The Geoffrey Watling Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £589,310 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Up to 16 weeks
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £30,000
• Geographic Focus: Norfolk and Waveney District of Suffolk only

Contact Details

• Website: www.geoffreywatling.org.uk
• Email: enquiries@geoffreywatling.org.uk
• Phone: 01603 766736
• Address: 8a Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EJ

Overview

Established in 1993 by Norwich businessman Geoffrey Watling following the death of his daughter Carol, The Geoffrey Watling Charity has become a significant regional funder supporting charitable organisations across Norfolk and the Waveney District of Suffolk. As of July 2025, the charity has awarded 2,119 grants totalling £10,628,980. With a total income of £805,721 (primarily from investments) and charitable expenditure of £589,310 in the year ending September 2024, the charity continues to make a substantial impact on the local charitable sector. The charity's mission is deliberately broad, giving trustees discretion to support general charitable purposes as they see fit, reflecting founder Geoffrey Watling's entrepreneurial and community-focused approach.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates a single, flexible grant program with awards ranging from £1,000 or less to a maximum of £30,000, though grants of £30,000 or over are given “rarely.”

• Application Method: Online applications preferred (can be completed in 15 minutes), though paper applications accepted
• Application Cycle: Rolling basis - applications processed in order received
• Trustee Meetings: Four grant-giving meetings per year

Priority Areas

The charity supports a broad range of charitable purposes including:

• General charitable purposes
• Education and training
• Health or saving lives
• Disability support
• Arts, culture, heritage, and science
• Amateur sport
• Environment, conservation, and heritage
• Community venues and facilities
• Support for vulnerable populations (refugees, children, families in distress)
• Religious buildings and heritage sites

What They Fund

Recent successful grants include:

• Scout groups hosting community events
• Kitchen refurbishments for community centres
• Medical equipment (nebulisers for asthma relief)
• Residential home refurbishments
• Free bikes for refugees
• Wildlife conservation projects (£25,000 to Suffolk Wildlife Trust)
• Church repairs
• Cancer awareness education programs
• Support services for deaf children
• Community arts projects

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals - only registered charitable organisations eligible
• Organisations with overdue annual accounts - must be up-to-date with Charity Commission or Companies House filings
• Core costs or salaries - “Applications towards a specific project are more likely to be looked on favourably by the trustees than those to help core costs or salaries”

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by six trustees who receive no remuneration or benefits. The board has achieved recognition for gender balance (Governance Score of 3 with +3 for gender-balanced board). The charity employs three staff members to support its operations.

The charity operates under a charitable settlement dated August 4, 1993, with amendments from August 30, 2005, and June 23, 2014. Trustees are responsible for controlling the work, management, and administration of the charity, exercising their discretion to determine which charitable purposes to support.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Online Application Portal: Preferred method - accessible via www.geoffreywatling.org.uk
• Application Time: Can be completed in approximately 15 minutes
• Save and Return: Partially completed applications can be saved
• Collaboration: Ability to invite colleagues to collaborate on applications
• Paper Applications: Accepted but online applications are preferred for faster processing

Decision Timeline

• Acknowledgement: Applications acknowledged within 10 working days with indication of when trustees will consider the application
• Processing Time: Up to 16 weeks (assuming application is correctly completed)
• Processing Order: Applications considered in order received
• Trustee Meetings: Four meetings per year to review grants

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, the charity notes: “We take each application as a stand-alone case - occasionally but rarely does the charity fund applications in full.” This indicates that:

• Full project funding is rare
• Partial funding is more common
• Each application assessed on individual merits

Reapplication Policy

• Waiting Period: Minimum 2 years between applications
• Applies to All: Whether previous application was successful or unsuccessful
• Accountability Required: Applicants must provide evidence of how previous funds were spent before reapplying

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

“Applications towards a specific project are more likely to be looked on favourably by the trustees than those to help core costs or salaries.”

Key Success Factors

• Project-Specific Funding: Focus applications on specific, tangible projects rather than general running costs
• Complete Applications: Ensure all required information is provided to avoid processing delays
• Up-to-Date Compliance: Must have current annual accounts filed with Charity Commission or Companies House
• Geographic Fit: Must operate within Norfolk or Waveney District of Suffolk
• Realistic Expectations: Understand that full funding is rare; partial funding more typical

Recent Funded Projects Demonstrate:

• Community Impact: Projects serving vulnerable populations (refugees, deaf children, families in distress)
• Heritage Preservation: Church repairs, conservation projects
• Health and Wellbeing: Medical equipment, mental health support, cancer awareness
• Youth Development: Scout groups, youth education programs
• Environmental Conservation: Wildlife habitat protection
• Community Infrastructure: Venue refurbishments, kitchen upgrades, community facilities

The “Watling Way”

Understanding the charity's founder provides insight into its values. Geoffrey Watling was known for his entrepreneurial spirit, support of local initiatives, and belief that ventures should make a positive difference while maintaining an element of fun and adventure. This suggests the charity may favor:

• Innovative approaches to community challenges
• Local, community-rooted organizations
• Projects with tangible, visible outcomes
• Organizations demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Restriction is Absolute: Must operate in Norfolk or Waveney District of Suffolk - no exceptions
• Project Over Process: Frame your application around a specific project with clear deliverables, not operational costs
• Expect Partial Funding: Plan for partial funding and demonstrate other funding sources or fundraising plans
• Plan Ahead: With up to 16-week processing times and only four trustee meetings per year, apply well in advance of project deadlines
• Compliance First: Ensure your annual accounts are current before applying - this is a hard requirement
• Two-Year Cycle: Whether successful or not, you can only apply once every two years, so make your application count
• Simple Process: The online application is straightforward and quick - use it to demonstrate your project clearly and concisely
• Broad Remit Works in Your Favor: The charity's wide discretionary powers mean diverse projects can succeed if they demonstrate clear charitable benefit to the local community

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council of England
• The Football Foundation
• Norfolk Community Foundation
• Parish Council

References

• The Geoffrey Watling Charity Official Website: www.geoffreywatling.org.uk
• Q&A Page: https://www.geoffreywatling.org.uk/htm/q-as.php
• Charity Commission Register: Register of Charities - The Charity Commission, Charity Number 1025258, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1025258
• Geoffrey Watling Biography: Wikipedia, “Geoffrey Watling,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Watling
• Geoffrey's Business Career: https://geoffreywatling.org.uk/htm/meet-geoffrey/business.php
• Recent Recipients Information: www.geoffreywatling.org.uk and regional news sources
• Financial Information: Charity Commission Register, Financial Year Ending 30 September 2024