The Heathcoat Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £755,910 (charitable activities expenditure, 2024)
• Total Income: £930,891 (2024)
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Typically under £5,000, up to £8,500
• Geographic Focus: Tiverton, Devon and areas where John Heathcoat & Co Ltd and Lowman Manufacturing Co Ltd operate

Contact Details

Address: The Heathcoat Trust, The Factory, Tiverton, Devon EX16 5LL

Email: heathcoattrust@heathcoat.co.uk

Phone: 01884 244296

Charity Number: 203367

Overview

The Heathcoat Trust was established by trust deed dated 14 October 1945 and scheme of 14 September 1973 (amended by scheme 13 April 1999). The Trust is intrinsically linked to the historic John Heathcoat & Co Ltd lace manufacturing company in Tiverton, which has operated continuously since 1816 when inventor John Heathcoat moved his bobbin net lace-making operation from Loughborough to Devon. The Trust operates as an endowment-funded charity generating income primarily through investments (£930,891 in 2024), with total charitable expenditure of £755,910 in the year ending April 2024. The Trust's mission centers on relieving financial hardship, supporting education and training, and making grants to health institutions, predominantly serving Tiverton, its neighbourhood, and areas where the Heathcoat companies and their subsidiaries conduct business. The charity is managed by six unpaid trustees and employs one staff member.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates with a focus on both individual and organizational support:

• Employee and Family Welfare: Grants mainly for welfare needs including travelling costs to hospital, equipment to assist daily living, and general hardship relief for employees, ex-employees and their families of John Heathcoat & Co Ltd and Lowman Manufacturing Co Ltd
• Educational Grants: Support for employees' children attending college and local children requiring higher education assistance
• Higher Education Bursaries: Several annual bursaries awarded to students progressing to higher education
• Organizational Grants: Grants for organizations in Tiverton and surrounding areas, typically under £5,000 though can reach up to £8,500
• Schools: Small grants may be awarded to schools in Mid Devon

Application Method: Contact via email or telephone on a rolling basis

Priority Areas

• Relief of financial hardship and poverty
• Education and training initiatives
• Building grants or support for health institutions
• General charitable purposes benefiting the local community
• Support for children and young people
• Elderly and old people
• People with disabilities
• Other charities or voluntary bodies operating in the defined geographic area

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Trust's geographic restrictions are clear: funding is concentrated in Tiverton, Devon, its neighbourhood, and locations where John Heathcoat & Co Ltd and Lowman Manufacturing Co Ltd and their subsidiaries operate. Projects outside these areas are unlikely to be considered.

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by six trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust is managed through the Heathcoat Trustee Company Limited, a private limited company incorporated on 7 March 1991.

The Trust operates with one employee and maintains a lean operational structure focused on maximizing charitable impact. In the year ending April 2024, the Trust spent £115,398 on raising funds (primarily investment management) and £755,910 on charitable activities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications can be made by:

• Email: heathcoattrust@heathcoat.co.uk
• Telephone: 01884 244296

The Trust operates on a rolling basis rather than fixed deadlines. No formal application portal or standardized form was identified in public sources.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly stated. Applicants should expect to be contacted directly by the Trust regarding the outcome of their application.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available for the Heathcoat Trust. As context, general trust fundraising in the UK averages approximately 1 in 7 applications (14% success rate), with rates varying from 1 in 12 for cold approaches to 1 in 3 for established relationships with funders.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Applicants should contact the Trust directly to discuss reapplication possibilities.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and operational focus, the following factors appear most important:

Strong Geographic Connection: The Trust's founding purpose centers on Tiverton and areas where the Heathcoat companies operate. Applications demonstrating clear benefit to these communities will be prioritized.

Connection to Heathcoat Companies: The Trust maintains a particular focus on current and former employees of John Heathcoat & Co Ltd and Lowman Manufacturing Co Ltd and their families. Applications from or benefiting this constituency have clear alignment.

Education and Training Focus: The Trust has a longstanding commitment to educational support, including annual bursaries for students progressing to higher education. Projects with strong educational outcomes should emphasize measurable benefits for local young people.

Welfare and Health Needs: The Trust regularly supports practical welfare needs such as medical travel costs and daily living equipment. Applications addressing tangible hardship relief are well-aligned with the Trust's mission.

Modest Grant Requests: With typical grants under £5,000, applicants should request realistic amounts that reflect the Trust's capacity and demonstrate cost-effectiveness.

Local Charitable Infrastructure: The Trust supports other charities and voluntary bodies. Established local organizations with track records in Tiverton and Mid Devon may find receptive audiences.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic specificity is critical: Applications must demonstrate clear benefit to Tiverton, Devon and immediate surroundings or areas where Heathcoat companies operate
• Historic industrial connection matters: Understanding the Trust's origins in the lace-making industry and ongoing ties to the Heathcoat companies provides valuable context for positioning applications
• Keep grant requests modest: With most grants under £5,000, smaller, well-targeted requests are more likely to succeed than large asks
• Education has proven track record: The Trust's annual bursary programs demonstrate consistent commitment to educational support for progression to higher education
• Direct contact is the pathway: No online portal or formal application system exists; building direct relationships through email and telephone contact is essential
• Welfare and hardship relief remain core: The Trust's founding mission of relieving financial hardship continues to drive decision-making
• Lean operation means focused giving: With only one employee and six unpaid trustees, the Trust operates efficiently but selectivity; applications should be clear, concise and compelling

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, THE HEATHCOAT TRUST - 203367. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/203367 (Accessed: November 2025)

• Charity Choice, “Heathcoat Trust | Social Services - Family Charities.” Available at: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-heathcoat-trust-169765 (Accessed: November 2025)

• Devon Funding News, “Grants for Schools in Devon 2024/25.” Available at: https://www.devon.gov.uk/fundingnews/resources/grants-for-schools-in-devon-2024-25/ (Accessed: November 2025)

• Turn2us Grants Search, “The Heathcoat Trust.” Available at: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/grant/the-heathcoat-trust-14701 (Accessed: November 2025)

• Devon Heritage, "John Heathcoat's Lace Factory." Available at: https://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Tiverton/JohnHeathcoatsLaceFactory.htm (Accessed: November 2025)

• Wikipedia, “John Heathcoat.” Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heathcoat (Accessed: November 2025)

• Museum Crush, “John Heathcoat: The industrialist inventor who transformed a Devon town.” Available at: https://museumcrush.org/john-heathcoat-the-industrialist-inventor-who-transformed-a-devon-town/ (Accessed: November 2025)