The Castansa Trust

Charity Number: CUSTOM_51550833

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: Approximately £265,000-£380,000
Success Rate: 14% (1 in 7 applications)
Decision Time: Not specified
Grant Range: £5,000 - £15,000 (larger grants in exceptional circumstances)
Geographic Focus: Lothians, Glasgow, and Dumfries & Galloway (Scotland)

Contact Details

Administrator: Turcan Connell

Address: Princes Exchange, 1 Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9EE

Email: enquiries@turcanconnell.com

Phone: +44 (0)131 228 8111

Website: https://www.turcanconnell.com/the-castansa-trust

Charity Number: SC037414 (OSCR - Scottish Charity Register)

Important Note: As of August 1st, 2018, unsolicited applications are not being considered due to significant existing commitments. Community grants are distributed via Women's Fund for Scotland and Inspiring Scotland.

Overview

The Castansa Trust was established under a Deed of Trust in 2008 and is registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). The trust's mission is to provide early stage/catalyst funding to charitable organizations, with a focus on making meaningful philanthropic contributions that make a difference. In recent years, the trust has distributed between £265,000 and £380,000 annually in grants. The trust primarily operates in the Lothians, Glasgow, and Dumfries & Galloway regions of Scotland, supporting charitable purposes including advancing health, developing citizenship and community, providing recreational facilities, environmental protection, and relieving those in need due to age, health, disability, or hardship. The trust is administered by Turcan Connell, a law firm based in Edinburgh.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: £5,000 - £15,000 (direct applications currently suspended)
Larger Grants: Available only in limited circumstances at Trustees' discretion
Multi-year Commitments: Considered by Trustees
Community Grants: Distributed via Women's Fund for Scotland and Inspiring Scotland

Priority Areas

The trust supports organizations working in:

Education: Supporting educational initiatives and learning opportunities
Children and Young People: Leadership courses and employment support for teenagers
Health: Cancer and dementia support for patients and their families
Social Inclusion: Projects promoting community integration and reducing isolation
Culture and Arts: Cultural and artistic programs
Environment: Environmental protection and improvement initiatives
Community Development: Citizenship and community development programs
Recreational Facilities: Supporting access to leisure and recreation

What They Don't Fund

Individual applications: Grants only made to charitable bodies
Currently not accepting: Unsolicited applications (since August 2018)

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Governance and Leadership

The Castansa Trust is managed by trustees who oversee the distribution of funds according to the trust deed. The trust is administered by Turcan Connell, a leading Scottish law firm with expertise in charitable trusts and grant-making.

The trustees have stated their aim is to provide “early stage/catalyst funding” where their contribution can “make a difference,” indicating a preference for strategic, impactful grants rather than general operating support.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: The trust is not accepting unsolicited applications as of August 1st, 2018, due to significant existing commitments.

Alternative Routes:

Smaller community grants are available through:
Women's Fund for Scotland
Inspiring Scotland

For direct applications (when/if they reopen):

Applications must be from registered charitable bodies
Contact: enquiries@turcanconnell.com
Application managed through Turcan Connell

Decision Timeline

No specific decision timeline information is publicly available.

Success Rates

1 in 7 applications (approximately 14% success rate) based on information provided when applications were accepted.

Reapplication Policy

No specific information available regarding reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's current status of not accepting unsolicited applications, the following factors were important when applications were being accepted:

Key Success Factors:

Geographic alignment: Projects based in or benefiting communities in Lothians, Glasgow, and Dumfries & Galloway
Catalyst/early stage focus: The trust specifically states they aim to provide “early stage/catalyst funding,” suggesting preference for seed funding, pilot projects, or initiatives in development phase
Making a difference: Trustees look for projects where their contribution will have meaningful impact
Charitable body status: Must be a registered charity
Alignment with priority areas: Strong fit with education, health, social inclusion, children/young people, culture/arts, or environment

Example of Funded Project:

Queen of the South Community Trust received £20,000 (above the typical maximum) in early 2021 to support their work in health, social inclusion, education, and community facilities across Dumfries and Galloway. This demonstrates the trust's willingness to exceed typical grant limits for strong projects in priority geographic areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Applications currently closed: The trust is not accepting unsolicited applications since August 2018. Monitor the Turcan Connell website or contact them directly for updates on when this might change.
Alternative routes: Explore funding through Women's Fund for Scotland or Inspiring Scotland, which distribute community grants on behalf of the trust.
Geographic specificity: Strong preference for Lothians, Glasgow, and Dumfries & Galloway - projects outside these areas unlikely to succeed.
Catalyst funding approach: When applications reopen, emphasize early stage nature of project and how grant will catalyze further development or impact.
Competitive process: With only 1 in 7 applications successful (when accepting applications), proposals need to be exceptionally strong and well-aligned.
Multi-year potential: The trust will consider multi-year commitments, which could be valuable for longer-term projects.
Charitable bodies only: Individual applications are not accepted under any circumstances.