The Cranswick Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £274,065 (FY 2023-24)
• Annual Income: £154,652 (FY 2023-24)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: £150 - £300 (Ukraine Fund individual grants); larger amounts for organizations
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide with focus on Greater Lincolnshire
• Charity Number: 1192296

Contact Details

Email: charitable.trust@cranswick.co.uk

Phone: 01482 275000

Address: Cranswick PLC, Crane Court, Ferriby Road, Hessle, HU13 0PA

Overview

The Cranswick Charitable Trust was founded in October 2020 and registered with the Charity Commission in November 2020. Supported by Cranswick plc, one of the UK's largest food producers, the Trust operates as an independent grant-making charity governed by a separate board of trustees. The Trust was established to take Cranswick's charitable work to the next level, providing a more structured approach to corporate philanthropy. In its most recent financial year ending March 2024, the Trust distributed £274,065 in grants despite income of £154,652, demonstrating significant commitment from reserves. The charity makes grants to other charities, individuals, and not-for-profit organisations for public benefit, with particular focus on alleviating hardship, addressing food poverty, and supporting educational needs. The Trust includes support for individuals and families facing hardship, including former Cranswick employees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Organizational Grants: Grant amounts vary depending on project scope and need. The Trust has made significant donations including a £30,000 grant to Lincolnshire Community Foundation for the Ukraine Refugee Appeal, which supported 40 individual applicants and 6 community organizations.

Individual Hardship Grants: Small grants available for individuals and families in need, with amounts determined on a case-by-case basis. Through the Ukraine Fund partnership, individual refugees received up to £150 and families received up to £300 (distributed as goods/services, not cash).

Priority Areas

Food Poverty: Primary focus area supporting initiatives that address food insecurity and hunger. The Trust actively seeks partnerships with organizations combating food poverty across the UK.

Children's Charities: Supports organizations working with children and young people, particularly those addressing educational needs and wellbeing.

Employment and Education Routes: Funds charities and programs that create pathways to employment and provide educational opportunities, helping individuals gain skills and access work.

Individual Hardship: Provides direct support to individuals and families facing financial difficulties, including former employees of Cranswick and their families.

Refugee Support: Has demonstrated commitment to supporting displaced persons, particularly Ukrainian refugees settling in the UK.

What They Don't Fund

The Trust's specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, based on their stated priorities, funding is unlikely for projects that fall outside their core focus areas of food poverty, children's welfare, employment pathways, and hardship relief.

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by 6 trustees, with no trustees receiving remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The board includes at least one representative independent of Cranswick. Key trustees include:

Andy Napthine - Trustee and Group Marketing Director at Cranswick plc. Napthine has been quoted regarding the Ukraine Fund: “We are pleased to help create the Cranswick Charitable Trust Ukraine Fund and provide support and aid for displaced families. We have a number of Ukrainian colleagues with family and friends still in the country and we want to help in any way we can.”

Steven Glover - Trustee and Company Secretary at Cranswick plc (appointed Company Secretary July 2017, previously partner at Squire Patton Boggs for 19 years)

Miranda Spencer - Trustee and Group HR Director at Cranswick plc

Andrew Martin Napthine - Director (may be same as Andy Napthine above)

Michael De-Villamar Roberts - Director

The Trust operates with no employees and distributes all grants through trustee decisions. The charity has no trading subsidiaries and no employees earning over £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Cranswick Charitable Trust does not have a public online application portal or published application guidelines. The Trust appears to operate on a discretionary basis with trustees identifying and supporting causes aligned with their strategic priorities.

For organizations seeking funding, the recommended approach is to make initial contact via:

• Email: charitable.trust@cranswick.co.uk
• Phone: 01482 275000

Initial inquiries should clearly outline:

• Your organization's mission and activities
• How your work aligns with the Trust's priority areas (food poverty, children's welfare, employment/education, hardship relief)
• The specific project or need requiring funding
• The amount of funding sought
• Expected outcomes and beneficiaries

The Trust has demonstrated willingness to partner with established organizations (such as Lincolnshire Community Foundation) to distribute funds and maximize impact.

Getting on Their Radar

The Trust has shown a preference for strategic partnerships with established charitable organizations that have proven track records in their priority areas. Their partnership with Lincolnshire Community Foundation for the Ukraine Fund demonstrates this approach, with Andy Napthine noting they chose the Foundation because of “the impact Lincolnshire Community Foundation had previously delivered in helping Ukrainians in the County.”

For organizations based in Lincolnshire and surrounding areas: There appears to be a geographic preference for local and regional causes, particularly within Greater Lincolnshire where Cranswick plc is headquartered.

For organizations working in food: Given Cranswick's position as a leading UK food producer, projects connecting food security, food redistribution, or tackling food poverty may have strong alignment. Note that Cranswick plc separately participates in the Coronation Food Project supporting FareShare and The Felix Project.

For organizations supporting employment: Projects that provide employment pathways, particularly for disadvantaged groups or those in hardship, align well with the Trust's stated priorities.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. As the Trust operates on a discretionary basis with trustee meetings, applicants should expect the process may take several weeks to months depending on grant size and complexity.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volumes are not publicly disclosed. As a relatively new trust (founded 2020) without a public application process, comprehensive statistics are not available.

Reapplication Policy

No public reapplication policy has been published. Organizations should inquire directly about reapplication possibilities if initially unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about application processes, the following factors appear important based on the Trust's activities and statements:

Alignment with Core Priorities: Projects must clearly address one or more of the Trust's stated focus areas: food poverty, children's charities, employment routes, or individual hardship. Applications should explicitly connect their work to these priorities.

Demonstrated Impact: The Trust's choice to partner with Lincolnshire Community Foundation based on their previous impact suggests they value proven track records and measurable outcomes. Applications should include evidence of past success and clear metrics for proposed activities.

Connection to Cranswick's Values: As a corporate-funded trust, understanding Cranswick plc's broader commitment to food production, community support, and employee welfare may provide insights. The Trust explicitly supports former Cranswick employees, indicating loyalty to the company's workforce.

Partnership Approach: The Trust has shown willingness to work through intermediary organizations that have expertise and distribution networks. Smaller organizations might consider partnering with larger established charities that can approach the Trust on their behalf.

Clear Need and Urgency: The Trust's rapid response to the Ukraine crisis (making £30,000 immediately available) suggests they respond well to urgent, clearly articulated needs affecting vulnerable populations.

Local and Regional Focus: While the Trust can fund UK-wide projects, there appears to be preference for causes in or near Lincolnshire, where Cranswick is based and where they have established community connections.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process - Direct contact via email or phone is required; build a relationship before requesting funding
• Strategic alignment is critical - Only approach if your work genuinely addresses food poverty, children's needs, employment pathways, or hardship relief
• Partnership model preferred - The Trust works through established organizations; consider partnering with larger charities if you're a small organization
• Geographic preference - Lincolnshire and Greater Lincolnshire projects may have advantage given Cranswick's local headquarters and connections
• Proven impact matters - Demonstrate your track record and previous success in delivering similar work
• Relatively young trust - Founded in 2020, the Trust is still developing its processes and may be open to new partnerships and approaches
• Substantial giving despite recent founding - With £274,065 distributed in FY 2023-24, the Trust demonstrates serious commitment to its charitable mission despite being less than five years old

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE 9684 TRUST
• THE TULA TRUST LIMITED
• Toby and Regina Wyles Charitable Trust
• Equitable Charity Trust
• THE TRESANTON TRUST
• The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust
• THE JOHN MACLEOD CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Purslow Trust
• Susanna Peake Charitable Trust
• GRACE CHARITABLE TRUST

References

• The Charity Commission, “Charity overview, The Cranswick Charitable Trust - 1192296”, Register of Charities: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1192296&subid=0
• Cranswick plc, “Cranswick Charitable Trust”, Responsibility section: https://cranswick.plc.uk/responsibility/cranswick-charitable-trust
• Lincolnshire Community Foundation, “Ukraine Refugee Appeal - Cranswick Charitable Trust Ukraine Fund”: https://lincolnshirecf.co.uk/ukraine/
• VET (Voluntary Engagement Team), “Cranswick Charitable Trust Ukraine Fund”: https://lvet.co.uk/cranswick-charitable-trust-ukraine-fund/
• Companies House, “THE CRANSWICK CHARITABLE TRUST overview”, Company Number 12934741: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12934741
• Quote from Andy Napthine regarding Ukraine Fund partnership and support for Ukrainian colleagues, from Lincolnshire Community Foundation materials, 2022