The Cole Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £231,200 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks from trustees' meeting
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £2,000 (occasionally outside this range)
• Geographic Focus: West Midlands, Cambridgeshire, and Kent

Contact Details

• Website: www.colecharitabletrust.org.uk
• Email: thecoletrust@gmail.com
• Phone: 01223 871676
• Administrator: Lise Jackson
• Postal Address: PO Box 955, Haslingfield, Cambridge CB23 1WX

Overview

The Cole Charitable Trust is a family trust established in 1972, governed by a Trust Deed dated 18 April 1972. Registered with the Charity Commission (No. 264033), the trust has been making grants for over 50 years to small, local charities in the West Midlands, Cambridgeshire, and Kent regions.

The trust has a clear strategic focus on supporting small charities where modest grants can make a significant difference. In 2024, the trust distributed £231,200 across 110 grants, demonstrating consistent and substantial giving despite describing itself as a “small grant-making trust.” For the financial year ending 5 April 2024, the trust reported total income of £136,695 and expenditure of £245,541, indicating the trust draws on capital to maintain its giving levels.

The trustees prioritize social welfare, community development, and opportunities for young people, with a particular emphasis on grassroots organizations working directly with their local communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single general grant programme with:

• Standard Grants: £1,000 - £2,000 (occasionally outside this range)
• Application Method: Fixed deadlines, twice yearly (April/May and October/November meetings)

2024 Grant Distribution by Category

• Care & Social Welfare: £92,100 (58 grants) - largest category
• Trustee Requests: £73,500 (5 grants)
• Children & Youth: £34,700 (27 grants)
• Personal & Community Empowerment: £13,000 (9 grants)
• Arts & Culture: £10,400 (6 grants)
• Disability: £5,500 (4 grants)
• Education & Training: £2,000 (1 grant)

Priority Areas

The trust welcomes applications from charities working in:

• Social welfare (all age groups)
• Housing and homelessness
• Community and environmental development
• Opportunities for young people
• Promotion of improved quality of life
• Personal or community empowerment

What They Don't Fund

• Large building appeals
• Animal charities
• Research or further education
• Evangelical projects
• Individuals
• Regional or national charities (unless applying through a local branch with independent accounts)

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by 9 trustees, predominantly members of the Cole family:

• Tim Cole – Chair
• Becky Newton – Trustee (appointed April 2024)
• Angie Cole – Trustee (appointed November 2019)
• Jacqui Francis – Trustee (appointed November 2019)
• Ranjit Sondhi – Trustee (appointed May 2014)
• Jont Cole – Trustee
• Dr James Nicholas Cole – Trustee
• Tom Cole – Trustee
• George Nicholas Cole – Trustee

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust employs one volunteer administrator (Lise Jackson) who manages day-to-day operations and grant administration.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Check eligibility criteria on the trust's website
2. Download and complete the application form
3. Write a covering letter on headed paper describing your project and explaining how the grant will help
4. Submit by email (preferred) to thecoletrust@gmail.com or by post to PO Box 955, Haslingfield, Cambridge CB23 1WX
5. Include your latest accounts (unless available on the Charity Commission website)

Important: The trustees will only see the first page of your covering letter, so be concise and compelling.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet ALL four criteria:

1. Size & Structure: Be a small, local charity (or local branch with independent accounts), registered with the Charity Commission or exempt, with annual income below £1.5 million

1. Focus Areas: Work in one of the trust's priority areas (social welfare, housing, community development, youth opportunities, quality of life, empowerment)

• Greater Birmingham (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton)
• Cambridgeshire
• Kent and Medway (excluding London boroughs)

1. Safeguarding: Have safeguarding policies in place per Charity Commission guidelines

Decision Timeline

• Meeting Frequency: Twice yearly (April/May and October/November)
• Application Deadline: Six weeks before each meeting
• Decision Notification: Within six weeks of the trustees' meeting
• All applications acknowledged: Yes

Reapplication Policy

• Only one application per charity considered at a time
• No reapplication within one year of a previous grant
• Further grants for the same purpose may be considered on a case-by-case basis
• Unsuccessful applicants are notified but reasons for rejection are not provided

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Looks For

Based on the trust's stated preferences and funding patterns:

1. Small, grassroots organisations: The trustees explicitly favour “small charities for whom the modest grants available can make a significant difference”

1. Local impact: Applications should clearly demonstrate local community benefit within the specified geographic areas

• What your project is
• Who it will benefit
• How the grant will be used
• The difference it will make

1. Strong safeguarding: Having robust safeguarding policies is a mandatory requirement

1. Reasonable budget: With typical grants of £1,000-£2,000, ensure your request is proportionate and the grant amount will make a meaningful contribution

1. Timely use of funds: Grants must be spent within one year

Grant Conditions

Successful applicants must:

• Acknowledge receipt of the grant in writing on headed paper
• Use funds only for the approved purpose
• Return any surplus funds not required for the approved project
• Submit a progress report if requested
• Consent to the trust using your organization's name in publicity materials

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Be concise: Trustees only see the first page of your covering letter – make every word count and lead with your strongest case

1. Demonstrate local impact: Emphasise your connection to and impact within the specific geographic areas the trust covers (West Midlands, Cambridgeshire, or Kent)

1. Small is beautiful: The trust explicitly prefers small charities where their grants make a real difference – highlight how their contribution will be significant to your organisation

1. Apply at the right time: Submit applications up to six weeks before the April/May or October/November trustee meetings

1. Focus on core priorities: Care & Social Welfare receives the largest share of funding (40% of 2024 grants) – applications in this area align well with trustee priorities

1. One-off funding: Grants are normally on a one-off basis, so frame your request as a discrete project rather than ongoing operational support

1. Be patient with reapplications: Wait at least one year before reapplying, and note that the trust does not provide feedback on unsuccessful applications

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Souter Charitable Trust
• THE EVESON TRUST
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Grimmitt Trust
• Kent Community Foundation
• The Arts Council of England
• The Henry Smith Foundation
• THE HEALTH FOUNDATION
• THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED
• THE ASDA FOUNDATION
• The Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust
• Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust
• BBC Children in Need
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
• IMPACT Foundation
• National Lottery
• HENRY SMITH
• Cambridge University Press
• THE FOYLE FOUNDATION

References

• The Cole Charitable Trust Official Website –
• The Cole Charitable Trust – Apply for a Grant – Application process details
• The Cole Charitable Trust – Eligibility – Eligibility criteria
• The Cole Charitable Trust – FAQs – Frequently asked questions
• The Cole Charitable Trust – Meeting Timetable – Application deadlines
• The Cole Charitable Trust – Terms & Conditions – Grant conditions
• The Cole Charitable Trust – Recent Grants – 2024 grant distribution
• Charity Commission Register – Charity 264033 – Financial and governance information
• Charity Commission – Trustees – Trustee names and appointments
• Charity Commission – Full Print – Registration date and governing documents