The Girdlers' Company Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 328026

Annual Expenditure: £1.0M
Throughout England

Contact Info

Website:https://girdlers.co.uk/charity/

Phone:020 7638 0488 / 020 7448 4851

Email:clerk@girdlers.co.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £700,000+
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (highly competitive)
  • Decision Time: Up to 6 months (worst case)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £25,000
  • Geographic Focus: England (particularly London, Peckham, and Hammersmith)

Contact Details

Address: Girdlers' Hall, Basinghall Avenue, London EC2V 5DD

Phone: 020 7638 0488 / 020 7448 4851

Email: clerk@girdlers.co.uk

Website: https://girdlers.co.uk/charity/

Charity Number: 328026

Overview

Established under trust deed on 9 December 1988, The Girdlers' Company Charitable Trust is a London-based livery company charity with an annual giving portfolio exceeding £700,000. The Trust operates with The Girdlers' Company as its corporate trustee and focuses on building enduring relationships with smaller charities where its contributions can make a visible difference. Following a comprehensive grant-making review in 2017, the Trust decided to concentrate its resources on existing charitable partnerships, with approximately half of its annual disbursement (£350,000) supporting around 30 Principal Charities through multi-year commitments. The Trust's philosophy centers on the belief that “everybody is capable of changing their lives,” and it directs funding toward organizations delivering clearly defined, measurable social outcomes.

Important Note: The Trust is currently not accepting new applications as funding is fully allocated for the foreseeable future.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Principal Charities Programme

  • Grant Amount: Up to £25,000 per annum
  • Duration: 3-year grants (subject to regular review)
  • Total Allocation: Approximately £350,000 annually (50% of total giving)
  • Number of Recipients: Around 30 charities
  • Application Method: By invitation only; not currently accepting new Principal Charity applications
  • Key Feature: Each charity is assigned a Livery member as liaison officer who visits and reports on performance

One-Off Grants

  • Grant Amount: Average of £4,250 (maximum £10,000)
  • Application Method: Rolling basis (when open)
  • Application Format: Written application (maximum two pages) on headed paper
  • Current Status: Application window closed

Priority Areas

The Trust accepts applications from organisations delivering clearly defined outcomes in five specific areas:

  1. Improvement in Employability: Programs that enhance people's employability to improve self-worth and economic independence
  1. Improvement in Carers' Health & Wellbeing: Support for carers of all ages, with particular emphasis on allowing young carers to “be children again”
  1. Reduction in Mental Health Disorders: Initiatives that improve people's overall health, happiness, and wellbeing
  1. Improvement in Literacy: Programs that change life chances by supporting literacy development that helps lift people out of poverty (regardless of age)
  1. Reduction in Prisoner Reoffending: Support for ex-offenders to become positive contributors to local communities

Eligibility Requirements

  • UK registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs)
  • Annual income below £1 million
  • Preference given to smaller organizations
  • Operate primarily in England, particularly London
  • General applications welcomed from institutions whose beneficiaries reside in Peckham or Hammersmith

What They Don't Fund

  • Community Interest Companies (CICs)
  • Organizations with annual income exceeding £1 million
  • Large national charities where the Trust's contribution would be less visible
  • Organizations outside England (with rare exceptions)
  • Individuals
  • Non-charitable activities

Governance and Leadership

Trustee Structure

The Girdlers' Company serves as the corporate trustee. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Officers (2024/25)

  • Master: Angus Maitland
  • Clerk: Nick Archer MVO (contact: clerk@girdlers.co.uk)
  • Upper Warden: Adrian Udal
  • Middle Warden: Sara Drake
  • Renter Warden: Mark James

Decision-Making Structure

The Benefactions Committee, supported by the Charity Manager, is responsible for selecting charities and determining grant amounts. Recommendations are submitted to the Court for final approval. All supported charities are reviewed at regular intervals against criteria set by the Court.

Examples of Supported Charities

Principal Charities mentioned on their website include:

  • The Country Trust
  • Dorothy House
  • London Village Network
  • Pecan
  • St Giles Trust
  • The Switchback Initiative
  • The Vine Centre
  • Young Actors' Theatre Islington

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: Applications are not currently being accepted. The Trust states that “due to funding being fully allocated for the foreseeable future, we can no longer consider new applications for financial support, either online or by post.”

When Applications Were Open:

Applications required:

  • Written submission (maximum two pages)
  • On organization's headed paper
  • Must specify which of the five outcome areas the application addresses
  • Brief summary of organization's background and aims
  • Specific nature of request highlighting intended change
  • How the organization will measure success

Decision Timeline

Committee Meetings: Mid-January and late June

Court Approval Meetings: Early February and early July

Typical Timeline: Up to 6 months from application to decision (worst case scenario)

Notification: All applicants are notified of outcomes

Success Rates

While specific statistics are not publicly disclosed, the Trust acknowledges that “only a few applications will be successful” due to limited available funds. Competition is described as high, particularly given the Trust's current focus on maintaining existing relationships.

Reapplication Policy

Important Restriction: Successful applicants are “highly unlikely to be awarded a further donation within the following five years.”

This policy effectively creates a five-year waiting period between grants, making each application particularly significant.

Reporting Requirements

Grant recipients must submit a written evaluation report approximately nine months after the grant award, demonstrating the impact of the funding.

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

  1. Clear, Measurable Outcomes: The Trust emphasizes applications that demonstrate specific, quantifiable change in one of their five priority outcome areas
  1. Organizational Size: Preference given to smaller organizations (under £1 million income) where the Trust's contribution makes a visible, significant difference
  1. Alignment with Philosophy: The Trust's belief that “everybody is capable of changing their lives” should be reflected in the organization's approach
  1. Geographic Focus: Strong preference for organizations serving London, particularly Peckham and Hammersmith
  1. Concise Communication: Applications limited to two pages, requiring clear articulation of need and impact
  1. Impact Measurement: Strong emphasis on how organizations will measure and demonstrate success

Example Projects Funded

Based on their outcomes page, the Trust has supported projects including:

  • The Vine Cooking Programme (employability)
  • QEF IT training (employability)
  • Dorothy House carer support programs
  • QEF Guitar and Craft programs (mental health)
  • Literacy programs through various partners
  • Switchback ex-offender rehabilitation programs

Language and Approach

The Trust uses language focused on:

  • Transformation and life change
  • Measurable outcomes
  • Economic independence
  • Self-worth
  • Community contribution

Successful applications should reflect these values and demonstrate how they align with the Trust's strategic focus.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Applications Currently Closed: Before investing time in an application, confirm whether the Trust has reopened to new applicants. The closure is stated as “for the foreseeable future.”
  1. Demonstrate Measurable Impact: Applications must clearly articulate specific, quantifiable outcomes in one of the five priority areas. Vague promises of “making a difference” will not succeed.
  1. Size Matters: Smaller charities (well under £1 million income) have a distinct advantage, as the Trust wants to see their contribution make a visible difference.
  1. Long-Term Commitment: The Trust favors building enduring relationships. Successful one-off grant recipients may be considered for Principal Charity status, which offers more substantial, multi-year funding.
  1. Five-Year Rule: With only one grant possible every five years, timing is critical. Ensure your organization is ready to maximize the impact and report on it effectively.
  1. Geographic Targeting: Organizations serving Peckham or Hammersmith have explicit preference in the Trust's guidelines.
  1. Relationship Building: Consider attending Livery Company events or seeking connections with Girdlers' Company members, as the Trust assigns liaison officers to Principal Charities for ongoing engagement.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

  • Addison Youth Club
  • The East Grinstead Common Good Trust
  • The Gigglemug Charitable Trust
  • The Hale Trust
  • The Jimmy Dixon Charitable Trust
  • The Joseph Levy Endowment Trust
  • The Maurice Marks Charitable Trust
  • The Sulgrave Foundation
  • Age Uk Hounslow
  • C A Redfern Charitable Foundation

References