The Bender Family Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £136,000 (based on most recent expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Primary focus on London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham; grants throughout England where funds allow
• Charity Number: 1163501

Contact Details

Registered Address:

Woodfords, 11-13 Harwood Road, London, SW6 4QP

Telephone: 020 7731 0750

Note: The trust operates through Woodfords Solicitors. No website or email is publicly available.

Overview

The Bender Family Trust was established in 2015 as a lasting legacy to Ray Bender (1947-2009), co-founder of Prestige Cars and Couriers. Ray survived polio as a child, which left him with lifelong physical disabilities, and later died from a rare form of cancer in 2009. His personal experiences with disability and illness shaped the trust's charitable mission. The trust focuses on supporting charities that advance the development, education, and physical/mental health of persons under the age of 25, as well as charities promoting and protecting the physical and mental health of cancer sufferers. The trust is governed by three trustees and had an income of £41,904 with expenditure of £136,439 in its most recent financial year. The Prestige Bender Family Trust operates primarily in Hammersmith and Fulham, with capacity to support charities throughout England when funds permit.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs with published amounts. Known beneficiaries include:

• Ray's Playhouse: Core operational funding for this early years centre in Fulham's Sands End area, which serves children under 5
• Fulham Boys School: Support for Special Educational Needs provision, High Achieving Pupil Scheme, and sports hall equipment
• Other youth and cancer charities: On a discretionary basis within Hammersmith & Fulham

Priority Areas

The trust supports charities whose aims include:

• Youth Development (Under 25s): Advancing development, education, physical health, and/or mental health of young people under 25
• Cancer Support: Promoting and protecting the physical and mental health of cancer sufferers through financial assistance, support, education, and practical advice
• Special Educational Needs: Support for children with disabilities and special educational requirements
• Early Years Education: Stay-and-play centres and early learning environments
• Educational Achievement: Programs supporting high-achieving students

Geographic Priority:

Primary focus on the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, with broader England-wide support where funds allow.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly documented, but the trust appears focused specifically on youth development and cancer support rather than other charitable causes.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Mr Roger Bender
• Mr Roger Wilkinson
• Mr Rajan Berry
• Ms Rosalind Elizabeth Grinham

The trust has three trustees in total according to Charity Commission records. One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for providing services to the charity.

Connection to Prestige Cars and Couriers:

The trust is closely connected to Prestige Cars and Couriers, the company co-founded by Ray Bender in 1982. The trust operates from the offices of Woodfords Solicitors in Fulham.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Bender Family Trust operates on a discretionary basis, with grants appearing to be awarded through trustee decision-making rather than open applications. The trust has established long-term funding relationships with specific beneficiaries, particularly Ray's Playhouse and Fulham Boys School.

Organizations seeking support would need to make direct contact with the trust through their registered address at Woodfords Solicitors or by telephone (020 7731 0750).

Getting on Their Radar

The trust has a strong connection to Ray Bender's personal legacy and focuses on the Hammersmith and Fulham community where Ray lived and worked. Based on the trust's known beneficiaries:

• Geographic connection matters: Organizations working in Hammersmith and Fulham, particularly the Sands End area where Ray's Playhouse is located, align with the trust's priorities
• Connection to Ray's story: The trust supports causes that reflect Ray's personal experiences with disability and illness - special educational needs provision and cancer support appear particularly relevant
• Long-term relationships: Known beneficiaries like Ray's Playhouse receive core operational funding, suggesting the trust values sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants
• Link to Prestige Cars and Couriers: There may be connections through the business network associated with the company Ray co-founded

Given the lack of public application process, organizations may need to establish contact through Woodfords Solicitors or through networks connected to Prestige Cars and Couriers.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As this is a discretionary trust without formal application cycles, decision timelines are likely determined on a case-by-case basis by the trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's discretionary nature and lack of public application process, success factors appear to be:

1. Alignment with Ray Bender's Legacy: Organizations working in areas that reflect Ray's personal experiences - disability support, special educational needs, cancer care - appear most aligned with the trust's mission. Ray's Playhouse was specifically established following his death, and the trust's support for special educational needs at Fulham Boys School reflects his own challenging educational experiences.

1. Geographic Relevance: Strong focus on Hammersmith and Fulham, where Ray lived and worked. Organizations based in or serving this borough, particularly the Fulham area, align with the trust's stated priorities.

1. Core Operational Support Model: Rather than project grants, the trust appears to provide “core costs” funding. Ray's Playhouse explicitly notes that “The Bender Family Trust fund core costs to keep the Playhouse running,” suggesting the trust values supporting fundamental operations rather than specific initiatives.

1. Long-term Partnership Approach: Known beneficiaries like Ray's Playhouse are described as receiving long-term funding. The trust appears to establish sustained relationships rather than making one-off grants.

1. Youth Under 25 and Cancer Focus: These are the two explicit charitable purposes in the trust's registration. Organizations must demonstrate work in one or both of these areas.

1. Practical Impact: Supported projects like the early years centre, special educational needs provision, and sports hall equipment suggest a preference for tangible, practical support services rather than research or advocacy work.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this is a discretionary trust that appears to identify and support beneficiaries through trustee knowledge and networks
• Geographic focus is critical - Hammersmith & Fulham is the primary area of benefit, with a particular connection to Fulham and the Sands End area
• Personal legacy drives decisions - understanding Ray Bender's story (polio survivor with lifelong disabilities, cancer patient, Fulham resident, business founder) provides insight into funding priorities
• Core funding model - the trust supports operational costs rather than projects, suggesting they seek sustainable impact through long-term partnerships
• Two clear priority areas - youth under 25 (especially special educational needs) and cancer support are the only stated purposes
• Contact through formal channels - approach via Woodfords Solicitors on Harwood Road or telephone 020 7731 0750
• Filing status concern - as of recent records, the trust was significantly overdue with Charity Commission filings, which may indicate administrative challenges or transitions

References

• The Bender Family Trust - Charity Commission Register -
• The Bender Family Trust - OpenCharities -
• Prestige Family Trust - Prestige Group -
• Ray's Story - Ray's Playhouse -
• Woodfords Solicitors Contact Information -