The Childwick Trust

Charity Number: 1150413

Annual Expenditure: £4.1M
Throughout England, South Africa

Contact Info

Website: www.childwicktrust.org

Phone: 01727 844666

Email: kirsty@childwicktrust.org

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £89 million total distributed since 1992
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (competitive process)
  • Decision Time: 12 weeks (3 months)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £20,000 (typical range)
  • Geographic Focus: South and South East England only (except South Africa program)

Contact Details

  • Website: www.childwicktrust.org
  • Email: kirsty@childwicktrust.org
  • Phone: 01727 844666
  • Contact: Kirsty Jones (for application enquiries)

Overview

THE CHILDWICK TRUST was established by Jim Joel shortly before his death in 1992, becoming the principal beneficiary of his personal estate. Jim Joel inherited the Childwickbury estate in Hertfordshire in 1940 and was a successful racehorse owner and breeder, as was his father JB Joel. Since its founding, the Trust has distributed approximately £89 million to local and national charities. The Trust operates with a clear mission to support healthcare charities, the welfare of people in horseracing, Jewish charities, and Early Childhood Development in South Africa through the Jim Joel Fund. The Trust demonstrates a commitment to transparency by publishing annual accounts and grant lists. Currently led by Chairman Peter Anwyl-Harris, a former investment management professional, the Trust prioritizes charities with annual incomes under £5 million (with exceptions for hospices).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Healthcare Grants: £5,000 - £20,000 (approximately half of all grants)
  • Rolling applications through biannual funding windows (April and October)
  • Supports charities offering care for terminally ill, seriously ill, mental and physical disabilities, elderly in need
  • Horseracing Welfare: £5,000 - £20,000
  • Supports elderly and retired racing industry workers, injured individuals, low-income staff, and young people needing support
  • Includes welfare of Thoroughbred Racehorses
  • Jewish Charities: £5,000 - £20,000
  • Supports Jewish people in need, including elderly, disabled adults, children and young people
  • South African Education (Jim Joel Fund): Varies
  • Early Childhood Development projects only
  • Separate application process through jimjoelfund.org

Priority Areas

  • Terminally ill or seriously ill individuals
  • Adults and children with physical and mental disabilities
  • Elderly people in need
  • Mental health problems and learning disabilities
  • Racing industry workforce welfare
  • Jewish community support
  • Early Childhood Development in South Africa

Geographic Coverage

UK Operations: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, London & Greater London, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, and Sussex only.

Note: Priority given to charities with annual income under £5 million (hospices excepted).

What They Don't Fund

  • Medical research
  • Animal charities (except those connected to Thoroughbred Racehorses)
  • Charities offering legal advice
  • Charities outside the UK (except South Africa)
  • Nationwide network charities (only local South/South East organizations)
  • Complementary health & therapy projects
  • Conferences & Seminars
  • HIV/AIDS related projects
  • Homeless charities
  • Individuals or organizations applying on behalf of an individual (except South African educational grants)
  • National Appeals
  • NHS Hospitals and other statutory bodies
  • Projects related to drugs or alcohol addiction
  • Students seeking sponsorship for educational or gap year projects
  • Universities – academic research, scholarships and bursaries

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Peter Anwyl-Harris - Chairman: Former investment management professional who managed portfolios for private clients, family trusts and charities; now actively involved in the not-for-profit sector
  • Dr. Alan Stranders - Trustee
  • Clare Maurice - Trustee
  • Mark Farmar - Trustee
  • Michael Fiddes - Trustee

The board of trustees meets to discuss applications in detail. For the Jim Joel Fund in South Africa, applications are monitored on behalf of the trustees by Giuliana Bland, who has worked with the Fund for nearly three decades. The Childwick Trustees meet once a year in July to discuss Jim Joel Fund supported projects.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  • Funding Windows: Applications accepted only in April and October
  • Application Method: Online through the Trust's website (childwicktrust.org) when funding windows are open
  • Pre-Application: Carefully review “Who We Fund” and "Who We Don't Fund" sections before applying
  • Application Time: Median application takes 2 hours to complete
  • South African Applications: Apply through separate Jim Joel Fund website

Decision Timeline

  • Review Period: Approximately 12 weeks (3 months)
  • Notification: Applicants notified of success or failure within 3 months of submission
  • Review Process: Applications reviewed in detail by the board of trustees at their meetings

Success Rates

The Trust receives more applications than can be granted, making it a competitive process. Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. Applicants are advised not to be discouraged if their worthy application is not selected.

Reapplication Policy

  • Successful Applicants: Must wait two years before reapplying
  • Unsuccessful Applicants: No stated waiting period; organizations are encouraged not to be discouraged and may reapply in subsequent funding rounds

Application Success Factors

Funder Characteristics (from Grant Advisor Reviews)

The Childwick Trust is described as:

  • Friendly and approachable
  • Responsive to queries
  • Understands nonprofits and issues
  • Likes site visits

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

Healthcare:

  • Cystic Fibrosis Trust: Long-term support for the CF Connect Parents service, training almost 40 volunteers to support parents through diagnosis
  • Medical Detection Dogs: Funding for training and placing Medical Alert Assistance Dogs to support people with complex medical conditions
  • Wings for Warriors: Four substantial donations to help disabled veterans qualify as commercial air pilots
  • North London Hospice: Grants for InPatient Unit running costs, community nurses, and building appeals
  • Children's Respite Trust: Support for care services

Horseracing:

  • Newmarket's Racing Centre: Grant (with other funders) for state-of-the-art gymnasium and 'Racefit' programme for racing employees

Strategic Considerations

  • Priority given to smaller charities (under £5 million annual income) suggests they value supporting organizations that may struggle to access larger funders
  • Geographic restriction to South and South East England means they focus deeply on their region rather than spreading resources nationally
  • The biannual funding windows create predictable application cycles
  • Strong emphasis on direct care and support rather than research, advocacy, or infrastructure projects
  • The Trust's racing heritage means horseracing welfare applications align strongly with founder's values

Standing Out

  • Demonstrate clear impact on beneficiaries in the South/South East of England
  • Show how your organization provides direct care and support (not just research or advice)
  • For healthcare applications, emphasize support for those with serious illness, disabilities, elderly, or mental health needs
  • For horseracing applications, connect to the welfare of racing industry workers or Thoroughbred horses
  • Be concise and clear in your application (median completion time is 2 hours)
  • Consider the Trust's heritage and values - founder was a racehorse owner/breeder with interests in South Africa

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing is Everything: Only apply during April or October funding windows; plan ahead and ensure your application is ready when windows open
  • Geographic Alignment is Critical: Must benefit people in the specific South/South East England counties listed; this is non-negotiable
  • Size Matters: Smaller charities (under £5 million income) are prioritized, giving smaller organizations a better chance
  • Direct Care Focus: The Trust funds direct support and care services, not research, conferences, or academic work
  • Two-Year Gap Rule: If successful, you cannot reapply for two years, so make your grant request count
  • Competitive but Fair: Be prepared for competition but know that the Trust is described as friendly, responsive, and understanding of nonprofit challenges
  • Heritage Alignment: Applications that align with the Trust's racing heritage or founder's values (racing industry welfare, South African education) may resonate strongly
  • Typical Grant Size: Target £5,000-£20,000 range for realistic funding expectations

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

  • Garfield Weston Foundation
  • The February Foundation
  • Get Out
  • Utilita Giving
  • Mobbs Memorial Trust Limited
  • William Harding'S Charity
  • Colefax Charitable Trust
  • Louis Baylis (Maidenhead Advertiser) Charitable Trust
  • Cecil Rosen Charitable Trust
  • The Hamilton Wallace Trust

References