The Isabel Blackman Foundation

Charity Number: 313577

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £225,505 (expenditure for year ending April 2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified - no fixed deadlines, rolling basis
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: Hastings and St. Leonards-on-Sea only

Contact Details

Website: theisabelblackmanfoundation.org.uk

Email: ManagingSecretary@theisabelblackmanfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 01424 431756

Postal Address: 13 Laton Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2ES

Overview

The Isabel Blackman Foundation (charity number 313577) was established by the late Isabel Blackman to support the advancement and improvement of education and social wellbeing in Hastings and St. Leonards-on-Sea. The foundation operates exclusively in this geographic area and carries out its purposes primarily through grant-making to both individuals and organisations. For the financial year ending April 5, 2023, the charity had a total income of £311,036 and total expenditure of £225,505. The foundation has a long history of supporting the local community, having previously contributed significant funding to local infrastructure (including £50,000 towards the construction of the Isabel Blackman Centre in 1977 and a further £77,000 between 1980-2014, though the foundation now has no connection with that Centre).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a rolling grant program with no fixed application deadlines. Grants are available to both individuals and organisations that meet the residency/operational requirements.

Priority Areas

Education and Training:

  • Scholarships and awards for teachers, graduates and students
  • Support for students pursuing further education

Health and Social Care:

  • Advancement of health or saving of lives
  • Treatment and prevention of specific illnesses and diseases, including mental illness
  • Rehabilitation of the disabled, including those in residential care

Community and Cultural Support:

  • Theatres and cultural venues
  • Musical workshops
  • Museums
  • Sports clubs and amateur sport
  • Community centres
  • Housing associations

Religious Activities:

  • Furtherance of the Christian religion

Other Areas:

  • Care of the aged
  • Services for children and youth
  • Environmental and animal welfare organisations
  • Arts/culture/heritage/science

Eligibility Requirements

  • For Individuals: Must have resided in Hastings and St. Leonards-on-Sea for at least three years
  • For Organisations: Must have been based in Hastings and St. Leonards-on-Sea for at least three years

What They Don't Fund

The foundation operates exclusively within the Hastings and St. Leonards-on-Sea area. Applications from individuals or organisations outside this geographic area will not be considered.

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees

  • Patricia Helen Connolly - Chair
  • Michael John Gratton - Trustee (appointed October 2022)
  • Michael Cornes - Trustee (appointed December 2021)
  • David Harding - Trustee (appointed January 2018)
  • Martin Holgate - Trustee (appointed April 2015)
  • Christine Sylvia Deacon - Trustee

The foundation maintains up-to-date charity reporting with the Charity Commission and operates with a board of six trustees who make all grant decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted in writing to:

The Isabel Blackman Foundation

13 Laton Road

Hastings

East Sussex

TN34 2ES

Alternatively, applicants can contact the foundation via:

  • Email: ManagingSecretary@theisabelblackmanfoundation.org.uk
  • Phone: 01424 431756

There is no online application portal. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publish specific decision timelines. Given the rolling nature of applications and the foundation's fiscal year ending in April, it is advisable to contact the foundation directly for guidance on when decisions might be made.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Information on reapplication policies is not publicly available. Unsuccessful applicants should contact the foundation directly to inquire about reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about specific grant criteria and success factors, applicants should consider the following:

  • Geographic Specificity: Ensure clear evidence of the three-year residency/operational requirement in Hastings and St. Leonards-on-Sea
  • Clear Community Benefit: Articulate how the grant will advance education or social wellbeing in the local area
  • Alignment with Priorities: Demonstrate clear fit with one or more of the foundation's stated priority areas
  • Written Communication: Since all applications must be in writing, ensure proposals are clear, concise, and professionally presented
  • Local Impact: The foundation has a history of supporting local infrastructure and community organisations - emphasize tangible local outcomes
  • Direct Contact: Given the absence of formal application forms or detailed guidelines, consider making initial contact to discuss eligibility and approach before submitting a full application

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Strict Geographic Limitation: Only organisations and individuals in Hastings and St. Leonards-on-Sea with at least three years' presence are eligible - this is non-negotiable
  • Rolling Applications: No fixed deadlines means you can apply at any time, but also means decisions may vary in timing
  • Broad Remit: The foundation supports a wide range of causes from education to health to culture - identify your strongest area of alignment
  • Written Applications Only: No online portal exists; all contact must be via letter, email, or phone
  • Small Foundation: With annual expenditure around £225k, this is a small local foundation - tailor expectations accordingly
  • Make Initial Contact: Given limited public guidance, contacting the Managing Secretary before formal application is advisable
  • Demonstrate Local Knowledge: The foundation was established by a local benefactor for local benefit - emphasizing community roots and local impact will be important

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