: 79 grants totaling £282,254
• 2022: 89 grants totaling £302,301
• 2021: 92 grants totaling £306,164
• 2020: 160 grants totaling £327,152

The Trust has noted receiving many applications from ineligible charities, leading to tightened application procedures. This suggests competition is significant, making careful attention to eligibility criteria essential.

Reapplication Policy

• Unsuccessful applicants can reapply in subsequent years
• Cannot apply again in the same calendar year
• Very unlikely to receive grants in consecutive years
• Must wait for the next cycle when priorities align with your work

Post-Award Requirements

Successful applicants must:

• Acknowledge receipt of grant via emailed receipt form
• Submit an Evaluation Form within 12 months of receiving the award

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's own guidance and patterns:

Alignment with Priorities is Non-Negotiable

The Trust emphasizes that projects must precisely match the current round's specific focus. For example, in refugee/asylum seeker rounds, projects cannot extend services to other groups—they must focus exclusively on these beneficiaries.

Choose Your Strongest Project

Since only one application per charity per year is permitted, the Trust advises applicants to “decide which is your strongest project.” This suggests quality over quantity is valued.

Specific Projects Over Core Funding

The Trust states it is “much more likely to fund specific projects rather than core funding,” though it will consider core funding applications if they include details of specific projects the organization undertakes.

Income/Expenditure Thresholds Must Be Met

The Trust requires BOTH income AND expenditure to meet the threshold levels—having one or the other is insufficient. This is a common reason for rejection.

Learn from Previous Recipients

The Trust recommends reviewing their list of previously successful applicants “to ascertain whether the Trust have funded organisations similar to yours.” Recent successful recipients for Arts grants included major institutions like National Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Royal Shakespeare Company, alongside smaller regional organizations.

Prepare Before Applying

Sample application forms are provided so applicants can prepare responses offline, suggesting thoroughness and preparation are valued.

Efficiency and Low Overheads

The Trust itself operates with minimal administrative costs, which may suggest appreciation for applicant organizations that demonstrate efficient use of funds.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Strategic timing is crucial: With only one application permitted per year, you must wait for a round whose priorities align perfectly with your work—don't apply to an unsuitable round just to “get something in”
• Strict eligibility = fewer competitors: The rigorous income/expenditure thresholds and structural requirements (registered charities only) mean fewer eligible applicants, but also zero tolerance for applications outside criteria
• Small grants, quick turnaround: Two-month decision times and modest grant amounts (£1,000-£5,000) make this suitable for specific projects rather than transformational funding
• Three-year planning opportunity: Knowing priorities years in advance allows strategic planning—if 2025 doesn't fit your work, prepare for 2026 or 2027 rounds
• Exclusivity matters: For refugee/asylum seeker and unpaid carer rounds, projects must serve ONLY these beneficiaries—any overlap with other groups disqualifies the application
• Prepare offline first: Use sample application forms to craft strong responses before the application window opens, as you'll only have one month to submit
• Research past recipients: The Trust specifically recommends reviewing successful applicants to gauge fit—this isn't generic advice, it's their stated recommendation

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council of England
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• THE EVESON TRUST
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• THE STEEL CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust
• Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund
• VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION
• THE SCOPS ARTS TRUST
• G J W Turner Trust
• The Grimmitt Trust
• The Saintbury Trust
• The Sheldon Trust
• The Grantham Yorke Trust
• The Cole Charitable Trust
• Souter Charitable Trust
• National Lottery
• THE MORRIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE SAMUEL GARDNER MEMORIAL TRUST
• THE MICHAEL TIPPETT MUSICAL FOUNDATION

References

• The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust official website: https://austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk/
• What We Fund - Eligibility criteria: https://austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk/what-we-fund/
• How to Apply: https://austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk/how-to-apply/
• FAQs: https://austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk/faqs/
• Grants Awarded: https://austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk/grants-awarded/
• UK Charity Commission Register entry for charity 255274: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=255274&subid=0
• Funding Scotland profile: https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000000Ng7mEAC/austin-and-hope-pilkington-trust
• PAVO announcement Round 1 2025: https://www.pavo.org.uk/news/the-austin-and-hope-pilkington-trust-round-1-2025/