The Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £151,053 (2024/25)
• Annual Income: £203,867
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Within 14 days of interview
• Grant Range: Up to £5,000 (small grants); £5,000+ (large grants, potentially multi-year)
• Geographic Focus: Leicester City, Leicestershire, and Rutland

Contact Details

Website: www.carltonhayes.co.uk

Email: helen.pole@shma.co.uk

Phone: 0116 254 5454

Trust Administrator: Helen Pole

Pre-application support: For large grants (£5,000+), applicants are advised to approach the trustees informally before submitting a formal bid to assess viability.

Overview

Established in 1834, The Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity is one of the UK's oldest mental health charities. Originally founded to finance care at what would become Carlton Hayes Hospital in Narborough, the charity's mission evolved significantly following the establishment of the NHS in 1948. The charity now provides grants to relieve poor persons experiencing or who have experienced mental health problems in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. With an expenditure of approximately £151,053 in 2024/25, the charity allocates around 35-45% of annual income to traditional smaller grants, with the remainder supporting larger, strategic initiatives. The charity's approach emphasizes filling gaps in NHS provision and supporting projects that provide “leverage to release other resources.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants: Up to £5,000

• Typically for patient comforts and activities both inside and outside hospital
• Application method: Online application form, rolling basis
• Represent 35-45% of annual expenditure

Large Grants: Exceeding £5,000

• May be awarded as single payments or spread over 2-3 years
• Application method: Informal approach to trustees recommended before formal application
• Rolling basis with panel interviews

Priority Areas

The charity focuses on:

• Patient comforts and activities that are beneficial but unlikely to be available from the NHS
• Early intervention and preventative mental health services, particularly for underserved communities (e.g., Asian, African, and Caribbean communities)
• Art therapy and creative activities that improve sense of identity and inclusion
• Social and recreational activities including day trips, residential experiences, and community outings
• Family support services for those supporting individuals with mental health needs
• Young carers support programs
• Services addressing social isolation and preventing deterioration or hospitalization
• User-led support groups that foster independence and confidence

The charity particularly favors grants that:

• Provide leverage to release other resources
• Fill gaps in statutory provision
• Demonstrate clear client benefits and participant numbers
• Offer competitive pricing and strong value for money

What They Don't Fund

• Capital developments with ongoing revenue costs (rare exceptions may apply)
• Projects that replace statutory provision or services that should be met from public funds
• Discriminatory programs - organizations must be open to all or have clear non-discriminatory admission criteria
• Grants to individuals - applications from individuals must be channeled through recognized agencies
• Services for residents outside Leicester City, Leicestershire, and Rutland

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by eight trustees with extensive professional backgrounds in law, mental health, finance, and public service. Key trustees include:

Mark Dunkley LLB (Hons) - Chair

• Retired solicitor with 38 years in private practice specializing in wills, trusts, and charities
• Extensive experience in mental health law and local charitable governance
• Retired from practice in 2022 to assume the chair role

Rachael Stembridge - Vice Chairman

• Qualified accountant with 20+ years of professional experience
• Specializes in auditing and accounts for charities and small-to-medium enterprises
• Trustee since 2012

Mark Newcombe - Trustee

• Former solicitor (20 years) who transitioned to property consultancy in 2004
• Former Chair of Leicester and Leicestershire Mental Health NHS Trust Audit Committee
• Trustee since 2008

Dr Susan Smith MRCPsych - Trustee

• Consultant Psychiatrist with 30+ years NHS experience
• Brings personal lived experience with mental illness
• Joined in 2021; continues safeguarding work under Mental Health Act provisions

Other Trustees: Richard Foster (RAF background, Rutland Councillor), Carole Eastwood (27-year NHS mental health background), and Councillor Neil Bannister (Crown Advocate, CPS).

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

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Small Grants (up to £5,000):

1. Complete the online application form available on the charity's website
2. Upload submission through the dedicated portal
3. Provide clear information about client benefits and numbers involved
4. Include organizational details: objectives, governance arrangements, charity reference, and client group characteristics

Large Grants (£5,000+):

1. Informal approach to trustees recommended first to assess likelihood of sympathetic consideration
2. Complete the large grant application form
3. Submit detailed proposal with expenditure alignment
4. Be prepared for trustee panel interview

Required Information:

• Name of organization and primary contact person
• Organizational objectives and governance arrangements
• Charity reference number (if applicable)
• Client group characteristics
• Clear demonstration of client benefits and participant numbers
• Confirmation of willingness to acknowledge the charity in publicity
• Evidence of competitive pricing and value for money
• Confirmation that organization is open to all or has non-discriminatory admission criteria

Decision Timeline

• Applications are reviewed by trustees who meet throughout the year
• Trustees may invite representatives to attend a panel interview to explore details and receive reassurances
• Applicants are normally advised of outcomes within 14 days of the interview
• Successful large grant recipients must provide progress reports documenting expenditure alignment with approved applications

Success Rates

The charity does not publicly disclose application volumes or success rates. However, trustees acknowledge they “often have to make awards that only meet part of the bids received if there are insufficient funds to meet bids in full.”

Reapplication Policy

The charity does not publicly specify a reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Contact the charity directly for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on the charity's documented guidance and funded projects, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Gap-Filling Role

The charity explicitly states it does not replace statutory provision. Successful projects like the Adhar Project's Family Intervention service and Albert Street Artists demonstrate activities “unlikely to be available from the NHS” or local authority funding.

2. Measurable Client Impact

Applications must provide “clear information of the benefits to clients and the numbers involved.” The Centre Project's successful £5,000 grant specified exactly how funding would be used: employing 2 mental health workers for 10 hours per week.

3. Cultural Competency and Community Specificity

The charity values services tailored to specific communities, as evidenced by multi-year support for the Adhar Project's culturally-specific services delivered in Asian languages at community venues.

4. Leverage and Strategic Value

The trustees “particularly favour grants that might provide leverage to release other resources.” Demonstrate how your funding will unlock additional support or create multiplier effects.

5. Prevention and Early Intervention

The charity has shown consistent support for preventative approaches, funding the Adhar Project's “early intervention and preventative mental health services” and Strides!' activities that help members “meet new challenges, gain confidence, and lead independent and fulfilling lives.”

6. Strong Value for Money

Applications must demonstrate “competitive pricing and strong value for money.” Be specific about costs and outcomes.

7. Inclusive Approach

Organizations must be “open to all, or have clear admission criteria that are non-discriminatory.”

8. Willingness to Acknowledge Support

Successful applicants must confirm “willingness to acknowledge the Charity in any publicity to help publicise its existence to others.”

Common Funded Activities:

• Educational sessions on welfare benefits and health issues
• Arts, crafts, and creative therapy programs
• Day trips and residential experiences for isolated individuals
• Community-based support delivered in accessible venues
• Services preventing deterioration and potential hospitalization

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic eligibility is strict: Beneficiaries must be residents of Leicester City, Leicestershire, or Rutland - applications for other areas will be rejected
• For large grants, make informal contact first: The charity explicitly advises approaching trustees informally before submitting bids over £5,000 to assess viability
• Emphasize gap-filling, not replacement: Clearly articulate why the NHS or statutory services won't fund this work and how it complements existing provision
• Demonstrate leverage potential: Show how your grant will unlock other resources or create multiplier effects - this is explicitly favored by trustees
• Be specific about numbers and impact: Vague applications won't succeed - provide concrete data on beneficiaries and measurable outcomes
• Fast turnaround after interview: With decisions within 14 days of interview, ensure your organization can respond quickly to requests for additional information
• Long-term relationships matter: Case studies show multi-year support for organizations like Adhar Project - delivering results can lead to ongoing partnership

References

• Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity - Official Website
• Grant Applications - Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity
• Our Story - Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity
• Trustees - Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity
• Charity Commission Register - Charity No. 219783
• Case Studies - Carlton Hayes Mental Health Charity
• Adhar Project Case Study
• Albert Street Artists Case Study

All sources