The Kildare Trust

Charity Number: 1148325

Annual Expenditure: £4.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £4,392,561 (2023/24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: £4,000 - £1,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Worcestershire (primarily), with some focus on Herefordshire

Contact Details

Email: louise.ruane@kildaretrust.org.uk / info@kildaretrust.org.uk

Phone: 07812743485

Address: c/o Pear Tree Cottage, Yarrington Road, Alfrick, Worcester WR6 5EX

Website: https://kildaretrust.org.uk/

Overview

The Kildare Trust (registered charity 1148325) was established on July 27, 2012, and endowed by the late Mrs Phyllis Richards, a Worcestershire farmer who died in 2021 aged 100, and her husband Jim Richards. The trust had total income of £415,180 and total expenditure of £4,392,561 in the financial year ending April 5, 2024, demonstrating substantial grant-making activity. The benefactors, described as farmers and philanthropists, were passionate about supporting educational opportunities for young people, particularly in agriculture and rural sectors, as well as healthcare, arts, and church buildings. Trustee Geoffrey Probert noted that Mrs Richards was “a very driven and forward-thinking business lady” who made it her legacy to support children through the creation of the Kildare Trust, as she and her husband "weren't blessed with children."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Kildare Trust makes grants to charities and voluntary bodies in the Worcestershire area across several key sectors:

Education Scholarships

  • Individual student scholarships: Up to £4,000 per student (one-off payment split into two parts)
  • Since 2012, the trust has supported over 50 undergraduate Harper Adams students from Herefordshire and Worcestershire
  • £750,000 philanthropic gift established an endowment for ongoing scholarships at Harper Adams University
  • Scholarships available to undergraduate, postgraduate, and apprenticeship students

Major Institutional Grants

  • Large-scale grants ranging from £100,000 to over £1 million
  • Examples include:
  • £1 million endowment to King's School Worcester for bursaries, plus £100,000 for additional costs
  • £1 million to Three Counties Medical School at University of Worcester
  • Substantial donations for veterinary education facilities
  • Match funding for Worcester Cathedral library repairs

Priority Areas

Based on the trust's grant-making history:

  1. Education (especially agriculture and rural sectors) - Supporting agricultural colleges, veterinary schools, and land-based career training
  2. Healthcare and Medical Education - Medical schools and healthcare facilities serving the local community
  3. Arts and Heritage - Support for cultural institutions and heritage preservation
  4. Church Buildings - Particularly Worcester Cathedral and local church preservation
  5. Bursaries and Access to Education - Enabling children from backgrounds unable to afford independent schooling

Geographic Priority: Strong focus on Worcestershire, with particular attention to students and institutions in Herefordshire and Worcestershire

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. Based on their activities, the trust focuses on:

  • Worcestershire-based charities and voluntary organizations
  • Educational and youth development causes close to the benefactors' hearts
  • Institutions with connections to the Richards family or their values
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Ian Smith - Chair of Trustees (also serving as High Sheriff of Worcestershire 2025/26)
  • Geoffrey (Geoff) Probert - Trustee
  • Mr Anthony Nimrod Champion FRICS - Trustee
  • Ms Dawn Emma Oliver - Solicitor, Trustee
  • Mr Martin Needham - Trustee

All trustees serve without remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Quotes from Leadership

Ian Smith, Chair of Trustees: “Benefactors were particularly keen on providing educational opportunities to children from all backgrounds.”

Geoffrey Probert, Trustee:

  • "They 'weren't blessed with children' - therefore, they were determined they should invest in the future of agriculture and youngsters who were coming into agriculture."
  • “Mrs Phyllis Richards, who during her 100-year lifetime created the legacy to form the trust, was indeed a very driven and forward-thinking business lady with Harper Adams always at the top of her list for moulding the next generation of farmers and associated land-based careers.”
  • “The Trustees of the Kildare Trust are very pleased to have created the Kildare Scholarship which will now remain for generations to come.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Kildare Trust does not maintain detailed public application guidelines on its website. Prospective applicants should:

  1. Contact the trust directly via email: louise.ruane@kildaretrust.org.uk or info@kildaretrust.org.uk
  2. Phone inquiries: 07812743485

The trust operates primarily through trustee-directed grant-making, often establishing relationships with institutions aligned with their funding priorities.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. Given the trust's practice of making substantial strategic grants to established institutions, the process likely involves significant due diligence and trustee discussions.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available. Contact the trust directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Benefactors' Values

The trust prioritizes causes that were "close to [Jim and Phyllis Richards'] hearts," particularly:

  • Agricultural education and rural careers - The Richards were farmers passionate about supporting the next generation entering agriculture
  • Educational access for young people - Providing opportunities children might not otherwise receive
  • Worcestershire connections - Mrs Richards was born in Broad Street Worcester and had deep local roots
  • Long-term impact - The trust favors endowments and facilities that will serve “generations to come”

Recent Funded Projects

  • Harper Adams University scholarships and veterinary education facilities
  • Three Counties Medical School at University of Worcester
  • King's School Worcester bursaries
  • Worcester Cathedral library repairs
  • Cattle handling facilities for veterinary training

Strategic Approach

The trust appears to favor:

  • Substantial, transformational gifts rather than many small grants
  • Endowments that create lasting impact
  • Educational infrastructure including facilities and equipment
  • Student support through scholarships and bursaries
  • Institutions with established track records

Language and Terminology

The trust emphasizes:

  • “Investing in the future” particularly for young people
  • “Opportunities they might otherwise not have received”
  • Supporting “children from all backgrounds”
  • “Moulding the next generation” of professionals
  • “Legacy” and long-term impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic alignment is essential - The trust specifically supports charities within Worcestershire, with particular focus on Herefordshire and Worcestershire
  • Think big and transformational - Recent grants range from £100,000 to over £1 million; the trust favors substantial gifts that create lasting change
  • Educational focus offers strongest alignment - Particularly agriculture, rural careers, healthcare education, and access/bursary programs
  • Demonstrate long-term impact - Endowments and permanent facilities align with the benefactors' desire to support “generations to come”
  • Build relationships before applying - The trust appears to make strategic decisions based on established relationships rather than open competitive processes
  • Emphasize youth opportunity - The benefactors' core motivation was providing opportunities to young people, especially those who might not otherwise receive them
  • Connect to benefactors' values - Applications should demonstrate alignment with the Richards' passions: agriculture, education, healthcare, arts, and heritage

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