The Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Founded: 1962 (over 100 years of work with children and families)
• Charity Number: 214402
• Annual Giving: £109,716 (expenditure for year ending 31 March 2025)
• Annual Income: £160,825 (year ending 31 March 2025)
• Grant Range: £1,022 - £25,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide
• Application Deadlines: 31st March and 30th September annually

Contact Details

Website: https://beaconlodge.org.uk

Email: info@beaconlodge.co.uk

Phone: 07913 686154

Address: 85 Great Portland Street, First Floor, London, W1W 7LT

Application Portal: Online application form available at https://beaconlodge.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/

Overview

The Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust, registered in 1962 (charity number 214402), is an independent grant-making charity with over 100 years of experience working with children and their parents who need support. As a charitable company, the Trust operates to promote the public benefit, welfare and support of children and their parents throughout the UK. With an annual income of £160,825 and expenditure of £109,716 (year ending 31 March 2025), the Trust focuses on supporting registered charities that promote the care, safety and upbringing of children by supporting and assisting those in need, their families and carers, promoting their health, and advancing their education. The Trust is governed by 8 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration for their service. Their tagline, “Supporting Charities Supporting Families,” encapsulates their mission to make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children, their families and carers across the United Kingdom.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust offers revenue grants through a twice-yearly application process:

• Main Grant Programme: Up to £25,000 (some sources reference up to £10,000, suggesting possible variations by application round or project type)
• Application Method: Online application via their website
• Deadlines: Fixed deadlines on 31st March and 30th September annually
• Use of Funds: Grants can be used for specific projects or to meet ongoing running costs, including staff costs and rent

Priority Areas

The trustees are specifically looking for charities that support:

• Children under the age of 5: Focus on early years support for families and carers
• Pregnant women aged under 25: Targeting the perinatal period of support
• Mothers aged under 25: Supporting young mothers with babies under 12 months
• Health promotion: Activities that promote children's health and wellbeing
• Education advancement: Programmes that advance children's education
• Family support: Services that assist those in need, their families and carers

What They Don't Fund

• Charities with an annual income above £500,000
• Individual applicants (only registered charities eligible)
• Projects which would be considered a statutory responsibility

Ready to write a winning application for The Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust?

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

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust is governed by 8 trustees:

1. Clare de Courcy Ling
2. Frances Mary Claire Kavanagh (also trustee of Abbey Community Centre)
3. Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy
4. Julia Anne Roberts
5. Anna Joy Beasley
6. Helen Nicolas (also trustee of Chase Family Church)
7. Amelia Fincham
8. Jake Cass

All trustees serve without remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity, demonstrating their commitment to the charitable mission. The board brings diverse experience and connections to the sector, as evidenced by several trustees holding positions with other charitable organizations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Read Guidance Notes: The Trust advises applicants to “read carefully through our guidance notes before making an application”
2. Online Application: Complete the online application form available at https://beaconlodge.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/
3. Provide Information: Submit all requested information through the online portal
4. Progress Reporting: Applicants must agree to provide a progress report within 12 months of receiving payment

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for funding, your organization must:

• Be registered as a charity with the Charity Commission or HMRC
• Have an annual income below £500,000
• Have a bank account in the name of the organisation
• Have aims and objectives relating to child welfare and support for parents
• Have appropriate safeguarding measures in place
• Operate within the UK

Decision Timeline

The Trust operates a structured twice-yearly grant-making cycle with deadlines on 31st March and 30th September. While specific notification timelines are not publicly detailed, funding decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees after each deadline, with the number of projects supported limited to the amount of funds available for distribution each year.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Points

• Early Years Focus: The Trust has a clear strategic focus on early years, particularly children under 5 and support during the perinatal period. Applications that demonstrate impact on these specific age groups are likely to be prioritized.

• Safeguarding Standards: The requirement for “appropriate safeguarding measures in place” indicates this is a critical factor. Ensure your application clearly demonstrates robust safeguarding policies and practices.

• Clear Need: The Trust aims to support those “in need” - applications should clearly articulate the specific needs of the beneficiaries and how your charity addresses these needs.

• Health and Education Outcomes: Projects should align with at least one of the Trust's objectives: supporting those in need, promoting health, or advancing education for children and families.

Application Tips

• Size Matters: The Trust specifically targets small charities with income below £500,000, suggesting they value supporting grassroots organizations that may struggle to access larger funding sources.

• Core Costs Welcome: Unlike many funders, Beacon Lodge explicitly states grants can cover “ongoing running costs, including staff costs and rent” - don't shy away from requesting core funding if needed.

• Avoid Statutory Services: Ensure your project is not something that would be considered a statutory responsibility of government or local authorities.

• Progress Reporting: The requirement for a progress report within 12 months suggests the Trust values accountability and learning. Consider how you'll measure and report impact when designing your project.

Historic Funding Patterns

Based on available data, the Trust awarded grants ranging from £1,022 to £25,000, with total grants of £127,791 distributed in the year ending 31 March 2021. This suggests they make grants of varying sizes to suit different project scales and organizational capacities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Niche Focus: The Trust has a very specific niche - early years and perinatal support for vulnerable families. If this isn't your core work, look elsewhere.

• Small Charity Friendly: With a cap of £500,000 annual income for applicants, this funder is ideal for small, local charities that may be too small for larger grant-makers.

• Core Costs Accepted: Take advantage of their willingness to fund ongoing running costs - this is relatively rare and valuable.

• Safeguarding Non-Negotiable: Ensure your safeguarding policies are current, comprehensive, and clearly articulated in your application.

• Bi-Annual Opportunities: With only two deadlines per year (March 31 and September 30), plan ahead and don't miss the windows.

• Read the Guidance: The Trust specifically asks applicants to read their guidance notes carefully - this suggests they value applications that demonstrate attention to detail and understanding of their priorities.

• Limited Funds: The Trust explicitly notes that funding is “limited to the amount of funds available for distribution each year,” indicating competition for resources - make your case compelling and demonstrate value for money.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Angus Lawson Memorial Trust
• THE TRUEMARK TRUST
• The Kelly Family Charitable Trust
• The John Armitage Charitable Trust
• The Lewin Trust
• THE MICHAEL MARSH CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE A.D. CHARITABLE TRUST
• Schroder Charity Trust
• John Horniman's Children's Trust
• The Batchworth Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “THE BEACON LODGE CHARITABLE TRUST - 214402,”, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=214402&subid=0

• Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust official website, https://beaconlodge.org.uk

• Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust, “How to Apply,”, https://beaconlodge.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/

• Community Southwark, “Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust - Applications open January 31st 2024,”, https://communitysouthwark.org.uk/beacon-lodge-charitable-trust-applications-open-january-31st-2024/

• Richmond CVS, “FUNDING: Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust - apply by 30 September 2022,”, https://richmondcvs.org.uk/funding-beacon-lodge-charitable-trust-apply-by-30-september-2022/

• Bath and North East Somerset Council, “The Beacon Lodge Charitable Trust,”, https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/86562

• Companies House, “THE BEACON LODGE CHARITABLE TRUST overview,”, https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00331685