The Hadfield Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £441,805 (2024)
• Success Rate: Approximately 50% (50-60 applications per round, £100,000 available)
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks
• Grant Range: £1,500 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: Cumbria only

Contact Details

Website: www.hadfieldtrust.org.uk

Phone: 01539 823 112

Email: admin@hadfieldtrust.org.uk

Administrator: Susan Berriman

Assistant Administrator: Valerie Hewitt

The Trust encourages all applicants to contact them first to talk through plans with the Administrator or the Assistant before submitting an application.

Overview

Constituted by Trust Deed on September 1, 1997, The Hadfield Charitable Trust was endowed by a family who loved Cumbria. Since 1998, the Trust has provided over £4 million in grant funding for good causes across the county. With total income of £335,199 and total expenditure of £441,805 in the year ending August 2024, the Trust operates three funding rounds per year, distributing approximately £100,000 per round. The Trust is governed by 6 trustees and benefits from an Advisory Panel drawn from across Cumbria for their knowledge and experience of the county and its charitable sector. In 2001, the Trust demonstrated its responsive approach by creating a £500,000 Short Break Scheme supporting farming families during the Foot and Mouth outbreak, providing much-needed breaks for affected families at Cumbrian hospitality providers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant program with three annual funding rounds:

• Application Deadlines: 1st February, 1st June, 1st October (applications must arrive by noon)
• Decision Dates: End of March, July, November
• Grant Amounts: Up to £5,000, with most awards between £1,500-£3,000
• Application Method: Rolling basis with fixed quarterly deadlines

Priority Areas

The Trust is particularly interested in projects that address:

• Social needs: Supporting disadvantaged residents across Cumbria
• Youth and employment: Programs helping young people develop skills and find work
• Help for older people: Services and facilities benefiting elderly residents
• The arts: Cultural activities and organizations enriching community life
• The environment: Conservation and environmental improvement projects

Capital funding requests are preferred, though revenue applications will be considered. Most grants are for one year, but occasionally 2-3 year awards may be considered if it is a vital project and its sustainability is at risk.

What They Don't Fund

While the Trust does not publish a specific exclusions list, key restrictions include:

• Geographic limitation: Projects must benefit Cumbrian residents
• National charities: Can only apply if they can clearly evidence their work in Cumbria, including where they operate, how many beneficiaries they have in the county, and must provide an independent referee who lives in Cumbria and can vouch for the charity's work there
• Organizational requirements: Applicants should ideally be registered charities or applying to become one, though any properly constituted body with charitable objectives can apply after checking with the Administrator first

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (6 members):

• Roy A. Morris CBE DL (Chairman)
• Andrew W. N. Forsyth (Chairman of the Panel)
• Andrew T. Morris
• Caroline F. E. Addison
• William Rathbone
• Michael Esplen Hope

The Trust benefits from guidance from an Advisory Panel that meets before the Trustees to discuss applications. Panel members are chosen from across Cumbria for their knowledge and experience of the county and its charitable sector.

According to Chairman Roy Morris: “Since its creation, the Hadfield Trust has distributed over £4 million.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted on the official Hadfield Trust application form, which can be downloaded from their website.

Required Documents:

• Fully completed Hadfield Trust application form
• Detailed budget breakdown for the project
• Minimum of two but preferably three quotes for any capital expenditure items
• Copy of the latest annual accounts
• Copy of the most recent bank statement for the account into which an award should be paid, if successful

Submission Methods:

• Email: admin@hadfieldtrust.org.uk
• Post: Applications should be sent single-sided and unstapled

Critical Timing:

• Applications must arrive by noon on the deadline date (1st February, 1st June, or 1st October)
• Do not apply at the last minute—any problems may delay your application until the next round of funding, four months later

Decision Timeline

• Application deadlines: 1st February, 1st June, 1st October (by noon)
• Decision dates: End of March, July, November
• Processing time: Approximately 6-8 weeks from deadline to decision
• Notification: Successful applicants will be informed initially by phone, followed by letter to all applicants
• Payment: Funds are paid via BACS transfer

Post-Award Requirements:

• Grant recipients must complete an evaluation form within one year of receiving the award
• Keep all documentation and receipts for the funded project

Success Rates

The Trust receives 50-60 applications to each of its three rounds of funding, with approximately £100,000 to distribute at each round. This suggests a success rate of around 50%, though this varies depending on the size of grants requested.

Reapplication Policy

The Trust's website does not specify a formal reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations considering reapplication should contact the Administrator to discuss their previous application and any improvements they could make.

Application Success Factors

Funder-Specific Advice

The Trust explicitly advises applicants to:

1. Contact them first: “All applicants are encouraged to contact them first to talk through plans with the Administrator or the Assistant”—this pre-application discussion is strongly recommended

1. Be clear and concise: The Trust emphasizes that clarity in applications gives organizations “the best chance of success”

1. Demonstrate self-help: “The Trust likes to see what fundraising you have done to help yourselves” as this shows commitment to the project

1. Show wider funding strategy: The Trust “likes to know which other funders you are applying to”—demonstrate you have a comprehensive funding plan

1. Highlight community involvement: Include “how many volunteers and beneficiaries will be involved”—quantify your community impact

1. Identify specific items: “Trustees often like to identify a piece of equipment to fund”—itemize your budget clearly so trustees can see exactly what their grant would purchase

1. Have applications proofread: The Trust recommends having “an independent referee” proofread applications before submission

1. Focus on capital items: Capital funding requests are preferred, though revenue will be considered

Examples of Funded Projects

The Trust has supported a diverse range of organizations, including:

• Youth organizations: Cumbria Youth Alliance, Rock Youth Project, Carlisle Youth Zone
• Community facilities: Barbon Village Hall, Dacre Hall, Brigham War Memorial Hall
• Arts organizations: Carnegie Singers, Theatre by the Lake, Westmorland Youth Orchestra
• Support services: Cruse Bereavement Care, South Lakeland Mind, Cancer Care
• Rescue services: Penrith Mountain Rescue, Maryport Inshore Rescue
• Educational support: West Cumbria Dyslexia Association, Arkwright Scholarships
• Social enterprises: Bendrigg Trust, Brathay Trust, Blackwell Sailing

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pre-application contact is essential: Talk to the Administrator or Assistant before applying to ensure your project aligns with their priorities and to get guidance on your application
• Capital projects have the edge: While revenue funding is considered, the Trust prefers capital projects, particularly those with identifiable equipment or tangible outputs
• Competition is moderate: With 50-60 applications for £100,000 per round and most grants between £1,500-£3,000, approximately half of applicants receive funding
• Cumbrian connection is non-negotiable: National charities must provide robust evidence of local work and an independent Cumbrian referee
• Demonstrate self-reliance: Show what fundraising you've already done and your wider funding strategy—trustees want to see commitment and sustainability
• Timing matters: Don't leave applications to the last minute; give yourself time to address any issues before the noon deadline
• Think three quotes: For capital items, provide at least three quotes—it shows you've done your due diligence and helps trustees understand value for money
• Quantify impact: Be specific about numbers of volunteers and beneficiaries—the Trust wants to maximize the reach of their grants to benefit as many Cumbrian residents as possible

References

• The Hadfield Charitable Trust official website: https://www.hadfieldtrust.org.uk/
• How to Apply page: https://www.hadfieldtrust.org.uk/how-to-apply/
• About Us page: https://www.hadfieldtrust.org.uk/about-us/
• Previous Grants page: http://hadfieldtrust.org.uk/previous-grants/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/3945247
• Fundraiso profile: https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/the-hadfield-trust
• Making Music profile: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/funding-opportunity/hadfield-trust