The Grove Trust

Charity Number: 1138361

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M
Geographic Focus: Throughout London

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~£135,000 - £208,000 (varies by year)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (charities are invited, not open applications)
  • Decision Time: Annual cycle (voting occurs at year-end)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £100,000 (typically £20,000 - £50,000 for main grants)
  • Geographic Focus: North Kensington and Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, London

Contact Details

  • Website: www.thegrovetrust.co.uk
  • Email: admin@thegrovetrust.com (general enquiries) / JULIA_PETROPOULOS@YAHOO.COM (Charity Commission contact)
  • Phone: 07779 731641
  • Address: 98 Elgin Crescent, London W11 2JL
  • Key Contacts: Dani Duclos (Hains) and Julia Coupland (Co-Chairs)

Overview

The Grove Trust was established in May 2010 by a group of local residents in Notting Hill who recognized the significant economic disparities between rich and poor in West London. Registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1138361), the trust operates as a member-funded giving circle that channels local funds to local charities serving the community.

With total income of approximately £183,000 and expenditure of £135,445 in 2024, the trust has raised over £1 million since its inception and supported more than 20 local charities. The trust operates on a unique model where 100% of member donations go directly to selected charities—no trustee receives any remuneration, payments, or benefits. Members pay annual subscriptions (£7,000 individuals, £10,000 couples) and collectively decide which charities receive funding through a democratic voting process at year-end.

The trust particularly focuses on enabling established charities with proven track records to continue their valuable work amid government funding cuts and financial pressures on the charitable sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Main Grants (£20,000 - £100,000)

  • Typically structured as two-year funding commitments (e.g., £50,000 paid as £25,000/year)
  • Members identify a community-based need each year (e.g., youth, health, education, employment)
  • Focus areas rotate annually

Special Projects Fund (£500 - £107,000)

  • Accepts one-off donations from supporters
  • Grants awarded at trustee discretion outside the annual cycle
  • More flexible and responsive to immediate community needs

Recent Annual Themes

  • 2024: Investing in Children
  • 2023: Skills and Employment
  • 2022: Cost of Living Crisis
  • 2013: Children Living in Poverty
  • 2012: Youth Employment
  • 2011: Older People
  • 2010: Youth Education

Priority Areas

  • Youth education and development
  • Employment and skills training
  • Supporting vulnerable children and families
  • Older people's welfare
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Community support during crises
  • Core costs and operational funding for established charities

What They Don't Fund

The trust focuses exclusively on:

  • Charities operating in North Kensington and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
  • Established charities with proven track records
  • Organizations addressing the specific community need identified for that year

Not suitable for:

  • Organizations outside their geographic area
  • New or unproven charities
  • National or international causes
  • Individuals
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Governance and Leadership

Current Co-Chairs:

  • Julia Coupland (Julia Petropoulos Coupland)
  • Dani Duclos (Hains)

Former Chair:

  • Katrina Barter (stepped down June 2018 due to relocation to Australia; remains a trustee)

The trust has 3 trustees and approximately 3 volunteers. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust does not work with professional fundraisers or commercial participators and has no trading subsidiaries.

The organization operates as a giving circle where high-net-worth local residents pool their charitable giving to maximize impact. Members are actively involved in the research, selection, and evaluation process throughout the year.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Grove Trust proactively identifies and researches charities rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Their process works as follows:

  1. Need Identification: At the start of each year, members identify a community-based need (e.g., youth, health, education)
  2. Research Phase: Members conduct extensive due diligence including reviewing financial reports, interviewing directors, meeting key staff, and touring premises
  3. Shortlisting: Based on research findings, charities are narrowed down to 3-4 outstanding organizations
  4. Presentations: Shortlisted charities are invited to present to members with Q&A sessions
  5. Voting: Members discuss and vote on how to allocate the total grant pool
  6. Award & Monitoring: Selected charities receive grants with ongoing communication, monitoring, and feedback

Getting on Their Radar

The Grove Trust identifies potential grantees through:

  • Their network of members who are active in the local community
  • Existing relationships with local charities (the trust has developed meaningful relationships with many charities and helped in non-financial ways such as collecting books for libraries, introducing qualified volunteers, and encouraging joint ventures)
  • Research into charities addressing the specific community need chosen for that year

For the Special Projects Fund: Contact the trust directly at admin@thegrovetrust.com to enquire about potential support. Grants from this fund are awarded at trustee discretion and are more flexible than the main annual grants.

Decision Timeline

  • Annual cycle with voting at year-end
  • Grants typically announced and disbursed following the annual vote
  • Multi-year commitments are common (2-year funding)

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The competitive nature means only 3-4 charities are shortlisted from initial research, and multiple organizations typically receive funding (the trust often splits its pool among several recipients rather than selecting just one).

Reapplication Policy

Not formally stated. However, several charities have received multiple grants over the years (e.g., Dalgarno Trust, ClementJames, Rugby Portobello Trust appear across multiple years), suggesting repeat funding is possible.

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's documented approach and funding history, successful organizations typically demonstrate:

Track Record & Credibility

  • Established charities with proven track records (the trust explicitly states they work with “established charities with a proven track record”)
  • Strong financial management and transparent accounts (due diligence includes reviewing financial reports)
  • Effective leadership accessible for meetings and interviews

Local Focus & Impact

  • Clear service to the North Kensington / Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea community
  • Alignment with the specific community need identified for that year
  • Demonstrated impact with the target population

Examples of Recently Funded Projects (2024)

  • AllChild: Link workers providing tailored one-to-one services identifying vulnerable children (£100,000)
  • ClementJames: Numeracy and Literacy Lead position (£50,000)
  • The Nucleo Project: Junior Symphony Orchestra for ages 8-13 (£50,000)
  • Fit For Life Youth: Extended holiday programs and residential initiatives (£40,000)

Presentation & Engagement

  • Ability to present compellingly to members
  • Willingness to answer questions and demonstrate outcomes
  • Openness to ongoing relationship and monitoring

Funding Needs

  • Core costs and operational funding are welcomed (several grants specifically cover salaries and core operations)
  • Multi-year funding requests are supported

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. No open application process: The Grove Trust identifies charities through member research—focus on visibility within the North Kensington community rather than submitting applications.
  1. Geographic focus is strict: Only charities serving North Kensington and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea are considered.
  1. Theme-based annual giving: Each year has a specific focus (children, employment, older people, etc.)—alignment with the current year's theme is essential.
  1. Established charities preferred: The trust explicitly works with organizations that have “proven track records”—newer charities should consider the Special Projects Fund or building local reputation first.
  1. Special Projects Fund offers flexibility: For charities that don't fit the annual theme, the Special Projects Fund operates year-round at trustee discretion. Contact admin@thegrovetrust.com to enquire.
  1. Multi-year funding is common: Most main grants are structured as 2-year commitments, providing stability for recipient organizations.
  1. Relationship-building matters: The trust values ongoing relationships and has helped charities in non-financial ways. Building local connections and visibility in the Notting Hill / North Kensington charitable community increases chances of being identified for research.

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References

Information compiled December 2025