The Eric Wright Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Rolling basis, first-come-first-served
• Grant Range: £500 - £20,000
• Geographic Focus: North West England

Contact Details

Website: www.ericwright.co.uk/charitable-trust/

Email: EWCharitableTrust@ericwright.co.uk; rebeccam@ericwright.co.uk (for applications)

Phone: 01772 694613

Address: Sceptre House, Sceptre Way, Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6AW

Overview

The Eric Wright Charitable Trust was established by Mr. Eric Wright in 1990 to fulfil his belief that the role of business in society is not to create wealth for the few, but rather to help build a strong community. Registered as charity number 1002966, the Trust is uniquely structured as the sole owner of Eric Wright Group, an award-winning leader in the UK property and construction industry. This innovative ownership model means all profits are either reinvested in the business or distributed for charitable activities across the North West. The Trust was recognised as the Outstanding Grant Funder 2024 at the VSNW Funding & Commissioning Awards, highlighting its transformative support for the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Community Grants: £5,000 - £20,000 (for organisations with income/expenditure £100,000-£500,000 per annum, operating for at least 3 years)
• Minor Grants: £500 - £4,999 (for smaller organisations)
• Small Groups' Funding: Up to £500 for community groups (administered through local CVS organisations with varying eligibility criteria - typically for organisations with income under £30,000 to £50,000 annually depending on region)

All programmes operate on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines - awards are made first-come, first-served.

Priority Areas

• Young person's wellbeing
• Elderly services
• Education and training
• Health initiatives
• Carer's support
• Mental health services
• Child/family support
• Community development

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations outside the North West England
• Capital costs (except in exceptional circumstances)
• Organisations with income above £500,000 for Community Grants

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust operates with a board of trustees including:

• Alison Wright - Trustee (actively involved in grant presentations)
• Michele Collier - Trustee

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust maintains a professional approach with trustees directly involved in grant award presentations to successful organisations.

How to Apply to The Eric Wright Charitable Trust

How to Apply

Prospective applicants must contact the Trust first to discuss their application before submitting. Application is by Grant Application Form, available through initial contact with the Trust.

Decision Timeline

• Rolling basis for Community Grants
• First-come, first-served for Small Groups' Funding
• No specific timeframes disclosed publicly

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

There are no appeals or deferred applications. Applications are either successful or unsuccessful, with limited feedback provided to unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

• Pre-application contact is essential: The Trust strongly advises contacting them before applying to discuss the nature and process of applications
• Geographic alignment is critical: Must be based and working in the North West England
• Organisational maturity matters: Community Grants favour established organisations (3+ years operation)
• Direct service delivery focus: Preference for organisations delivering services directly to beneficiaries
• Revenue support available: Unlike many funders, they will consider core costs alongside project funding
• One-year spending requirement: All grants must be spent within one year of award

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Always make initial contact first - This is explicitly required and shows respect for their process
• Emphasise North West England connection - Geographic alignment is non-negotiable
• Highlight direct beneficiary impact - They prioritise organisations serving beneficiaries directly
• Consider timing carefully - First-come, first-served basis means early applications may have better chances
• Match organisational size to programme - Choose between Community and Minor Grants based on your organisation's scale
• Prepare for binary outcomes - No appeals process, so ensure application quality from the start
• Demonstrate community building alignment - Connect your work to their founding principle of building strong communities

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Rosetrees Trust
• The Liz And Terry Bramall Foundation
• The Orr Mackintosh Foundation Limited
• The Constance Travis Charitable Trust
• P F Charitable Trust
• The Chalk Cliff Trust
• The Morrisons Foundation
• The Screwfix Foundation
• The Cadogan Charity
• The Jones 1986 Charitable Trust
• Peacock Charitable Trust
• The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
• The Mackintosh Foundation
• The Steel Charitable Trust
• Louis Nicholas Residuary Charitable Trust
• Edith Murphy Foundation
• The Dyers' Company Charitable Trust
• Frank Brake Charitable Trust
• Npt Transatlantic Limited
• Hyde Park Place Estate Charity

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - Charity Number 1002966
• Eric Wright Group official website charitable trust section (www.ericwright.co.uk/charitable-trust/)
• VSNW (Voluntary Sector North West) spotlight article, December 2024
• Various regional CVS organisation funding announcements and guidelines, 2024-2025
• Multiple third-party funding directories including Action Together, LCVS, and Bolton CVS