The Hugonin Family Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £417,185 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Application Process: No public application process (trustee discretion)

Contact Details

Address: Womble Bond Dickinson, The Spark, Newcastle Helix, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5DE

Phone: 020 7788 2429

Email: alexander.dickinson@wbd-uk.com

Trust Administration: Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP

Overview

The Hugonin Family Trust is a private grant-making trust registered with the UK Charity Commission on 16 May 1969 (Charity Number 258373). The trust operates with broad discretionary powers, with charitable objects defined as “to make donations for such charitable objects as the appointors may in their absolute discretion from time to time determine.” This gives the trustees complete flexibility in determining which charitable purposes to support. In the financial year ending April 2024, the trust distributed £417,185 in grants despite having an income of only £14,917, indicating the trust draws on its capital or reserves to fund its charitable activities. The trust operates throughout England and Wales and makes grants to organizations supporting the general public.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate specific named grant programs. All grants are made at the absolute discretion of the trustees based on their assessment of charitable need and alignment with their philanthropic interests.

The trust's wide-ranging charitable objects mean it has the flexibility to support any registered charitable purpose.

Priority Areas

Not publicly specified. The trust's charitable objects allow the trustees complete discretion in determining which charitable causes to support, meaning priorities may vary over time based on trustee interests and charitable need.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly specified. As a discretionary trust, the trustees determine which applications or causes to support on a case-by-case basis.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Camilla Frances Mary Royds - Trustee
• James William Hugonin - Trustee

The trust has two trustees who make all decisions regarding grant distribution. Neither trustee receives any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

The trust is administered by Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, a leading UK law firm with expertise in charity and trust administration. The contact person is Alexander Dickinson, a legal professional at the firm's Newcastle office.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Hugonin Family Trust operates as a private discretionary trust, meaning grants are awarded based on trustee initiative and discretion rather than through an open application process. The trustees identify charitable causes and organizations to support without inviting public applications.

Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications to this trust. Grants are made to organizations that come to the trustees' attention through their networks, connections, and personal knowledge of the charitable sector.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. Decisions are made on a rolling basis at the trustees' discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. As there is no open application process, success rate data is not relevant.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the trust does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

As The Hugonin Family Trust does not accept public applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations that receive funding from this trust are typically:

• Known to the trustees through their personal or professional networks
• Operating in areas of interest to the Hugonin family
• Based in or connected to the North East of England, given the trust's Newcastle administration
• Aligned with causes the trustees have chosen to support through their discretionary powers

The trust's significant annual giving (£417,185 in 2024) demonstrates active grant-making despite the private nature of its operations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public applications accepted: This trust awards grants at the trustees' absolute discretion without an open application process
• Private family trust: The Hugonin Family Trust operates as a traditional private charitable trust with decisions made by family trustees
• Discretionary grant-making: The trust's charitable objects give trustees complete flexibility to support any charitable purpose
• Newcastle connections: Administered through Womble Bond Dickinson's Newcastle office, suggesting potential regional interests
• Significant annual giving: Despite modest income, the trust distributed over £400,000 in 2024, indicating active philanthropic engagement
• Professional administration: Working with a reputable law firm for trust administration suggests organized and proper governance
• Not a suitable target for cold applications: Grant writers should not approach this trust with unsolicited proposals

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Marcia and Andrew Brown Charitable Trust
• Audrey Earle Charitable Trust
• The Tomlinson Family Charitable Trust
• THE ICTHIUS CHARITABLE TRUST
• H M Sassoon Charitable Trust
• The Rowse Family Trust
• THE DE BRYE CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE ASK CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE H.O.B. TRUST
• The George Cadbury Trust (George Henry T and Laurence J Cadbury Sections)

References

• UK Charity Commission Register of Charities: The Hugonin Family Trust (Charity Number 258373). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/258373/full-print [Accessed: December 8, 2025]

• Charity Commission Trustee Register: Trustees, The Hugonin Family Trust - 258373. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/258373/trustees [Accessed: December 8, 2025]

• Charity Commission Contact Information: The Hugonin Family Trust - 258373. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/258373/contact-information [Accessed: December 8, 2025]

• Womble Bond Dickinson: Charities Services. Available at: https://www.womblebonddickinson.com/uk/sectors/public-services-and-third-sector/charities [Accessed: December 8, 2025]