The Kentown Wizard Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Over £20 million total grants (as of milestone reached in late 2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation-only funding)
• Grant Range: £26,000 - £1,500,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (primarily England), with some international work in Malawi

Contact Details

• Website: www.kentownwizard.org
• Email: enquiries@kentownwizard.org
• Phone: 01253446923
• Address: Blackpool, Lancashire
• Charity Number: 1163956

Important Note: The Kentown Wizard Foundation does not accept unsolicited enquiries or applications. They proactively identify and approach organisations to support through their own research and collaborations within the charitable sector.

Overview

The Kentown Wizard Foundation was established in 2015 by Kenneth Townsley, founder of Gold Medal Travel Group, who donated or pledged over £100 million to the foundation before his death on 24 January 2026. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded 90 grants, surpassing £20 million in grant-giving by late 2024. The foundation's mission is to have “a positive and enduring impact on the lives of children and young adults with life-threatening conditions and serious disabilities.” They operate with a flexible yet focused approach, making grants to UK registered charities whose values and objectives align with their own, with an overriding aim to give grants where they will have the greatest impact. The foundation is led by Chief Executive Ian Jones (joined May 2025).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programmes with fixed amounts. Instead, they make strategic grants based on identified need and organisational capacity:

• Major Strategic Grants: £250,000 - £1,500,000 (multi-year partnerships)
• Medium-Scale Grants: £100,000 - £400,000 (typically 2-3 year commitments)
• Smaller Project Grants: £26,000+ (specific project support)

Examples of grants include:

• Make-A-Wish UK: Over £4 million total support (ongoing partnership since 2016)
• Dreams Come True: £1,000,000 (2019, three-year Hidden Communities project)
• Dreams Come True: £867,500 (five-year grant for Blackpool and North West)
• Brian House Children's Hospice: Over £487,000 (over four years)
• Whizz-Kidz: £320,000 total commitment (£250,000 in 2021, £70,000 in September 2024)
• Candlelighters: £250,000 (matched funding for Cottage project)
• REACT Children's Charity: £150,000 (caravan replacements)

Priority Areas

• Children and young adults with life-threatening conditions
• Children and young adults with serious disabilities
• Palliative and hospice care for children
• Wish-granting organisations for critically ill children
• Mobility and independence support for young wheelchair users
• Medical interventions for children (including international work in Malawi focusing on cleft surgery and burns treatment)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions. However, based on their stated mission, they focus exclusively on:

• UK registered charities (for UK-based work)
• Organisations supporting children and young adults
• Life-threatening conditions and serious disabilities

Organisations outside these parameters are unlikely to be considered.

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Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Founder: Kenneth Townsley (1945-2026)

• Born 1945 in Blackpool to working-class parents
• Founded Gold Medal Travel Group (sold to Thomas Cook in 2009)
• Established the foundation in 2015 with a commitment exceeding £100 million
• Died peacefully on 24 January 2026
• Quote: "I didn't want to just leave this money in my Will to benefit various charities at some point in the future. I wanted to see it being used to help those in need now, today and tomorrow and to know that my success has been put to the best possible use."

Chief Executive: Ian Jones (joined May 2025)

Previous CEO: Margaret Ingram (founding CEO 2015-2023)

• During her tenure, the foundation granted over £19 million

Trustees:

• Confirmed trustees include the late Kenneth Townsley and Richard Ingle
• No trustees receive remuneration or benefits from the charity

How to Apply to The Kentown Wizard Foundation

How to Apply

The Kentown Wizard Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

The foundation states: “We actively search for organisations to support and do not accept unsolicited applications for grants. We find grantees through our own research and collaborations within the charitable sector.”

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates through invitation-only funding.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organisations cannot apply or reapply as all funding is invitation-only.

Application Success Factors

For Organisations Hoping to Be Noticed

While you cannot apply directly to the Kentown Wizard Foundation, understanding what attracts their attention may be helpful:

1. Strong Track Record and Impact

The foundation supports established organisations with proven track records. Their grantees include well-known national charities (Make-A-Wish UK, Whizz-Kidz) and respected regional organisations (Brian House Children's Hospice).

2. Alignment with Core Mission

Organisations must focus on children and young adults with life-threatening conditions or serious disabilities. The foundation is highly focused and does not appear to stray from this remit.

3. Geographic or Personal Connection

Many supported organisations have connections to the North West of England, particularly Lancashire and Blackpool (Kenneth Townsley's home region). However, the foundation also supports national organisations.

4. Long-Term Partnership Approach

The foundation favours multi-year commitments (3-5 year partnerships are common), suggesting they value sustained relationships over one-off grants.

5. Projects with Maximum Impact

The foundation explicitly states their “overriding aim is to give grants where they will have the greatest impact,” suggesting they look for projects where their funding will make a transformational difference.

6. Organisational Capacity

With grants ranging from £26,000 to £1.5 million, the foundation supports organisations of various sizes, but all grantees appear to be established organisations with the capacity to deliver significant programmes.

Examples of Funded Projects

• Funding senior nursing staff salaries at children's hospices
• Supporting wish-granting for seriously ill children
• Providing mobility equipment and independence training for young wheelchair users
• Building sensory gardens and therapeutic facilities
• Supporting rebound therapy programmes for children with complex needs
• Funding international medical interventions (cleft surgery, burns treatment in Malawi)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. You Cannot Apply: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Traditional grant writing will not result in funding from this source.

1. Build Sector Visibility: Since the foundation finds grantees through “research and collaborations within the charitable sector,” organisations should focus on building strong reputations, publishing impact reports, and networking within the children's charity sector.

1. Mission Alignment is Non-Negotiable: Only organisations supporting children and young adults with life-threatening conditions or serious disabilities will be considered. There is no evidence of funding outside this remit.

1. Think Long-Term: The foundation favours multi-year partnerships over one-off grants. If approached, be prepared to discuss sustained relationships of 3-5 years.

1. North West Connection May Help: While the foundation supports UK-wide organisations, there appears to be a connection to Lancashire and the North West. Regional organisations in this area may have higher visibility.

1. Demonstrate Maximum Impact: The foundation's stated aim is to fund where grants “will have the greatest impact.” Organisations should focus on articulating transformational outcomes rather than incremental improvements.

1. Alternative Strategy: Rather than attempting to apply, focus on ensuring your organisation appears in relevant sector directories, publishes strong impact reports, maintains an active presence at sector conferences and events, and builds relationships with other organisations in the foundation's network.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• Bbc Children In Need
• The Will Charitable Trust
• Postcode Care Trust
• Combined Funds Limited
• Players Of People's Postcode Lottery
• People's Postcode Lottery
• Players Of People’s Postcode Lottery
• Salesforce
• People’s Postcode Lottery

References

1. Kentown Wizard Foundation Official Website - https://kentownwizard.org/
2. Kentown Wizard Foundation “About Us” - https://kentownwizard.org/about-us/
3. Kentown Wizard Foundation “Our Founder” - https://kentownwizard.org/our-founder/
4. Kentown Wizard Foundation “Our Work” - https://kentownwizard.org/our-work/
5. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1163956 - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1163956&subid=0
6. “Businessman sets up £50m grantmaking foundation” - Civil Society, 2015 - https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/businessman-sets-up-50m-grantmaking-foundation.html
7. “Blackpool-based foundation surpasses £20 million in grant-giving” - Lancashire Evening Post, October 2024 - https://www.lep.co.uk/business/blackpool-based-foundation-surpasses-ps20-million-in-grant-giving-4837099
8. “Dreams Come True receives a transformative £1 million grant from The Kentown Wizard Foundation” - Dreams Come True website, 2019 - https://www.dreamscometrue.uk.com/25/1941/dreams-come-true-receives-a-transformative-1-million-grant-from-the-kentown-wizard-foundation
9. Make-A-Wish UK - Kentown Wizard Foundation Partnership Page - https://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/get-involved/corporate-partnerships/kentown-wizard-foundation/
10. Brian House Children's Hospice - Kentown Wizard Support - https://www.brianhouse.org.uk/about-us/brian-house-stories/kentown-wizard/
11. “The Kentown Wizard Foundation announces the retirement of Margaret Ingram” - Kentown Wizard Foundation, December 2023 - https://kentownwizard.org/margaret-ingram/
12. Kentown Wizard Foundation support for Whizz-Kidz - https://kentownwizard.org/uk-based-charity-whizz-kidz/
13. “Dreams Come True to reach children in the greatest need of support in Blackpool and across the North West” - Kentown Wizard Foundation, October 2024 - https://kentownwizard.org/blackpool-dream-programme/
14. “Tributes paid on death of Gold Medal founder Ken Townsley” - Travel Weekly, January 2026 - https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tributes-paid-on-death-of-gold-medal-founder-ken-townsley
15. "Groundbreaking project 'transforms' care for seriously ill children in the North West" - Together for Short Lives, 2025 - https://www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/groundbreaking-project-transforms-care-for-seriously-ill-children-in-the-north-west/