The Diana Startin Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £136,709 (2023), £219,290 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Trustee discretion
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Warwickshire and surrounding areas

Contact Details

• Email: david.lodder@lodders.co.uk
• Phone: 01789 206101
• Address: c/o Lodders Solicitors LLP, 10 Elm Court, Arden Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6PA
• Website: None

Overview

The Diana Startin Charitable Trust (registered charity 1201431) is a private grant-making trust established in 2008 that supports local charities in Warwickshire and surrounding areas. With annual expenditure ranging from £136,709 to £219,290 in recent years, the trust focuses on supporting organizations that help the elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged, as well as those providing relief to patients suffering from cancer, Parkinson's Disease, and strokes. The trust operates alongside The Diana Startin Foundation CIO, which holds substantial assets of over £10 million, suggesting significant long-term funding capacity for local charitable causes. Both organizations share the same three trustees and charitable mission, operating through professional administration by Lodders Solicitors in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate specific named grant programs. All grants are made at trustees' discretion to support local charitable organizations.

Priority Areas

• Support for elderly people
• Services for people with disabilities
• Programs for disadvantaged individuals
• Relief and support for cancer patients
• Services for Parkinson's Disease patients
• Support for stroke survivors
• Local Warwickshire charities addressing community needs

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are publicly documented, though the geographic restriction to Warwickshire and surrounding areas effectively excludes national or international organizations without local presence.

Ready to write a winning application for The Diana Startin Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by three trustees who have served since its establishment in 2008:

• Diana Rosemary Wilson Startin - Founder and trustee
• David Stuart Degge Lodder - Senior Partner at Lodders Solicitors, with over 50 years' experience in agricultural and charity law. He also chairs the Lodders Charitable Foundation
• Dr Roger Gadsby MBE - Associate Clinical Professor at Warwick Medical School, awarded MBE for services to diabetes and the NHS. Also serves as chairman of trustees for Pregnancy Sickness Support charity

All trustees serve without remuneration, demonstrating commitment to maximizing charitable impact. The professional administration through Lodders Solicitors ensures robust governance and compliance.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are made entirely at the discretion of trustees to organizations they identify through their knowledge of local charitable needs in Warwickshire.

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations may come to trustees' attention through:

• The extensive local networks of David Lodder through Lodders Solicitors, which has strong connections to Warwickshire's charitable sector
• Dr Roger Gadsby's connections through Warwick Medical School and healthcare networks, particularly for health-related charities
• Local charitable forums and networks in Warwickshire where trustees may encounter organizations aligned with their funding priorities

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made at trustees' discretion without published timelines or meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to absence of public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to absence of public application process.

Application Success Factors

As this is a trustee-discretionary trust without public applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations most likely to receive support would be:

• Established Warwickshire-based charities with strong local reputation
• Organizations directly addressing the trust's stated beneficiary groups
• Charities known to trustees through professional or charitable networks
• Organizations with demonstrable impact in cancer care, Parkinson's support, or stroke rehabilitation
• Local charities serving elderly or disabled populations in Warwickshire

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private charitable trust with no public application process - grants are made entirely at trustees' discretion
• The trust has significant resources, with The Diana Startin Foundation CIO holding over £10 million in assets
• Strong focus on health-related causes, particularly cancer, Parkinson's, and stroke support
• Geographic restriction to Warwickshire and surrounding areas is strictly observed
• Professional administration through Lodders Solicitors ensures proper governance
• Building relationships with Warwickshire's charitable networks may be more effective than direct approaches
• The trust represents a significant funding source for local health and social care charities in Warwickshire

References

• UK Charity Commission Register - The Diana Startin Charitable Trust (1201431)
• UK Charity Commission Register - The Diana Startin Foundation CIO (1202427)
• Lodders Solicitors website - David Lodder profile
• University of Warwick - Dr Roger Gadsby profile, Warwick Medical School
• Charity Commission Annual Returns and Financial Information, 2023-2024