The Charles Skey Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 277697

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £540,498 (2024 expenditure)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not specified - applications reviewed by trustees in usual course
  • Grant Range: Examples show £22,500+
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Website: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com

Email: charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com

Phone: 0117 313 8200

Application Portal: Applications must be submitted through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway at funding.ludlowtrust.com. For charities not registered with the Charity Commission, applications can be emailed to charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com.

Overview

The Charles Skey Charitable Trust was established by trust deed dated 4 April 1979 (as amended by resolution dated 6 April 2013) and is registered as charity number 277697 with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The trust is managed by Ludlow Trust Company, which oversees 400+ charitable trusts. With annual expenditure of £540,498 (2024) and income of £427,789, the trust supports a wide range of charitable causes across England and Wales. The trust's charitable objectives are notably broad: “to or for the benefit of such charitable trusts institutions or purposes in such shares and in such amounts as the trustees shall from time to time think fit,” giving trustees considerable discretion in their grant-making. The trust is part of Ludlow's innovative Funding Enquiry Gateway, launched in September 2023, which has facilitated over £5 million in donations across its managed trusts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway on a rolling basis. Registered UK charities can submit applications either to the Charles Skey Charitable Trust specifically or through a general application that will be matched to relevant trusts within Ludlow's portfolio.

Application Method: Rolling basis through online portal at funding.ludlowtrust.com

Priority Areas

The Charles Skey Charitable Trust supports an exceptionally wide range of charitable purposes, including:

  • Education and training
  • Health and disability services
  • Poverty relief
  • Overseas aid and development
  • Religious activities
  • Arts, culture, and heritage
  • Amateur sport
  • Animal welfare
  • Environment, conservation, and heritage
  • Economic and community development
  • Employment initiatives

Recent grant activity demonstrates support for heritage conservation projects, with grants to organizations like Woodchester Mansion (£22,500 for entrance improvements in 2023) and the British Film Institute.

What They Don't Fund

The trust does not accept unsolicited applications outside of the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway system. Direct approaches to trustees will not be considered.

Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by four trustees:

  • Rev James Henry Aufrere Leggett - Trustee (appointed 8 November 2000)
  • David Bryan Berkeley - Trustee (appointed 7 November 2006)
  • Edward James Berkeley - Trustee (appointed 30 October 2010)
  • Joseph Robert Dennis - Trustee (appointed 20 December 2024)

According to Charity Commission records, one or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for providing services. The trustees are responsible for controlling the work, management, and administration of the charity on behalf of its beneficiaries.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications to The Charles Skey Charitable Trust must be submitted through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway at https://funding.ludlowtrust.com.

Eligibility: Only UK registered charities and exempt charities can apply. Applicants must be registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales or the Office of the Scottish Charity Register in Scotland.

Application Options:

  1. Apply directly to The Charles Skey Charitable Trust if you believe your work aligns with their objectives
  2. Submit a general application that will be matched to relevant trusts within Ludlow's portfolio of 400+ charitable trusts

Required Information: Applicants provide information about their charity and the specific work requiring funding, including details on charitable purposes, areas of focus (projects, geography, or target groups).

Platform Features: The gateway works on PCs, tablets, and smartphones, eliminating paper and postage costs for applicants.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. According to Ludlow Trust Company, “once submitted the platform is utilized to match applications to relevant charitable trusts. Trustees then consider these applications for funding in the usual course of their decision making process.”

Applications are reviewed by Ludlow Trust Managers for initial matching and suitability, then forwarded to the relevant trust trustees for consideration.

Success Rates

Success rates for The Charles Skey Charitable Trust specifically are not publicly available. The broader Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway has received over 17,000 applications since its launch in September 2023, facilitating over £5 million in grants across all managed trusts.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Unsuccessful applicants should contact charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's broad charitable objectives and discretionary grant-making approach, consider these factors:

Alignment with Charitable Purpose: The trust has exceptionally wide discretion in its grant-making. Applications should clearly articulate how the proposed work aligns with general charitable benefit rather than targeting narrow criteria.

Clear Geographic Connection: Operating throughout England and Wales, applications should demonstrate clear benefit to communities within these regions.

Heritage and Conservation: Recent grant activity shows support for heritage projects, particularly in the Bristol and Gloucestershire area (e.g., Woodchester Mansion, British Film Institute). Organizations working in arts, culture, and heritage conservation may find particularly good alignment.

Quality of Application: Since applications are initially reviewed by Trust Managers before reaching trustees, ensure your submission through the Ludlow Gateway is comprehensive, well-written, and clearly demonstrates charitable impact.

Use of the Gateway System: The trust explicitly states that trustees “Do Not accept any unsolicited applications.” This means applications submitted outside the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway will not be considered. The gateway is not optional—it is the required application method.

Matching to Multiple Trusts: The Ludlow Gateway can match your application to multiple relevant trusts within their portfolio. If your work has broad charitable benefit, consider submitting a general application rather than targeting only The Charles Skey Charitable Trust.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Gateway is Mandatory: Applications MUST be submitted through funding.ludlowtrust.com. Direct approaches will not be accepted.
  • Broad Charitable Benefit: With exceptionally wide discretionary objectives, the trust can fund virtually any charitable purpose. Focus on demonstrating clear charitable impact rather than fitting narrow criteria.
  • Heritage Connection: Recent grants suggest particular interest in heritage, arts, and culture projects, especially within Bristol and Gloucestershire regions.
  • No Cost to Apply: The Ludlow Gateway is free to use and eliminates traditional application costs (postage, printing).
  • Matching Opportunity: Your application can be matched to multiple trusts within Ludlow's 400+ portfolio—consider the broader ecosystem, not just The Charles Skey Charitable Trust.
  • Professional Management: Applications are professionally managed by Ludlow Trust Company, with Trust Managers reviewing submissions before trustee consideration.
  • Rolling Applications: No fixed deadlines—applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Similar Funders

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References