The Helen Jean Cope Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £112,827 (2023)
• Grant Range: £500 - £5,000 (larger grants occasionally)
• Decision Time: Variable (trustees meet approximately 5 times per year)
• Geographic Focus: East Midlands, with preference for Leicestershire
• Grants Distributed: 49 grants in 2022
• Charity Number: 1125937
• Total Given Since 1998: Nearly £5 million

Contact Details

Address: The Secretary, HJC Charity, 1 Woodgate, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 2TY

Phone: 01509 218 298

Email: helenjeancope@btconnect.com

Website: https://thehelenjeancopecharity.co.uk/

Overview

The Helen Jean Cope Charity was established in 2008 following the death of Helen Jean Cope in 1993. Jean inherited estates from her grandfather Alan Moss and her mother Annie Isobel (Nan) Cope, and left most of her estate to be distributed to charity. The Charity Commissioners approved a distribution scheme in 1998, and since then the trustees have distributed nearly £5 million to charitable causes. Following the philanthropic pattern set by the Cope family, who were considerable benefactors in Loughborough (notably gifting part of The Outwoods and Jubilee Wood to the town), the charity focuses on supporting registered charities primarily in the East Midlands. In 2023, the charity had a total income of £143,916 and expenditure of £112,827, distributing 49 grants in 2022. The charity operates as a private limited company by guarantee and is governed by seven trustees who serve without remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grants: £500 - £5,000 (typical range)

• Written applications accepted on a rolling basis
• Trustees meet approximately 5 times per year to review applications
• Larger grants are occasionally made in exceptional circumstances
• Grants are usually project-specific rather than for general running costs

Priority Areas

The Helen Jean Cope Charity has a broad charitable remit, having historically supported:

• Schools and educational initiatives
• Village halls and community buildings
• Churches and faith organizations
• Playgroups and early years provision
• Arts festivals and cultural activities
• Services for young people
• Services for older people
• Services for people with disabilities
• Support for homeless people
• Health and care services

The charity makes grants “to achieve specific objectives” rather than for general running costs, with a strong preference for organizations based in or connected to the East Midlands, particularly Leicestershire.

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations that are not registered charities with the Charity Commission
• Organizations with no connection to the East Midlands (unless national charities can demonstrate clear benefit to the region)
• Repeat applications from organizations funded in the previous year (grants are “rarely made to the same organisation two years in succession”)
• General running costs without specific project objectives

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees/Directors (as of 2024)

John Malcolm Carrington - Secretary and Director (appointed July 2008)

Managing Director

Lindsay Ann Brydson - Director (appointed July 2008)

Retired Solicitor

Graham Sidney Freckelton - Director (appointed July 2008)

Chartered Surveyor

Alan Roberts - Director (appointed November 2011)

Retired Solicitor

Anthony John Benskin - Director (appointed June 2018)

Solicitor

Matthew Graham Freckelton - Director (appointed June 2018)

Director

All trustees are British nationals and serve without remuneration or benefits. The board brings together professional expertise in law, surveying, and business management.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted in writing to:

The Secretary, HJC Charity

1 Woodgate

Loughborough

Leicestershire

LE11 2TY

Or by email to: helenjeancope@btconnect.com

The charity states they aim “to make the application process as simple as possible” but need “a reasonable amount of information to assist the Trustees in their decision making and to comply with the charity guidelines.”

Important: Applications must include the full name and address of the charity to which correspondence should be sent and cheques made payable in the event of a grant being made.

Decision Timeline

• Trustees meet approximately 5 times per year (roughly every 2-3 months)
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
• Specific decision timelines are not publicly stated and likely depend on when applications are received relative to trustee meeting dates

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the charity distributed 49 grants in 2022 (compared to 52 in 2021), suggesting they fund a moderate number of organizations each year from the applications received.

Reapplication Policy

Grants are “rarely made to the same organisation two years in succession.” Organizations that receive funding should not expect to apply again in the immediately following year. This policy appears designed to spread the charity's resources across a wider range of beneficiaries.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors

Geographic Connection is Critical: The charity explicitly states they make “most of the grants to charities which are based in, or have a connection with the East Midlands, with preferences being given to applications which will benefit Leicestershire.” Even national charities must “demonstrate that they will provide a benefit to our catchment area.”

Specific Project Focus: The charity emphasizes that grants are “usually made to achieve specific objectives” rather than for general running costs. Applications should clearly articulate a defined project or purpose.

Registered Charity Status: The charity “only makes grants to Registered Charities.” Your organization must be registered with the Charity Commission.

Historic Funding Patterns: Since inception, the charity has supported “schools, village halls, churches, playgroups, art festivals, and all manner of groups catering for the needs of young, the old, the disabled, the homeless and the sick.” Applications from these sectors appear particularly well-aligned with the charity's mission.

Family Legacy Values: The charity follows “the pattern set by the Copes themselves” - a family known for their philanthropy in Loughborough and the East Midlands. Applications that connect to local community benefit and improvement, particularly in Leicestershire, honor this heritage.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Demonstrate clear East Midlands benefit: Even if you're a national charity, you must show specific impact in the East Midlands region, ideally Leicestershire
• Focus on specific projects: Frame your application around defined objectives and outcomes rather than general running costs
• Keep it simple: The charity values straightforward applications and aims to keep bureaucracy minimal
• Plan timing carefully: With trustees meeting only 5 times per year, factor in potential waiting periods
• Don't reapply immediately: If successful, wait at least two years before applying again
• Ensure charity registration: Your organization must be a registered charity - this is non-negotiable
• Show community impact: Applications that demonstrate tangible benefit to local communities, particularly vulnerable groups, align well with the charity's values and history
• Consider grant size appropriately: Most grants are £500-£5,000, so pitch your project accordingly unless you have exceptional circumstances warranting a larger request

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Helen Roll Charity
• The Jack Brunton Charitable Trust
• The Geoffrey Watling Charity
• THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY
• THE 29TH MAY 1961 CHARITY
• The Adint Charitable Trust
• THE ROGER & DOUGLAS TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST
• The David Wilson Foundation
• THE FLORENCE TURNER TRUST
• R. Daphne Plunket Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Helen Jean Cope Charity (Charity Number 1125937): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1125937&subId=0
• The Helen Jean Cope Charity Official Website: https://thehelenjeancopecharity.co.uk/
• Companies House - The Helen Jean Cope Charity (Company Number 06660648): https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06660648
• Charity Choice Directory - The Helen Jean Cope Charity: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-helen-jean-cope-charity-35849
• Love Loughborough - Helen Jean Cope Charity Listing: https://loveloughborough.co.uk/love-loughborough/acadp_listings/helen-jean-cope-charity/