The Kennel Club Educational Trust

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1121454
• Annual Income: £158,000 (2023)
• Total Expenditure: £328,000 (2023)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide
• Application Method: Online application form (rolling basis)
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified

Contact Details

Website: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/educationaltrust (redirects to www.royalkennelclub.com)

Email: info@the-kennel-club.org.uk

Phone: 020 7518 1037

Application Form: Available via online portal at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/forms/kennel-club-educational-trust-funding-request/

Overview

The Kennel Club Educational Trust was registered in England & Wales on 1 November 2007 (Charity No. 1121454). The Trust is a dedicated dog charity focused on education and training for all those connected with dogs. The Trust operates The Kennel Club Building at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, the UK's only purpose-built, completely dog-friendly venue, which serves as a centre of educational excellence for dogs and their owners. Until recently, the Trust also operated the Bark and Read Foundation, a canine-assisted literacy program that worked with charities, social enterprises and individuals in schools and libraries around the UK, helping children to read with specially-trained support dogs. The initiative launched in 2012 and has since been successfully transitioned to specialized organizations in the field. The Trust has distributed grants totalling over £2.5 million since its inception.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates on a rolling application basis through an online funding request form. Applications are considered from individuals, organisations or groups that meet the Trust's objectives. Specific grant amounts are not publicly specified; applicants must indicate their funding requirements with a detailed breakdown of individual costings.

Priority Areas

The Trust makes a difference by funding work that focuses on:

• Dog education in the wider community: Including programs for young people, schools and voluntary organisations
• Educational and voluntary institutions: Through the awarding of grants for dog-related educational activities
• Training and education venues: Managing The Kennel Club's venues at which education, training and dog related activities are centered
• Supporting responsible dog ownership: Educational initiatives that promote best practices in dog care and welfare
• Academic publishing support: The Trust covers 50% of article processing charges for manuscripts published in the area of domestic dog health in the journal Canine Genetics and Epidemiology

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly detailed on the Educational Trust's website, based on the Trust's focused objectives, they would not typically fund:

• Projects unrelated to dog education, training or welfare
• General animal welfare projects not specifically focused on dogs
• Projects outside the UK
• Commercial ventures

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by a board of trustees including:

• Gerald King - Chairman
• Jeff Lloyd - Primary Education Consultant
• Helen Geeson - YKC Management Team

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through an online funding request form available on The Kennel Club website. The form is a multi-step process requiring:

• Name for the funding request
• Contact name and email address
• Requesting organisation (optional for individuals)
• The amount of funding required
• A detailed breakdown of individual costings
• Latest approved, audited report and accounts (where applicable)
• Registered charity number (where applicable)

Note: Applications will not normally be assessed without accounts, except in the case of organisations less than one year old.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly stated. The Trust operates on a rolling application basis, meaning applications can be submitted at any time and are assessed as received.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly stated. Applicants are advised to contact the Trust directly if their initial application is unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated objectives and activities, successful applications are likely to demonstrate:

• Clear alignment with educational objectives: Projects must demonstrate how they promote dog education in the wider community, particularly targeting young people, schools and voluntary organisations

• Detailed financial planning: The application requires a breakdown of individual costings, suggesting the Trust values careful budgeting and clear justification of expenses

• Established organizational credibility: The requirement for audited accounts (except for very new organisations) indicates the Trust favors applicants with a track record

• Focus on training and education: Given the Trust's operation of training venues and past support of programs like Bark and Read, projects that combine practical training with educational outcomes may be particularly attractive

• Community impact: The Trust's mission emphasizes reaching the “wider community,” suggesting preference for projects with broad accessibility rather than narrow or exclusive reach

• Best value and impact: The Trust explicitly states it aims “to ensure that best value and impact is achieved through the money spent,” indicating applications should clearly articulate both cost-effectiveness and measurable outcomes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Lead with education: Frame your project explicitly in terms of educational outcomes related to dogs, responsible ownership, or canine-related training
• Be specific about costs: Provide detailed, itemized budgets with clear justification for each element of expenditure
• Emphasize community reach: Highlight how your project will reach young people, schools, voluntary organisations or the wider community
• Submit supporting documentation: Ensure you have your latest audited accounts ready before applying (unless you're a very new organisation)
• Applications accepted year-round: With rolling applications, you can apply when your project is ready rather than waiting for deadline dates
• Contact them directly: With limited public information about grant ranges and success factors, consider reaching out to the Trust via email or phone before applying for guidance specific to your project
• Demonstrate measurable impact: Given the Trust's focus on “best value and impact,” be prepared to show how you'll measure and report on outcomes

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE MICHAEL MARSH CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust
• The Rowlands Trust
• The Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trust
• The Cole Charitable Trust
• Alice Noakes Memorial Charitable Trust
• J A Gillett Charitable Trust
• THE EVESON TRUST
• THE PERRY FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST
• Round Table Charitable Trust Fund

References

• The Kennel Club Educational Trust main page: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/about-us/charity-work/the-kennel-club-educational-trust/
• The Kennel Club Educational Trust funding request form: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/forms/kennel-club-educational-trust-funding-request/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/4031722
• Giving is Great Charity Factsheet: https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1121454
• The Kennel Club Building at Stoneleigh: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/about-us/facilities/the-kennel-club-building-in-stoneleigh/
• Bark and Read program information: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/barkandread