The James Reckitt Library Endowment

Charity Number: 225497

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Expenditure: £370,535 (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified - determined through partnership discussions
  • Grant Range: Varies by project (examples include £45,000 for Makerspace)
  • Geographic Focus: Kingston upon Hull only
  • Total Awarded: Over £5 million in the past decade

Contact Details

Primary Contact:

Director of Library Services, Hull City Council

Email: libraries@hcandl.co.uk

Tel: 01482 616960

Trust Contact:

Lucy King

Email: lucy.king@hcandl.co.uk

Tel: 01482 616960

Corporate Finance Planning:

Email: corpfinanceplanning@hullcc.gov.uk

Tel: 01482 613282

Address:

Albion Street, Hull, HU1 3TF

Website: https://jreckittlibrarytrust.co.uk

Overview

The James Reckitt Library Endowment (Charity Number 225497) was established in 1892 by Sir James Reckitt (1833-1924), a pioneering industrialist and Quaker philanthropist. When his efforts to establish a free public library in Hull were initially rebuffed, Sir James built and funded the first free public library in the city at his own cost – the James Reckitt Library in East Hull. In 2008, the management of the endowment was transferred to a newly-constituted charitable trust regulated by the Charity Commission, and its purposes were extended to include support for all public libraries in Kingston upon Hull. The Trust manages the largest charitable endowment in the country devoted exclusively to public libraries, with annual income of £471,359 (2023-24). Over the past decade, the Trust has awarded over £5 million to projects designed to extend the scope and impact of Hull's libraries, with particular focus on stimulating a love of reading and learning, especially among children and young people.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust does not operate traditional grant programs with set application rounds or fixed amounts. Instead, it funds projects through partnership with Hull City Council's public library service. The scale of funding varies significantly by project:

  • Capital Projects: Major redevelopments (e.g., Western Library refurbishment, Music Library creation)
  • Programme Funding: Ongoing initiatives (e.g., Children's Book Award, Summer Reading Challenge)
  • Specific Projects: Individual initiatives (e.g., £45,000 for MakerspaceHull development)

Funding is provided on a project-by-project basis through discussion with the Director of Library Services at Hull City Council.

Priority Areas

The Trust's funding strategy aligns with its “Soul of the City” vision, focusing on four key pillars:

1. Literacy and Reading

  • Programmes improving literacy skills
  • Encouraging love of reading, particularly among children and young people
  • Children's literature initiatives (James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Award)
  • Summer Reading Challenge

2. Community Engagement and Learning

  • IT skills programmes
  • Business and IP Centre services
  • Employment support initiatives
  • Under 5s literacy programmes

3. Cultural and Creative Initiatives

  • Literature festivals (Humber Mouth Literature Festival, The Big Malarkey Festival)
  • Music library and performance spaces
  • Oral history programmes (including one of the UK's biggest oral history programmes)
  • Exhibitions and cultural events

4. Library Infrastructure

  • Building architecturally inspiring library spaces
  • Developing innovative service delivery, including digital spaces
  • Refurbishment and modernization of library buildings
  • Makerspace and technology facilities

5. Partnerships and Collaboration

  • Projects involving partnerships with cultural organizations, educational institutions, and funding bodies
  • Previous partners include Freedom Festival, The Children's University, University of Hull, Hull History Centre, and Arts Council England

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects outside Kingston upon Hull
  • Organizations not partnering with Hull City Council's public library service
  • Activities unrelated to public library provision
  • Projects that do not align with the Trust's mission to extend library scope and impact
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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is managed by a board of independent trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Current Trustees

Chloe Frankish (Chair)

Joined the Trust in 2018 and became Chair in 2024. Finance Director for Europe at Croda, a specialist chemical company committed to corporate social responsibility. Chloe grew up in the Hull area and, with three young children of her own, is committed to supporting initiatives which benefit the local community.

Graham Chesters

Emeritus Professor of French at University of Hull, bringing academic perspective to the Trust's work.

Councillor Haroldo Herrera-Richmond

City Councillor since 2015, joined the Trust in 2021, providing connection to local government and community needs.

Patricia (Trish) Dalby

Retired Deputy Chief Executive at Hull City Council, offering extensive experience in local authority operations and library services.

Leadership Philosophy

The Trust embraces the philosophy captured in Walter Cronkite's quote: “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.” Their vision statement emphasizes ensuring modern public libraries remain at the heart of Hull's development, helping to build strong, knowledgeable communities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The James Reckitt Library Endowment does not have a public application process. The Trust works exclusively through Hull City Council's public library service, and the primary beneficiary of the Trust's funding is Hull City Council's library provision.

Organizations cannot apply directly to the Trust. Instead, all funding proposals must involve partnership with the public library service. Organizations wishing to express interest in partnership with the public library service should first contact the Director of Library Services by email at libraries@hcandl.co.uk.

The Trust considers funding proposals that:

  • Involve partnership between the public library service and other organizations or funding bodies
  • Align with the Trust's strategic priorities
  • Extend the scope and impact of Hull's public libraries
  • Serve the communities of Kingston upon Hull

Decision Timeline

There is no fixed decision timeline. Projects are assessed and funded on a case-by-case basis through discussion between the Trust's trustees and Hull City Council's library service. The timeline will vary depending on the scale and complexity of the proposed project.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. Given the Trust's partnership-based model, projects that reach formal proposal stage have likely already been vetted through preliminary discussions with the Director of Library Services.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified. Organizations should maintain ongoing dialogue with the Director of Library Services about future partnership opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Trust Mission

Projects must directly support public library provision in Hull. The Trust's overarching goal is to ensure modern public libraries remain at the heart of the city's development, helping to build strong, knowledgeable communities.

Focus on Children and Young People

The Trust has demonstrated particular interest in programmes that improve literacy and encourage reading among children and young people. Successful projects include the James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Award, Summer Reading Challenge, Under 5s Literacy Programme, and The Big Malarkey children's literature festival.

Innovation and Vision

The Trust seeks to position Hull as a leader in national library system discussions. They have stated: “We want to see the building of a new, architecturally-inspiring, reconceptualised library in Hull.” Projects demonstrating innovative approaches to library service delivery, including digital spaces and creative uses of library facilities, align well with their vision.

Partnership Approach

The Trust values collaboration and has supported projects involving partnerships with organizations such as Freedom Festival, The Children's University, University of Hull, Hull History Centre, and Arts Council England. Projects that bring together multiple partners and funding sources are well-regarded.

Community Impact

Successful projects encourage library use among non-traditional users and support initiatives that benefit the broader Hull community. The Trust's Chair, Chloe Frankish, is “committed to supporting initiatives which benefit the local community.”

Cultural and Creative Industries

The Trust's “Soul of the City” vision includes positioning libraries as part of Hull's creative and digital industries. Projects linking libraries to arts, cultural heritage, business development, and technological innovation fit within this framework.

Scalability and Sustainability

Given the significant investments the Trust has made (over £5 million in the past decade), they appear to support both substantial capital projects and ongoing programmes that deliver sustained community benefit.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct applications accepted - All funding flows through Hull City Council's public library service. Organizations must first approach the Director of Library Services to explore partnership opportunities.
  • Partnership is essential - The Trust only funds projects in partnership with Hull's public library service. Your project must genuinely integrate with library provision, not simply use the library as a venue.
  • Focus on children's literacy - The Trust has demonstrated consistent commitment to programmes that improve literacy and encourage reading among children and young people.
  • Think big and innovative - With over £5 million awarded in the past decade, the Trust supports substantial projects. They seek innovative approaches that position Hull's libraries as sector leaders.
  • Long-term relationships matter - This is not a one-off grant scheme. Successful partners have worked with the Trust on multiple projects over time. Build relationships with Hull's library service.
  • Align with “Soul of the City” vision - Projects should connect to one or more of the four pillars: inspiring architecture, innovative service delivery, cultural collaboration, and creative/digital industries integration.
  • Demonstrate community benefit - Show how your project will extend the reach and impact of Hull's libraries, particularly to non-traditional users or underserved communities.

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