The Holbeck Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £298,000 (expenditure 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Not specified
• Application Status: Closed to unsolicited applications

Contact Details

• Website: www.holbecktrust.com
• Email: gerry.morrison@rollits.com
• Phone: 01904 688500
• Address: C/o Rollits LLP, Citadel House, 58 High Street, Hull HU1 1QE

Overview

The Holbeck Charitable Trust (Charity Number 1146205) was created in 2006 and is registered as a company limited by guarantee (Company Number 07963012). The trust makes grants to other charitable organisations or for recognised charitable purposes. In the financial year ending April 2024, the trust distributed approximately £298,000 in grants against an income of £51,000, demonstrating it operates primarily from capital or reserves. The trust is managed by six trustees and historically responded to hundreds of funding requests. However, the trust has significantly changed its approach and is now closed to unsolicited applications, operating on an invitation-only basis.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not publish specific grant programs or funding tiers. Grants are made at trustee discretion to charitable organisations providing vital support and services to their communities.

Priority Areas

The trust supports voluntary organisations “providing vital support and services to their communities.” Specific priority areas are not publicly disclosed.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are published.

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by six trustees. At least one trustee receives payments or benefits for providing services to the charity. Trustee names and detailed biographies are not publicly available on the trust's website. The trust operates through Rollits LLP, a law firm based in Hull and York, with Gerry Morrison serving as the administrative contact.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The trust's website explicitly states: “The Trust is now closed to unsolicited applications.” The trust operates on an invitation-only basis, with trustees selectively inviting applications from:

1. Organisations with which the trust has had past funding relationships
2. New organisations chosen at the discretion of the trustees

The website further states that “applicants cannot contact the trustees of the charity about submitting applications.”

Grants are made at trustee discretion to charitable organisations they have identified or with which they have existing relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the invitation-only model, traditional success rates do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model.

Application Success Factors

Since the trust operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. The trust previously responded to “hundreds of requests” but has since moved to a selective, trustee-initiated model.

For organizations with existing relationships: Maintaining strong reporting, demonstrating impact from previous grants, and continuing to provide “vital support and services to their communities” would be important for potential future invitations.

For new organizations: There is no established pathway to approach the trust. Selection of new organizations is entirely at trustee discretion.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only model: The trust does not accept unsolicited applications and explicitly states applicants cannot contact trustees about applications
• Existing relationships matter: Priority is given to organisations with past funding relationships
• Trustee discretion: All funding decisions are made at trustee discretion without published criteria
• Community focus: The trust values organisations “providing vital support and services to their communities”
• Significant grant-maker: Despite modest income (£51,000), the trust distributed £298,000 in 2024, indicating substantial capital reserves
• Limited transparency: The trust provides minimal public information about funding priorities, grant amounts, or decision-making criteria
• No contact pathway: There is no mechanism for new organisations to introduce themselves or request consideration

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE DE BRYE CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE PETER AND TERESA HARRIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE ASK CHARITABLE TRUST
• Porters Trust
• DENCOMMON LIMITED
• THE JG CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Rowse Family Trust
• The Welland Charitable Trust
• The Marcia and Andrew Brown Charitable Trust
• Radfall Charitable Trust

References

• The Holbeck Charitable Trust official website (www.holbecktrust.com) -
• Charity Commission Register of Charities, Charity Number 1146205 (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1146205&subid=0) -
• Financial data from Trustees' Annual Report for year ending 05 April 2024