The Combined Cutlers Company Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £45,000-£65,000
• Success Rate: Approximately 78% (39 grants from estimated 50 applications)
• Decision Time: 6 months (biannual review cycles)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £2,000 (most grants); average £1,500
• Geographic Focus: Sheffield City Region / South Yorkshire

Contact Details

Address: Cutlers Hall, 7-15 Church Street, Sheffield S1 1HG

Phone: 0114 272 8456

Email:

• General enquiries: admin@cutlers-hallamshire.org.uk
• Applications: pa-ceo@cutlers-hallamshire.org.uk

Website: https://www.cutlers-hallamshire.org.uk/the-company-does/charities/

Overview

The Combined Cutlers Company Charitable Trust (registered charity 224063) operates under the auspices of The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, a historic Sheffield institution. The trust comprises two main funds: The Company of Cutlers Charitable Trust (formed in 2008 from the Jane Fisher Gift, the Stuart Goodwin Charity and the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire Welfare Trust) and The Sir John Osborn Charitable Fund. The trust distributes approximately £45,000-£65,000 annually to charitable organizations across the Sheffield City Region, with a focus on relief of need, hardship and distress, as well as health-related causes. The trust has donated to more than 50 charities and is actively seeking to widen its scope. Additionally, the trust manages a fund held by the South Yorkshire Community Foundation (established through a £100,000 donation) that specifically supports manufacturing skills and economic regeneration in South Yorkshire.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme

• Amount: £1,000 - £2,000 (typical range); average grant £1,500
• Application Method: Fixed biannual deadlines (end of April and October)
• Decision Meetings: May and November each year
• Note: Bids for more than £2,000 are rare and require demonstration of very significant impact

South Yorkshire Community Foundation Manufacturing Fund

• Amount: Approximately £7,000-£9,000 distributed annually
• Focus: Manufacturing skills and economic regeneration
• Administered by: South Yorkshire Community Foundation with CCCT trustee approval

Priority Areas

The Company of Cutlers Charitable Trust:

• Relief of persons in need, hardship or distress
• Support for residents of South Yorkshire experiencing difficulties
• Community organizations providing direct support services

Sir John Osborn Charitable Fund:

• Relief of sickness and protection of health
• Recognized charitable objectives as selected by trustees
• Small charities benefiting people of Sheffield
• Receives proportional funding from the Master Cutler's Challenge fundraising events

Manufacturing Skills Fund (via SYCF):

• Economic improvement of South Yorkshire
• Strengthening and regenerating manufacturing industries
• Projects that encourage people and equip them with skills and knowledge
• Support for small, local voluntary and community groups

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly listed, the trust has clear geographic and purpose restrictions:

• Geographic limitation: Activity must be in the Sheffield City Region / South Yorkshire only
• Size preference: The trust focuses on small to medium grants; large grant requests (over £2,000) are rarely funded
• Organizations outside the charitable objectives of relief of need/hardship or health/sickness are unlikely to be successful

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by trustees appointed by The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire. The decision-making process involves:

• Trustee review of applications twice annually (May and November)
• For the South Yorkshire Community Foundation fund, distributions are made by SYCF but CCCT Trustees confirm that bids are within the objectives of the scheme
• Trustees and Members of the Company are encouraged to identify organizations whose activities might fall within the charitable objects

The late Sir John Osborn (died December 2015) was a former Conservative MP for Sheffield Hallam who established the Sir John Osborn Charitable Fund. His legacy continues through the fund's focus on health and charitable objectives in Sheffield.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Download the application form from the Cutlers' website
2. Submit by postal mail to: Cutlers Hall, 7-15 Church Street, Sheffield S1 1HG
3. Or submit electronically by scanning and emailing to: pa-ceo@cutlers-hallamshire.org.uk

Application Requirements by Amount:

• £1,000 and below: Clear explanation of what funds are for and the impact they will have
• £1,000-£2,000: More detailed application with demonstration of significant impact
• Over £2,000: Rarely awarded; requires very significant impact demonstration

Decision Timeline

• Deadlines: End of April (for May meeting) and end of October (for November meeting)
• Decision meetings: May and November each year
• Total timeline: Approximately 4-6 weeks from deadline to decision
• Notification method: Applications are reviewed by trustees at biannual meetings

Success Rates

Based on disclosed data:

• The CCCT contributed £45,000 benefitting 39 different organizations
• The trust donated to more than 50 charities in a single year
• With an average grant of £1,500 and 39 grants awarded, estimated success rate is approximately 78%

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not explicitly stated on their public materials. Applicants should contact the trust directly to inquire about reapplication if unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors:

1. Geographic alignment: Applications must clearly demonstrate benefit to Sheffield City Region / South Yorkshire residents

1. Impact clarity: The trust emphasizes impact - applications must clearly articulate what difference the funding will make, particularly for amounts over £1,000

1. Realistic funding requests: Most grants average £1,500; requesting within the £1,000-£2,000 range increases chances of success

1. Alignment with charitable objectives: Clear connection to either relief of need/hardship/distress OR health/sickness relief is essential

1. Small to medium-sized organizations: The trust is seeking to widen its scope and support more charities, suggesting opportunities for smaller organizations that may not have applied before

1. Member awareness: “Trustees and Members of the Company are asked to keep their eyes open for organizations whose activities might fall within the objects” - having a connection to or awareness from Company members may be beneficial

Direct Guidance from the Trust:

The trust provides clear guidance on application requirements: grants for £1,000 and below need “a clear explanation of what the funds are for and the impact they will have,” while grants of £1,000-£2,000 “should have more detail with a significant impact.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Timing is critical: Only two funding rounds per year (May and November) - missing the April or October deadline means waiting another six months

1. Right-size your request: Aim for £1,000-£2,000 range for optimal chances; the average grant is £1,500, and requests over £2,000 are rarely funded

1. Impact is paramount: Applications require progressively more detail about impact as funding amount increases - be specific and measurable

1. Geographic restriction is absolute: Only organizations benefiting Sheffield City Region / South Yorkshire residents are eligible - make this connection crystal clear

1. Choose the right fund: Understand whether your work aligns with relief of need/hardship (main trust) or health/sickness (Sir John Osborn fund) and tailor accordingly

1. The trust wants to expand: With explicit statements about “seeking to widen its scope,” this is an opportune time for new organizations to apply

1. Keep applications concise but complete: Most grants are relatively small (£1,500 average), so applications should be proportionate - clear and impactful without excessive detail for lower amounts

References

• Charity Commission Register: THE COMBINED CUTLERS COMPANY CHARITABLE TRUST (224063), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/224063/contact-information (Accessed 31 October 2025)

• The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire - Charities page, https://www.cutlers-hallamshire.org.uk/the-company-does/charities/ (Accessed 31 October 2025)

• The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire - "CUTLERS' COMBINED CHARITABLE TRUST – 15.07.24", https://www.cutlers-hallamshire.org.uk/cutlers-combined-charitable-trust-15-07-24/ (Accessed 31 October 2025)

• The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire - Education and Skills page, https://www.cutlers-hallamshire.org.uk/the-company-does/education-and-skills/ (Accessed 31 October 2025)