The Florence Turner Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £247,000 (year ending March 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified (trustees meet periodically)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000 (typical range, larger grants possible for capital projects)
• Geographic Focus: Leicester and Leicestershire

Contact Details

Address: Shakespeare Martineau, Two Colton Square, Leicester, LE1 1QH

Phone: 0116 257 4462

Email: helen.pole@shma.co.uk

Note: The trust is administered by Shakespeare Martineau, a law firm in Leicester.

Overview

The Florence Turner Trust was established in 1974 and is a well-established grant-making foundation serving the Leicester area. With total income of £259,000 and annual grant distribution of approximately £247,000 in the year ending March 2024, the trust operates with a clear local focus. The trust's mission is to distribute income to charitable purposes particularly but not exclusively in the City and County of Leicester. The trustees exercise considerable discretion in their grant-making, with a strong preference for supporting smaller local charities rather than large national organizations, though local activities of larger charities may be considered. The trust is administered by Shakespeare Martineau, a prominent law firm based in Leicester.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grants: £1,000 - £5,000

Most grants fall within this range, supporting a variety of local charitable activities. Larger grants may be considered for regular beneficiaries and capital projects once financial viability is demonstrated.

Application Method: Contact-based process (no online portal mentioned). Applicants should contact the trust administrator directly.

Priority Areas

The trust supports charitable purposes across Leicester and Leicestershire, with particular focus on:

• Children and Young People: Supporting organizations working with youth in the local area
• Elderly People: Programs and services for older people
• People with Disabilities: Charities supporting those with physical or learning disabilities
• Other Charities and Voluntary Bodies: Smaller local organizations serving Leicester and county
• Healthcare: Including organizations like Huntington's Disease Association (confirmed past recipient)

Geographic Preference: Strong preference for Leicester City and Leicestershire County, though not exclusively limited to this area.

Organization Size Preference: Smaller local charities are explicitly favoured over large national charities, though local branches or activities of national organizations may be supported.

What They Don't Fund

• Direct Applications from Individuals: Any grants to individuals must be made through referring agencies such as social services, NHS trusts, or similar professional bodies
• Organizations Outside Leicester Area: While not an absolute exclusion, preference is heavily weighted toward Leicester and Leicestershire

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by three trustees who exercise discretion over grant distributions:

1. Roger Bowder (Chair) - Also serves as trustee for The J Reginald Corah Foundation Fund and The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust
2. Katherine Elizabeth Alison Hall - Appointed 2013; also trustee for The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust
3. Michael Jones - Appointed 2011; also serves as trustee for The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust and Leicester Lions Club (CIO)

Gender Composition: 67% male, 33% female

Cross-Trustee Relationships: All three trustees serve together on The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust, indicating strong collaborative relationships and potentially aligned funding priorities.

Governance Note: The trust operates with only three trustees, which is below the commonly recommended minimum of four to five trustees for good governance practices.

Administration

The trust is professionally administered by Shakespeare Martineau, a well-established law firm in Leicester, indicating professional management of grant processes and decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Florence Turner Trust does not appear to have a formal online application portal. Prospective applicants should:

1. Contact the trust administrator directly via email (helen.pole@shma.co.uk) or phone (0116 257 4462)
2. Prepare standard grant application materials including organizational background, project description, budget, and evidence of charitable impact
3. Be prepared for a possible site visit - a representative from the trust may wish to visit your organization as part of the decision process

Important Note: Individual beneficiaries cannot apply directly. Grants to individuals are only made through referring agencies such as social services, NHS trusts, or similar professional bodies.

Decision Timeline

Specific meeting dates and decision timelines are not publicly advertised. Based on typical practice for trusts of this size:

• Trustees likely meet 2-4 times per year to review applications
• Decision timelines vary depending on meeting schedules
• Applicants should contact the administrator to inquire about upcoming meeting dates and corresponding application deadlines

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. As a trust distributing approximately £247,000 annually with typical grants of £1,000-£5,000, the trust likely awards between 50-250 grants per year depending on the size distribution.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Applicants should inquire directly with the trust administrator about reapplication procedures if initially unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Key Considerations for Applicants

Geographic Alignment: The strongest applications will come from organizations clearly serving Leicester City or Leicestershire County. Demonstrate your local roots and impact.

Organization Size: Smaller local charities are explicitly preferred. If you are a branch of a larger national organization, emphasize your local activities, local governance, and specific impact in Leicester.

Beneficiary Focus: Align your application with the trust's priority groups - children/young people, elderly people, people with disabilities, and other charitable causes in the area.

Professional Referrals for Individual Support: If supporting individuals, ensure applications come through appropriate referring agencies (social services, NHS trusts, etc.).

Capital vs. Revenue: While not explicitly stated, larger grants are mentioned as possible for capital projects once financial viability is clear. For capital requests, provide thorough financial planning and demonstrate sustainability.

Site Visits: Be prepared for a possible site visit from trust representatives. This suggests the trust values seeing work firsthand and building relationships with grantees.

Standing Out

• Demonstrate local impact: Use local data, local testimonials, and clear evidence of serving Leicester/Leicestershire communities
• Show you're a smaller organization: Highlight your local character, community connections, and hands-on approach
• Regular beneficiaries may receive larger grants: Building a relationship over time may lead to increased support
• Financial viability matters: Especially for capital projects, demonstrate sound financial planning and sustainability

Known Recipients

• Huntington's Disease Association: Listed as a past recipient, indicating support for healthcare-related charities serving people with life-limiting conditions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Local is paramount: This trust strongly favours smaller local charities in Leicester and Leicestershire. Emphasize your local roots, local governance, and specific community impact in the area.

• Contact the administrator first: Without a formal online application process, building a relationship with the trust administrator (Helen Pole at Shakespeare Martineau) is advisable before submitting a full application.

• Prepare for site visits: The trust may wish to visit your organization, so be ready to demonstrate your work in action and build a personal relationship with trustees.

• Typical grants are modest: With most grants in the £1,000-£5,000 range, this is ideal for smaller projects or organizational running costs rather than major capital appeals.

• Capital projects need extra justification: Larger grants are possible for capital projects but require clear demonstration of financial viability and sustainability.

• Individual support requires agency referral: If your work involves direct support to individuals, ensure applications come through appropriate professional referring agencies rather than direct organizational applications.

• Cross-trustee relationships matter: All three trustees also serve on The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust, which may indicate aligned funding priorities - researching that trust's funding patterns may provide additional insights.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• P F Charitable Trust
• THE BARBOUR FOUNDATION
• John James Bristol Foundation
• THE CALLEVA FOUNDATION
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND
• THE SIR JAMES KNOTT TRUST
• THE ACCESS FOUNDATION
• The Gosling Foundation Limited
• THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY
• The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
• THE EVESON TRUST
• THE SCREWFIX FOUNDATION
• The Powell Family Foundation
• THE SIMON GIBSON CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust
• THE ARDWICK TRUST
• National Lottery
• JINGLE JAM
• STELIOS PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION

References

1. Charity Commission Register - The Florence Turner Trust (502721): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=502721&subid=0

1. Find that Charity - The Florence Turner Trust (GB-CHC-502721): https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-502721

1. Giving is Great - The Florence Turner Trust Charity Factsheet: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=502721

1. Charity Commission financial data showing income of £259,000 and expenditure of £247,000 for year ending March 2024

1. Huntington's Disease Association - Trusts and Foundations page listing The Florence Turner Trust as a supporter: https://www.hda.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-donate/trusts-and-foundations/