The Blackwell Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 230897
• Annual Expenditure: £104,363 (2024)
• Annual Income: £16,895 (2024)
• Application Process: No public application process - trustee discretion
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Established: 1960

Contact Details

Address:

Ossefield

Netherton Road

Appleton

Abingdon

Oxfordshire OX13 5JZ

Phone: 01865 864286

Email: No public email address

Website: None

Overview

The Blackwell Charitable Trust was established by Deed of Declaration of Trust on August 8, 1960, and registered as a charity on April 19, 1964. The trust is connected to the Blackwell family, famous for founding the renowned Blackwell's bookshop in Oxford in 1879. Operating from Oxfordshire, the trust makes grants to registered or exempt charities throughout England and Wales, with recent annual expenditure of approximately £104,000. The trust is notably spending from capital as well as income, with expenditure significantly exceeding annual income. The trust operates on a traditional family trust model where trustees exercise total discretion over grant-making decisions, with no public application process. A variety of charitable causes is included in the trust's work, covering areas including education, health, disability, arts and culture, and support for children and young people.

Funding Priorities

Grant-Making Approach

The trust fund is held as capital and income for charitable institutions and charitable purposes as the trustees at their total discretion think fit. Donations are made out of both income and capital, with no specific program structure or designated grant amounts.

Priority Areas

• Education and training
• Advancement of health or saving of lives
• Disability support
• Arts, culture, heritage and science
• Children and young people
• People with disabilities
• Other charities or voluntary bodies
• Other defined groups

What They Don't Fund

• Direct grants to individuals
• Organizations that are not registered or exempt charities

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

Julian Blackwell DL

Member of the Blackwell family with connections to Oxford's academic community. He is an Honorary Fellow at Merton College, Oxford, maintaining the family's long-standing relationship with the city and university. The “DL” designation indicates he is a Deputy Lieutenant, a Crown appointment recognizing significant service to the county.

Jeremy Charles Haig Loyd

Appointed as trustee on June 1, 2016. Jeremy has extensive experience in international development and grant-making, having worked initially with Oxfam and subsequently spending over 25 years as an owner and senior executive of consultancy businesses working in international development aid. He has designed and managed grant-making facilities ranging from provision of Oxfam funding to poor communities, through grants to NGOs to support their work, to risk-sharing funding to the private sector.

Derrick James Cook

Appointed as trustee on June 1, 2016.

Mrs J Blackwell

Listed as a trustee in some records, likely representing the family's continued involvement in the trust's stewardship.

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: This trust does not have a public application process.

The Blackwell Charitable Trust operates as a traditional family trust where grants are awarded at the trustees' total discretion. There is no:

• Public application form
• Online application portal
• Published application guidelines
• Public email address for inquiries
• Website with information for applicants

The trust's governing documents specify that funds are held “for such charitable institutions and charitable purposes as the Trustees at their total discretion think fit.” This means the trustees identify and select grant recipients based on their own assessment of charitable needs and priorities, rather than responding to open applications.

Organizations seeking funding would need to be brought to the trustees' attention through personal connections, professional networks, or direct approaches to the trustees. Given the lack of a public email address, initial contact would likely need to be by telephone (01865 864286) or postal mail to their Oxfordshire address.

Decision Timeline

No information available about decision timelines. Given the trust's small size and discretionary nature, decisions are likely made on an ongoing basis as trustees meet and identify suitable recipients.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to lack of public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to lack of public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's discretionary approach and lack of public application process, the following factors are likely important based on the trust's structure and governance:

• Geographic connection to Oxfordshire: The trust is based in Oxfordshire and the trustees have deep roots in the county. Organizations operating in or serving Oxfordshire communities may be more likely to come to trustees' attention.

• Alignment with stated charitable purposes: The trust's registration identifies specific areas of interest including education/training, health, disability, arts/culture, and support for children and young people. Organizations working in these areas align with the trust's documented purposes.

• Registered charity status: The trust explicitly states it only makes grants to registered or exempt charities, never to individuals. Organizations must have proper charitable status.

• Connection to Oxford academic or cultural community: Given the Blackwell family's historical connection to Oxford through their famous bookshop and Julian Blackwell's role as Honorary Fellow at Merton College, organizations connected to Oxford's educational and cultural institutions may be more naturally within the trustees' awareness.

• Small to medium-sized organizations: With annual expenditure around £75,000-£104,000, the trust likely makes multiple grants rather than a few large ones, suggesting they support organizations that benefit from smaller grant amounts.

• Personal connections and referrals: As with many family trusts, being brought to trustees' attention through trusted personal or professional networks is likely a key factor in receiving support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This trust cannot be approached through standard grant application procedures. It operates entirely on trustee discretion.

• Telephone contact only: With no public email or website, organizations interested in the trust would need to make initial contact by phone (01865 864286) or postal mail.

• Family trust model: This is a traditional private family trust connected to the Blackwell bookselling family of Oxford. Understanding this context is important.

• Oxfordshire roots matter: The trust's location in Appleton, Oxfordshire, and the trustees' connections to the county suggest geographic proximity may be a factor.

• Active grant-making: Despite the private nature, the trust is actively making grants, spending significantly more than its income by drawing from capital (£104,363 expenditure vs £16,895 income in 2024).

• Modest but meaningful size: With expenditure around £75,000-£104,000 annually, this is a small trust but one that can make meaningful grants to smaller organizations.

• Oxford connections helpful: The Blackwell family's historical connection to Oxford and Julian Blackwell's role at Merton College suggest that organizations connected to Oxford's academic or cultural community may have better access to trustees' awareness.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Phillips Family Charitable Trust
• The Nesbitt-Cleland Trust
• Ewell Parochial Trusts (Relief in Need)
• The Warwick Trust
• The Balney Charitable Trust
• Woodcock Charitable Trust
• The Doouss Charitable Trust
• The St James's Trust Settlement
• The Rowse Family Trust
• THE S AND Y CHARITABLE TRUST

References

• UK Charity Commission Register, charity number 230897

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/230897

• UK Charity Commission Trustees listing for charity 230897

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/230897/trustees

• UK Charity Commission Accounts and Annual Returns for charity 230897

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/230897/accounts-and-annual-returns

• Charity Mentors Oxfordshire, Meet our Mentors (Jeremy Charles Haig Loyd profile)

https://www.charitymentors.co.uk/meet-our-mentors

• Merton College Oxford, Julian Blackwell profile

https://www.merton.ox.ac.uk/people/julian-blackwell

• Blackwell's Bookshop History

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/about

• Wikipedia, Blackwell's article (Blackwell family history)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwell's