The Englefield Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 258123

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M
Geographic Focus: Hackney, Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor And Maidenhead, Wokingham

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £150,000 (per funding round, approximately £300,000 annually)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 2-6 months (depending on application cycle)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £5,000
  • Geographic Focus: Berkshire, North Hampshire, and selected areas in London and Scotland connected to the Englefield Estate

Contact Details

  • Website: www.englefieldestate.co.uk
  • Email: charity@englefield.co.uk
  • Phone: 07880701138
  • Application Portal: The Good Exchange (primary method for local grants)
  • Address: Englefield Estate, Berkshire

Overview

The Englefield Charitable Trust was established in 1968 by Sir William Benyon and is now chaired by his daughter, Catherine Haig. For over 55 years, the Trust has supported charities and good causes in and around Berkshire, North Hampshire, and other areas of interest to the Englefield Estate. The Trust is registered as charity number 258123 and operates with an independent board of trustees. With total income of approximately £671,516 (2023), the Trust distributes around £300,000 annually through two funding rounds in March and October. The Trust is the philanthropic arm of the Englefield Estate and takes a broad approach to funding, supporting diverse causes from youth services to conservation, arts to armed forces veterans.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant program with two annual funding rounds:

  • Biannual Grant Program: £500 - £5,000 per grant (one-off funding basis)
  • Spring Round: Applications typically due in February, decisions in March
  • Autumn Round: Applications typically due in September, decisions in October
  • Application method: Primarily through The Good Exchange portal or via email to charity@englefield.co.uk

Priority Areas

The Trust considers all applications from registered charities and charitable objects that align with their broad areas of support:

  • Young People and Education: Youth services, educational facilities, schools support
  • Community: Community associations, groups, events, and facilities
  • Arts and Culture: Arts organizations, cultural events, heritage preservation
  • Social welfare: Homelessness support, mental health services, disability support, dementia care
  • Conservation and Environment: Environmental projects, wetland reserves, river conservation
  • Sport and Recreation: Sports clubs, physical activity programs, wellbeing activities
  • Churches and Faith Groups: Religious buildings and faith-based community services
  • Armed Forces Veterans: Support services for military veterans
  • Agriculture: Agricultural projects in rural areas

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed on their website. Applicants should refer to The Good Exchange portal or contact the Trust directly for detailed exclusion criteria. Standard practice for similar trusts suggests they likely exclude:

  • Individuals (only registered charities and charitable objects)
  • Retrospective funding
  • General appeals and circular requests
  • Primarily London-based projects (unless in areas connected to the Estate, such as Hackney)
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Governance and Leadership

Catherine Haig - Chair of Trustees (since 2014)

  • Daughter of Sir William Benyon (founder)
  • Continues her father's legacy of supporting local charities and communities

Lord Richard Benyon - Associated with the Trust (Catherine Haig's brother)

  • Former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DEFRA
  • Now Lord Chamberlain of the Household (since November 2024)
  • Oversees the Englefield Estate

The Trust maintains independence from the Englefield Estate with its own board of trustees, though the family maintains strong involvement in governance.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Primary Method: The Good Exchange portal

  • Most local grants are processed through this online platform
  • Offers additional benefits including match funding opportunities from supporter donations
  • Visit: app.thegoodexchange.com

Alternative Method: Direct email application

  • Email applications to charity@englefield.co.uk
  • Download “Guidance for applicants” PDF from the Englefield Estate website for detailed requirements

Eligibility: All registered charities and charitable objects may apply

Decision Timeline

The Trust meets twice annually to review applications:

  • March Meeting: For spring funding round
  • October Meeting: For autumn funding round

Applications should be submitted by the deadlines (typically February and September). Decisions are made at the trustee meetings, with notifications following shortly after. The process from submission to decision typically takes 2-6 months depending on when in the cycle you apply.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. However, recent funding rounds show:

  • Autumn 2024: Nearly 70 projects funded
  • Spring 2024: Over 50 charities funded
  • March 2025: Over 30 charities funded

This suggests competitive but achievable selection, with dozens of applications receiving funding in each round.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy or waiting period is publicly stated. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust at charity@englefield.co.uk for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Based on recent funded projects and the Trust's published priorities, successful applications typically demonstrate:

Geographic Connection

  • Strong local presence in Berkshire, North Hampshire, or specific Estate areas (including Hackney, London and parts of Scotland)
  • Clear benefit to communities in the Trust's geographic focus areas

Recent Successful Projects Include:

  • Autism Berkshire: Walk & Talk outdoor activity group for autistic adults - the only one of its kind in Berkshire
  • Sport in Mind: Mental health support through sport and physical activity at the Newbury centre
  • Clean Rivers Trust: £4,000 for identifying and remedying river pollution
  • Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve: Creation of wetland landscape with public access and education centre
  • Whizz Kidz: Empowering disabled children and young wheelchair users
  • Red Balloon Project: Therapeutic and educational support for young people following bullying and trauma
  • Smart Works Reading: Helping women on low incomes with job searching and interview preparation
  • Bramley School Association: £3,000 for school support
  • De Beauvoir Jazz Festival: Community event support in Hackney, London

Key Success Factors:

  1. Specific Community Impact: Projects demonstrate clear, tangible benefit to local communities
  2. Unique or Specialized Services: Projects filling gaps in provision (like “the only one of its kind”)
  3. Practical Outcomes: Tangible deliverables rather than general running costs
  4. Diverse Beneficiary Types: The Trust values variety - from youth to veterans, environment to arts
  5. Use of The Good Exchange: Applying through their preferred portal may increase visibility and offers match funding opportunities

Trust's Own Guidance:

“Trustees meet twice a year, in March and October, to undertake the difficult task of choosing who will receive a grant, from many inspiring applicants.”

This statement indicates:

  • Competition is high (“difficult task”)
  • Quality matters (“inspiring applicants”)
  • Applications are evaluated holistically across the full range of causes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Apply Through The Good Exchange: This is the Trust's preferred method for local grants and offers the additional benefit of potential match funding from other supporters, increasing your total fundraising potential.
  1. Geographic Focus Is Critical: Strong connection to Berkshire, North Hampshire, or specific Englefield Estate areas (including Hackney) is essential. Make this connection explicit in your application.
  1. Modest Grant Amounts: Request between £500-£5,000 as the Trust prefers one-off grants rather than multi-year commitments. Be specific about what this amount will achieve.
  1. Demonstrate Uniqueness: Successful projects often provide specialized or unique services. Highlight what makes your project distinctive or fills a gap in local provision.
  1. Broad Philanthropic Interests: The Trust genuinely considers diverse causes from arts to armed forces, environment to education. Don't self-reject - if you serve their geographic area, you have a chance.
  1. Plan for Timing: With only two funding rounds annually, time your application to align with either the spring (February deadline) or autumn (September deadline) cycle.
  1. Expect Competition But Stay Optimistic: While dozens of applications are received, dozens are also funded in each round, suggesting a reasonable success rate for well-prepared applications aligned with the Trust's priorities.

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