The Inn Collection Group - Give Inn Back

Charity Number: CUSTOM_4EB5D6D2

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £75,000-£80,000 through Give Inn Back
  • Grant Amount: Up to £2,500 per property location
  • Number of Properties: 30+ across Northern England and North Wales
  • Application Windows: March 1-April 30 and July 1-August 31
  • Geographic Focus: Northern England, Cumbria, North Yorkshire, North Wales
  • Decision Makers: Local inn teams at each property

Contact Details

Website: https://www.inncollectiongroup.com/

How to Apply: Email your local Inn Collection Group property with details of your cause

Application Windows:

  • Spring: March 1 - April 30
  • Summer: July 1 - August 31

Overview

The Inn Collection Group is a hospitality business operating over 30 pubs with rooms across Northern England and North Wales. Established as a growing pub chain, they launched their Give Inn Back community funding programme in 2022 to support local causes near their properties. In its first year, the scheme awarded £44,000 across 27 good causes. The programme has since expanded to approximately £75,000-£80,000 annually, with each of their properties allocated £2,500 to distribute to local community groups, charities, and grassroots organizations. The Inn Collection Group won the Outstanding Charity Support by a Large Company award at the North East Charity Awards in recognition of this initiative. What makes this programme unique is that funding decisions are made by the teams at individual inn locations, giving local staff the autonomy to support causes that matter most to their communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programme

  • Give Inn Back: Up to £2,500 per property location
  • Application Method: Rolling basis within two annual application windows
  • Total Annual Fund: £75,000-£80,000 distributed across all properties

Priority Areas

  • Community groups and local causes
  • Registered charities operating in local communities
  • Grassroots sports clubs and children's sports teams
  • Community events (Christmas lights, fireworks displays, community parties)
  • Youth services and activities
  • Community facilities and centres
  • Local schools and educational initiatives

What They Support

The programme is particularly focused on hyperlocal causes within the immediate communities surrounding their pub properties. Teams have supported diverse initiatives including:

  • Dawdon Youth and Community Centre (£1,000 grant)
  • Christmas lights in Ambleside and Coniston (over £9,000)
  • Seahouses New Year fireworks
  • Patterdale Primary School
  • Ambleside Parish Centre
  • Local children's sports teams
  • Community fundraising events

Geographic Coverage

Applications are only considered from organizations located near one of The Inn Collection Group's properties in:

  • Northumberland
  • Cumbria
  • North Yorkshire
  • County Durham
  • North Wales
  • The Lake District
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Governance and Leadership

Sean Donkin, Managing Director: “Give Inn Back was a great success in 2022 and we were delighted to be able to help so many organisations”

The programme operates through a decentralized decision-making structure where teams at individual properties have full autonomy to select which causes to support from their allocated £2,500 budget.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Give Inn Back programme accepts applications from community organizations twice per year during specific windows. The process is deliberately simple and locally-focused:

  1. Identify Your Local Inn: Find the Inn Collection Group property nearest to your organization
  2. Prepare Your Proposal: Write a short description of your activities and how a donation would make a difference
  3. Submit by Email: Send your proposal directly to your local inn property
  4. Local Decision: The team at that specific property will review and make funding decisions

Application Windows

  • Spring Round: March 1 - April 30
  • Summer Round: July 1 - August 31

Applications submitted outside these windows will not be considered.

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made by local inn teams during or shortly after the application window closes. The exact timeline varies by property as each location manages its own selection process independently.

Success Rates

In the first year (2022), 27 causes received funding from 23 properties, indicating that some properties funded multiple organizations while others may have focused their £2,500 on a single cause. The programme awarded £44,000 in its first year and has since grown to £75,000-£80,000 annually.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can apply to their local inn during each application window. There is no restriction on reapplying in subsequent years if unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Hyperlocal Focus is Critical: The programme is designed to support causes in the immediate vicinity of each pub property. Applications from organizations not clearly connected to the local community around a specific inn are unlikely to succeed.

Keep It Simple: The application process requires only “a short description of your activities” and how the donation would make a difference. Lengthy proposals are not necessary or expected.

Staff Connection Matters: Since local inn teams make all decisions, causes that inn staff are personally aware of or connected to may have an advantage. Building relationships with your local Inn Collection Group property year-round can be beneficial.

Demonstrate Community Impact: Successful recipients like Dawdon Youth and Community Centre emphasized their role as community hubs serving many local residents (450+ individuals and groups in Dawdon's case).

Diverse Causes Welcome: The programme has funded everything from Christmas lights to youth centres to sports teams, showing flexibility in what types of causes are supported. Don't self-select out because you think your cause might not fit.

Team Ownership: According to company statements, staff are empowered to “choose charities with needs outside the norm,” suggesting that unusual or creative proposals that resonate with local teams can succeed.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Location is everything: You must be near one of their 30+ properties to be eligible. Check their website for property locations.
  • Don't miss the windows: Applications are only accepted March 1-April 30 and July 1-August 31. Mark these dates.
  • Keep proposals brief and local: A short email explaining your local impact is all that's needed. Focus on your connection to that specific community.
  • Build relationships year-round: Visit your local Inn Collection Group property, introduce your organization to the management team, and stay on their radar between funding rounds.
  • Think up to £2,500: While some organizations receive less (£1,000 in the Dawdon example), each property has up to £2,500 to allocate, so you can request amounts within this range.
  • Awards are won at the North East Charity Awards: The company takes pride in this programme and has won recognition for it, suggesting they're committed to its continuation.
  • Multiple applications possible: With 30+ properties, organizations operating across multiple communities could potentially apply to more than one location if they serve multiple areas.

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