The Kelly Family Charitable Trust

Charity Number: CUSTOM_6F0D45B9

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £127,221 (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2-4 months (biannual review cycles)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000 (higher amounts considered)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide
  • Preferred Income Band: Under £500,000 annual income

Contact Details

Website: https://kfct.org.uk/

Email: mail@kfct.org.uk

Grants Administrator: Stuart Armstrong

Charity Number: 1102440

For pre-application guidance, applicants are encouraged to contact Stuart Armstrong directly to ensure alignment with funding priorities.

Overview

The Kelly Family Charitable Trust was established in 2004 by members of the Kelly family as a grant-giving body focused on supporting families facing significant challenges. The Trust operates with a clear mission to fund charities whose activities engage entire families—not just individual members—in initiatives that strengthen family bonds and build supportive structures within family units. With annual giving of approximately £127,000, the Trust awards grants twice yearly through fixed application deadlines. The Trust particularly welcomes applications from relatively new charities seeking to become established and is willing to fund both core costs and project expenses. The trustees take an active interest in the charities they support, often conducting site visits and maintaining ongoing relationships with grantees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: £1,000 - £5,000 (occasionally higher amounts considered)

  • Fixed deadlines: 1st March and 1st September
  • Applications submitted via email using official application form
  • Trustees review applications biannually
  • Both capital and revenue grants available
  • Core costs and project-based funding accepted

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses on three specific areas:

  • Practical family support services
  • Relationship counselling
  • Family mediation services
  • Early intervention programmes
  • Services that engage the whole family unit
  • Sexual abuse
  • Physical abuse
  • Domestic violence
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Drug abuse
  • Prison visitation support
  • Practical support navigating the criminal justice system
  • Family connection programmes
  • Reintegration support

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-registered charities
  • Individual grant requests
  • National charities (regional projects may be considered)
  • General appeals
  • Organizations with specific religious or political purposes
  • Organizations with annual income over £500,000 (unless pioneering pilot projects)
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Governance and Leadership

Chair of Trustees: Jennifer Kelly (as of 2011 documentation)

Grants Administrator: Stuart Armstrong

The Trust operates with a board of trustees drawn from the Kelly family. Trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The governance structure has experienced some transitions due to personal circumstances, with ongoing recruitment efforts to maintain a strong board. The trustees take a hands-on approach, personally reviewing applications, conducting site visits to shortlisted charities, and maintaining relationships with funded organizations throughout the grant period.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Review Criteria: Before applying, carefully review the application criteria page at kfct.org.uk to ensure alignment with funding priorities
  2. Download Application Form: Use the official application form available on the Trust's website
  3. Submit by Email: Send completed application to mail@kfct.org.uk
  4. Include Supporting Documents: Provide annual accounts where available

Application Deadlines: 1st March and 1st September (strict deadlines—missing these means waiting for the next cycle)

Decision Timeline

  • Applications reviewed twice annually (March and September deadline)
  • Initial screening followed by requests for additional details from shortlisted charities
  • Trustees or grants administrator may conduct site visits
  • Typical decision timeframe: 2-4 months from deadline
  • Shortlisted projects contacted by Stuart Armstrong or a trustee

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. In the 2023-24 financial year, the Trust awarded £127,221 in grants across two funding rounds. Historical giving indicates steady growth:

  • 2023-24: £127,221
  • 2022-23: £121,274
  • 2021-22: £119,674

The Trust does not publish the number of applications received, making it difficult to calculate an exact success rate.

Reapplication Policy

  • Unsuccessful applicants must wait 1 year before resubmitting an application
  • Previously funded organizations may apply for repeat funding if they provide satisfactory progress reports
  • The Trust welcomes ongoing relationships with grantees showing positive outcomes

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of funded projects and Trust guidance, successful applications demonstrate:

Family-Centered Approach: The Trust emphasizes funding organizations where “activities involve all or most family members” working together. Applications should clearly articulate how the whole family unit is engaged, not just individual members. As stated on their website, they seek initiatives that help “family members as a unit...work together...in tackling problems.”

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • Crossroads Derbyshire: Domestic abuse support with holistic approach developing “long-term improvements to self-esteem, resilience”
  • Dandelion Time: Farm-based programmes for children aged 5-16 experiencing trauma, specifically engaging “carers, siblings and the wider family”
  • Yellow Door: Comprehensive services including counselling, advocacy, and preventative education (STAR programme)
  • Sussex Prisoners' Families: Emotional and practical support maintaining family connections during imprisonment
  • Cumbria Family Support Association: Volunteer-led early intervention with family-centered support plans

Key Success Factors:

  • Demonstrate clear outcomes that strengthen family bonds and prevent family fracture
  • Show how the entire family is involved in the intervention, not just the individual facing challenges
  • Emphasize relationship-building, resilience, and sustainable improvements
  • For newer charities: Focus on innovative approaches and clear plans for establishment
  • For established charities: Show track record and evidence-based outcomes
  • Be specific about how funding will be used—core costs are welcomed
  • Align clearly with one (or more) of the three priority areas

Language to Use:

  • “Family unit,” “family-centered,” “holistic approach”
  • “Sustainable improvements,” “resilience,” “family bonds”
  • “Early intervention,” “preventative”
  • “Practical and emotional support”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Family-first framing is essential: Applications must demonstrate how the whole family unit benefits and participates, not just individual family members. This is the Trust's core differentiator.
  • New charities actively encouraged: Unlike many funders, the Trust explicitly welcomes applications from relatively new organizations. Emphasize innovation and your establishment plans if you're a newer charity.
  • Core funding is available: The Trust is happy to fund core costs, not just projects. Don't hesitate to apply for operational support if it helps establish or strengthen family-focused work.
  • Strict deadlines, no rolling basis: With only two deadlines per year (1st March and 1st September), plan well in advance. Missing a deadline means a 6-month wait.
  • Site visits are common: Be prepared for trustees or the grants administrator to visit your organization if shortlisted. This is an opportunity to showcase your work firsthand.
  • Build relationships: The trustees take an active interest in funded charities. This isn't transactional funding—they want ongoing engagement and progress reports.
  • One-year waiting period after rejection: If unsuccessful, you must wait a full year before reapplying. Make your first application count by ensuring strong alignment with priorities.

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