The Forrester Family Trust

Charity Number: 1190231

Annual Expenditure: £1.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,561,555 (year ended 31 March 2023)
  • Decision Time: Within 3 months of application deadline
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £40,000 (depending on program)
  • Total Funding Available (2025/26): £1.6 million
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales only
  • Charity Income Limit: Under £250,000 (Small Grants) or under £5 million (Themed Grants)

Contact Details

Website: www.theforresterfamilytrust.org

Email: admin@theforresterfamilytrust.org

Phone: 020 8629 0089

Address: 11 Whitecroft Way, Beckenham, BR3 3AQ

Charity Number: 1190231

Overview

The Forrester Family Trust was established in 2020 through the merger of the Donald and Gwyneth Forrester Trusts, building on a legacy of grantmaking that began in 1986. Founded by Gwyneth Forrester in memory of her late husband Donald with an initial donation of £3.6 million, the Trust has distributed over £30 million to charities since inception. Wendy Forrester, daughter of the founders and a trustee awarded an MBE in 2023, contributed an additional £4.6 million at the merger. The Trust supports excellent smaller charities working towards a just and equitable society, with particular focus on organizations helping people facing significant disadvantage. Their strategic approach targets interventions in gaps between state provision and the commercial sector, supporting communities experiencing multiple disadvantages. With assets enabling annual giving of approximately £1.6 million, the Trust prioritizes well-run organizations that can clearly articulate their impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Themed Grants (September application window)

  • Amount: Up to £40,000
  • Eligibility: Registered charities in England and Wales with annual turnover under £5 million
  • Available: £600,000 total
  • Application Period: 1st - 30th September annually
  • Theme for 2025/26: Rehabilitation of imprisoned and formerly-imprisoned offenders in England & Wales

2. Small Grants (December application window)

  • Amount: Up to £10,000
  • Eligibility: Registered charities in England and Wales with annual turnover under £250,000
  • Focus: Charities relying on volunteer support making impact in their communities
  • Available: £550,000 total
  • Application Period: 1st - 31st December annually

3. Three Year Funding Programme

  • Status: Closed until 31st March 2027
  • Distribution: £299,175 to be distributed to successful applicants from previous round

4. Emergency Response

  • Available: £150,000
  • Process: Proactive response to natural disasters at the Trust's discretion
  • Note: No open application process; the Trust identifies and supports disaster relief efforts independently

Priority Areas

The Trust awards grants according to four core priorities:

  1. Improve the quality of life of individuals and families - Broad interpretation of quality of life improvement, focusing on interventions where people and communities face multiple disadvantages
  2. Invest in well-run organizations - Supporting charities with track records of good work or fantastic new ideas that can articulate their impact
  3. Ensure grant-making rigour - Clear, widely communicated criteria reviewed annually
  4. Give with confidence - Research-based investment, accepting measured risk and learning from outcomes

Recent thematic focuses have included:

  • Rehabilitation of offenders in the criminal justice system
  • Support for deaf people
  • Refugee integration
  • Cost of living crisis relief
  • Financial hardship and food poverty
  • Emotional wellbeing and reducing isolation

What They Don't Fund

While the Trust does not explicitly list exclusions on their website, their focus on:

  • Registered charities in England and Wales only (excludes organizations outside this geography)
  • Smaller charities with turnover under £5 million (excludes larger established charities)
  • Organizations working with people facing significant disadvantage (suggests less focus on arts, heritage, or non-social-justice causes)
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Wendy Jaqueline Forrester - Family trustee, awarded MBE in King's Birthday Honours 2023 for charitable work
  • Jonathan Dennis Richard Kewley - Trustee
  • Hilary Jane Porter - Trustee
  • Thomas Walker - Trustee

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Leadership Approach

The Trust emphasizes a values-driven approach outlined in their 2021-2026 strategy document. Wendy Forrester's continued involvement maintains the family's philanthropic legacy while the board ensures rigorous grant-making standards. The Trust operates with a lean governance model, enabling high proportion of funds to reach beneficiaries while maintaining thorough assessment processes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Method: Online application form only via theforresterfamilytrust.org
  • Time Required: Approximately 30 minutes to complete
  • Pre-Application: Review the four funding priorities to ensure organizational fit before applying

Application Requirements:

  • Charity registration number (England and Wales)
  • Company number (if applicable)
  • Income and accounts information
  • Charity bank details
  • Vision and mission statements
  • Impact evaluation details
  • Ability to articulate difference made (through Theory of Change or application responses)

Important: The Trust emphasizes that charities must file accounts on time and demonstrate good governance to be considered.

Decision Timeline

  • Decision Period: Within 3 months of application deadline closure
  • Notification: Successful applicants posted publicly on the Trust's website
  • No Feedback: Given high application volumes, the Trust does not provide feedback on unsuccessful applications or enter into discussion about individual applications

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, the Trust notes:

  • They receive many applications every year
  • 8 out of 10 grantees contacted can describe the difference made through their grants
  • Details of all grants awarded are published in annual accounts (pages 20-24 for year ended 31 March 2023)

Reapplication Policy

The Trust does not publish a formal reapplication policy. There is no explicit restriction preventing unsuccessful applicants from reapplying in subsequent funding rounds. Given the Trust operates multiple grant programs throughout the year (Themed Grants in September, Small Grants in December), organizations could potentially apply to different programs if eligible.

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Looks For

Strong Track Record or Innovative Ideas: The Trust seeks organizations that “have a track record of doing good work or have a fantastic new idea.” This suggests they value both established delivery and innovation.

Clear Impact Articulation: Applications must demonstrate ability to articulate difference made, either through:

  • A formal Theory of Change, or
  • Comprehensive responses to application questions

Good Governance: Organizations must:

  • File accounts on time
  • Demonstrate sound governance practices
  • Show operational competence

Alignment with Disadvantage Focus: The Trust targets “interventions in places where people and communities are suffering multiple disadvantages” and focuses on “gaps between state provision and the commercial sector.”

Recent Funded Projects

The Trust has recently supported organizations working in:

  • Support and opportunities for deaf people
  • Refugee integration and support
  • Disaster relief (Myanmar Crisis, Gaza Humanitarian Aid, Ukraine Crisis, Turkey-Syria Earthquake, Pakistan Floods)
  • Cost of living crisis response
  • Financial hardship and food poverty interventions
  • Mental health support
  • Homelessness assistance
  • Youth programs
  • Community integration initiatives

Recipients have ranged from small volunteer-led community organizations to larger established charities like the British Red Cross, Disaster Emergency Committee, and International Rescue Committee.

Application Tips

  1. Demonstrate Clear Need: Show how your work addresses multiple disadvantages in communities
  2. Articulate Impact: Whether through Theory of Change or detailed answers, clearly explain what difference your work makes
  3. Show Organizational Competence: Evidence of good governance, timely accounting, and effective delivery
  4. Match the Theme: For Themed Grants, ensure strong alignment with the annual focus area
  5. Be Realistic: Apply to the appropriate grant stream based on your organization's size and income
  6. Volunteer Involvement: For Small Grants, emphasize volunteer contributions and community engagement

Common Success Indicators

Based on the Trust's stated priorities:

  • Organizations working with people facing multiple disadvantages
  • Projects filling gaps not covered by state or commercial sectors
  • Clear outcomes and evaluation frameworks
  • Strong community connections
  • Volunteer engagement (especially for Small Grants)
  • Innovative approaches to persistent social problems

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Size Matters: Carefully check income thresholds (under £250k for Small Grants, under £5m for Themed Grants) and apply to the appropriate stream
  • Timing is Crucial: Application windows are brief (one month) with fixed deadlines; prepare documentation in advance
  • No Second Chances for Feedback: With no feedback provided on unsuccessful applications, ensure your first submission is strong and complete
  • Theory of Change Is Valued: Invest time in articulating your impact framework, whether formal Theory of Change or through detailed application responses
  • Governance Counts: Ensure accounts are filed on time and governance is demonstrably sound before applying
  • Theme Alignment: For Themed Grants, thoroughly research the annual focus area and demonstrate deep understanding and relevant experience
  • Public Accountability: Successful grants are published on the website, indicating transparency and potential for reputational benefit
  • Strategic Patience: With Three Year Funding closed until 2027, focus on Themed or Small Grants for immediate opportunities
  • 8/10 Success Rate for Impact: The Trust reports that 80% of grantees can effectively describe their impact, suggesting they're skilled at selecting organizations with strong evaluation capabilities

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