The Banister Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1102320

Annual Expenditure: £3.5M
Throughout England And Wales

Contact Info

Website: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com

Phone: 0117 313 8200

Email: charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Over £1 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified (rolling applications)
  • Grant Range: £2,000 - £50,000
  • Typical Grant: £10,000 - £50,000
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
  • Total Assets: £4.49 million (2023)

Contact Details

Address: Ludlow Trust Co Ltd, Tower Wharf, Cheese Lane, Bristol BS2 0JJ

Phone: 0117 313 8200

Email: charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com

Website: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com

Application Portal: Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway (online)

Overview

The Banister Charitable Trust (registered charity 1102320) is a Bristol-based family grant-making trust established to promote the conservation, protection, and improvement of the physical and natural environment across the United Kingdom. The trust operates as an endowment fund, with investments generating much of its income. Regularly awarding over £1 million in grants annually, the trust has built a strong reputation within the environmental sector as a reliable supporter of wildlife and conservation charities. Managed by Ludlow Trust Company Ltd since 2021, the trust accepts applications through an online portal that connects over 250 charitable trusts with funding opportunities. The trust focuses predominantly on capital projects and is recognized as a regular supporter of major conservation organizations including RSPBs, Wildlife Trusts, and River Trusts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Environmental Conservation Grants: £2,000 - £50,000

  • Capital funding for land purchase and habitat restoration
  • Revenue funding for species monitoring and protection projects
  • Equipment and infrastructure for conservation work
  • Most grants fall within the £10,000 - £50,000 range
  • Multi-year funding available for larger capital projects

Application Method: Rolling applications via the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway online portal. Charities can apply to the Banister Charitable Trust specifically or submit a general application to be matched with appropriate trusts managed by Ludlow Trust Company.

Priority Areas

The trust focuses exclusively on environmental conservation and protection:

  • Wildlife Conservation: Monitoring and protection of endangered species, habitat management, biodiversity projects
  • Land Acquisition: Purchasing land for conservation purposes, establishing nature reserves
  • Habitat Restoration: Ecological surveys, habitat restoration projects, creation of wildlife corridors
  • Environmental Infrastructure: Bird boxes, education center gardens, wildlife areas, conservation equipment
  • Conservation Partnerships: Regular support for RSPB projects, Wildlife Trusts initiatives, River Trust conservation work

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the trust's narrow focus on environmental conservation implies exclusions for:

  • Non-registered charities: Only UK registered charities are eligible
  • International projects: Funding is restricted to UK-based environmental work
  • Non-environmental causes: Projects outside physical and natural environment conservation
  • General organizational running costs: Focus is primarily on capital projects rather than general operating expenses

Governance and Leadership

The Banister Charitable Trust is managed by a corporate trustee, Ludlow Trust Company Ltd, which has served in this capacity since 2021. The trust operates as a family charitable foundation with an endowment structure. One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for providing services, indicating professional management arrangements. Ludlow Trust Company manages the trust alongside over 250 other charitable trusts through their centralized administration and grant-making platform, bringing economies of scale and professional expertise to the grant-making process.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway, an online platform accessible via https://funding.ludlowtrust.com. The platform is designed for use on PCs, tablets, and smartphones, and may eventually be accessible through the Charity Commission website.

Two Application Routes:

  1. Specific Application: Apply directly to The Banister Charitable Trust
  2. General Application: Submit a general funding request that can be matched to any of Ludlow Trust's 250+ charitable trusts, including The Banister Charitable Trust

Application Requirements:

  • UK registered charity status required
  • Provide detailed information about your organization
  • Describe the conservation project requiring funding
  • Explain alignment with environmental protection objectives
  • Specify funding amount requested

Rolling Basis: Applications accepted at any time throughout the year with no fixed deadlines.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applications submitted through the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway are matched to relevant trusts, and trustees review applications “through their standard decision-making process.” Applicants should expect several weeks to months for review and decision.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. However, the platform has received nearly 8,000 applications since its September 2023 launch, with Ludlow Trust facilitating over £2.5 million in grants and donations across all their managed trusts during that period.

Reapplication Policy

The trust's reapplication policy is not explicitly stated. Given the rolling application system and the trust's status as a regular supporter of certain organizations (RSPBs, Wildlife Trusts, River Trusts), repeat applications appear to be acceptable, particularly for organizations with strong track records in environmental conservation.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors

1. Clear Environmental Focus: Projects must directly promote conservation, protection, or improvement of the UK's physical and natural environment. The trust has a narrow, well-defined remit, so applications should demonstrate clear environmental outcomes.

2. Capital Projects Preferred: The trust states that “grants are normally awarded for capital projects.” While revenue funding is available for specific activities like species monitoring, capital investments in land, equipment, and infrastructure appear to be the primary focus.

3. Established Conservation Credentials: The trust is a “regular supporter” of major conservation organizations, suggesting preference for established charities with proven conservation track records.

Recent Grant Examples

  • Cornwall Heritage Trust (2022): £19,942 for extensive ecological surveys at historic sites and creation of management plans to protect rare habitats and endangered species
  • Radnorshire Wildlife Trust: £150,000 towards land purchase of Pentwyn Farm Nature Reserve
  • Various projects for bird boxes, education center gardens, and wildlife areas at churches and village halls

Language and Terminology

Applications should emphasize:

  • Conservation outcomes and biodiversity benefits
  • Habitat protection and restoration
  • Species monitoring and protection
  • Physical improvements to natural environment
  • Long-term environmental impact
  • Capital investment and tangible deliverables

Standing Out

Demonstrate Scale and Impact: With grants typically £10,000-£50,000, the trust supports substantial projects. Show how your project delivers significant conservation value.

Emphasize Capital Elements: Even if seeking revenue funding, highlight any capital components or physical environmental improvements.

Show Partnership Potential: The trust's regular support for RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, and River Trusts suggests they value working with recognized conservation networks.

Use the Matching System Strategically: Consider submitting a general application to be matched with multiple trusts, not just a specific application to Banister, to increase funding prospects.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Environmental projects only: The Banister Charitable Trust has an exclusively environmental remit focusing on conservation and protection of UK's physical and natural environment. Do not apply for projects outside this scope.
  • Capital funding preferred: While revenue funding is available for specific conservation activities, the trust explicitly states that “grants are normally awarded for capital projects.” Structure your application around tangible capital investments where possible.
  • Typical grants £10,000-£50,000: Most awards fall in this range, with some larger multi-year commitments available. Ensure your project scale matches the trust's typical funding levels.
  • Rolling applications through online portal: Use the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway for all applications. Consider both specific applications to Banister and general applications to be matched with multiple trusts.
  • Regular supporter model: The trust has established relationships with major conservation organizations (RSPBs, Wildlife Trusts, River Trusts), suggesting they value long-term partnerships with proven conservation charities.
  • UK registered charities only: Eligibility is limited to registered charities operating in the United Kingdom. International projects and non-registered organizations are ineligible.
  • Professional management: Ludlow Trust Company's professional administration means applications are processed systematically. Ensure all online application fields are completed thoroughly and accurately.

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References