The Charity Of Thomas Oken And Nicholas Eyffler

Charity Number: 216829

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M
Geographic Focus: Warwickshire

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £300,000+
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: £21,000 - £75,000 per year (based on known grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Town of Warwick (CV34 postcode area)
  • Charity Number: 216829

Contact Details

Website: https://thomasoken.org.uk/

Email: clerk@thomasoken.org.uk (Note: There is a typo in the provided email - correct email is clerk@thomasoken.org.uk)

Phone: 01926 491181

Clerk to the Trustees: James Williams

Address: 34 High Street, Warwick CV34 4BE

Overview

The Charity of Thomas Oken and Nicholas Eyffler is one of Warwick's oldest charitable trusts, founded in the 16th century through the wills of Thomas Oken (a local mercer who died in 1573) and Nicholas Eyffler (a German glazier and immigrant). The two separate charities merged in 1988. The charity has total income of approximately £422,000 annually and distributes over £300,000 each year to local causes in Warwick. Operating for over 450 years, the charity maintains its historical mission to provide almshouses and relief in need for residents of Warwick. The trustees focus on multi-year grants (typically three years) to local organizations, ensuring sustainable support for community services. The charity works with nine major partner organizations to deliver impact across healthcare, social welfare, mental health, and education sectors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity typically provides significant multi-year grants (normally for three years) rather than one-off funding. Known grant amounts include:

  • Major Healthcare/Social Care Grants: £75,000 per year for three years (e.g., Enhanced Care at Home scheme)
  • Community Service Grants: £21,000+ per year (e.g., Citizens Advice Reach Out and Help service)
  • Smaller Grants: Approximately £50,000 distributed annually for general “relief in need”
  • Educational Bursaries: Oken Eyffler Bursary up to £1,000 per student (for WCG students aged 18+ from Warwick CV34)

Application Method: Not publicly specified - contact the Clerk directly

Priority Areas

The charity actively funds organizations and projects that provide:

  • Healthcare Services: Home hospice care, enhanced medical care for housebound patients, care home support
  • Social Welfare: Citizens advice services, support for vulnerable residents
  • Mental Health: Active monitoring services and mental health support
  • Education: Bursaries for further education, apprenticeships, college, and university
  • Housing: 14 almshouses on Castle Hill and Bowling Green Street for residents in need
  • Support for Veterans: Retirement homes for ex-soldiers
  • Youth Development: Apprenticing support for young people from Warwick

Current Major Partners (receiving ongoing grants)

  1. Homestart Charity
  2. Myton Hospice at Home service
  3. The Parenting Project
  4. Springfield MIND
  5. Citizens Advice South Warwickshire
  6. Safeline
  7. Warwickshire College Group
  8. Warwick Schools Foundation
  9. Warwickshire Care Services at Woodside Care Village
  10. The Lord Leycester Hospital

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the charity's focus suggests:

  • Geographic restriction: Projects outside the town of Warwick (CV34 postcode area)
  • Non-local beneficiaries: Individuals or organizations not connected to Warwick residents
  • The charity operates under Charity Commission guidelines for “relief in need”
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (2023)

  • Clive Mason (Chairman)
  • Cllr Oliver Jaques (Mayor of Warwick)
  • Cllr Jim Sinnot
  • Anita White
  • Terry Brown
  • Terry Morris
  • Rachel McCarthy
  • Wende Hubbard
  • Caroline Whitwood
  • Stuart Hatton
  • Jane Marshall
  • Dr Neha Sharma
  • Katherine Skudra
  • Peter Beddoes

Clerk to the Trustees

James Williams - Primary administrative contact for all grant and almshouse applications

Leadership Philosophy

The trustees are committed to honoring the original intent of the founders. According to the charity's stated priorities, the current board continues "to look after the almshouses and to administer the funds in accordance with the benefactor's wishes for the benefit of those in need in Warwick."

This demonstrates a commitment to both historical continuity and modern community needs, balancing the 16th-century founding vision with contemporary social challenges.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The charity does not have a published online application portal or detailed application guidelines on its website. Prospective applicants should:

  • Organization details and Warwick connection
  • Project description and beneficiary information
  • Funding request and timeframe
  • Evidence of need within Warwick community

Decision Timeline

  • Not publicly specified - contact the Clerk for current timelines
  • Grants are typically awarded for three-year periods, suggesting annual or semi-annual review cycles
  • The charity distributes over £300,000 annually, indicating active ongoing grantmaking

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. However, the charity works with nine major partner organizations on an ongoing basis, suggesting that once funding relationships are established, they tend to be sustained over multiple years.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly stated. Given the charity's preference for three-year funding commitments, successful applicants likely receive multi-year support. Applicants should discuss reapplication options directly with the Clerk.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Indicators

  1. Strong Warwick Connection: All funded projects must clearly benefit residents of the town of Warwick (CV34 postcode area). Projects must demonstrate direct impact on local people in need.
  1. Relief in Need Focus: The charity's constitutional objects emphasize “relief in need.” Applications should clearly articulate how the project addresses poverty, hardship, or disadvantage among Warwick residents.
  1. Multi-Year Sustainability: The charity favors three-year funding commitments. Applications should demonstrate how sustained funding will create lasting impact rather than short-term fixes.
  1. Collaborative Approach: Recent grants show the charity values partnerships. For example, the Enhanced Care at Home scheme involved collaboration between the charity, GP practices, and NHS services.
  1. Proven Track Record: The charity maintains ongoing relationships with nine major partners, suggesting they favor established organizations with demonstrated effectiveness.

Examples of Funded Projects

  • Enhanced Care at Home: £75,000/year for three years to provide proactive medical and nursing care to housebound patients and Park View Care home residents
  • Citizens Advice Reach Out and Help: £21,123 to support advice services for Warwick residents in need
  • Myton Hospice at Home: Multi-year funding to support night nurse services
  • Springfield MIND: Funding for Active Monitoring mental health services
  • Oken Eyffler Bursary: Educational support for Warwick students aged 18+ at Warwickshire College Group

Language and Terminology

The charity uses traditional charitable language reflecting its historic origins:

  • “Relief in need”
  • “Persons living within the town of Warwick”
  • "Benefactor's wishes"
  • “Poor of the town”

However, funded projects show the charity takes a modern, practical approach to addressing contemporary social issues including healthcare access, mental health, education, and social welfare.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic specificity is critical: Your project must directly benefit residents of Warwick town (CV34 postcode). This is a strict eligibility criterion rooted in the charity's founding documents.
  1. Think multi-year, not one-off: The charity typically commits to three-year funding periods. Frame your application around sustained impact and long-term sustainability rather than short-term projects.
  1. Emphasize “relief in need”: Clearly articulate how your project alleviates poverty, hardship, or disadvantage. Use evidence and data to demonstrate the need within Warwick's community.
  1. Build relationships first: With nine major ongoing partners, the charity values established relationships. Consider reaching out to the Clerk for an initial conversation before submitting a full proposal.
  1. Demonstrate collaboration: Successful projects often involve partnerships between organizations (e.g., NHS, GPs, care homes, charities). Show how your project complements existing services.
  1. Significant funding available: With £300,000+ distributed annually and individual grants ranging from £21,000-£75,000 per year, this charity can provide substantial multi-year support for the right projects.
  1. Contact the Clerk directly: Without published application guidelines, personal contact with James Williams (Clerk) is essential to understand current priorities and application procedures.

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