The Lady Forester Trust

Charity Number: 241187

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~£213,000 - £250,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: Not specified (individual grants for specific items/services)
  • Geographic Focus: Shropshire, with preference for the ancient Borough of Wenlock (Much Wenlock area)

Contact Details

  • Address: The Estate Office, Willey, Broseley, Shropshire, TF12 5JN
  • Phone: 01952 884318
  • Email: lft@willeyestates.co.uk
  • Website: None (administered through Willey Estates)

Overview

The Lady Forester Trust is a charitable foundation originally endowed by Mary Anne, the third Lady Forester (1831-1893), for the benefit of those in Shropshire who are sick, have a disability, or are recovering from an illness or injury. Registered with the Charity Commission on 6 April 1965 (charity number 241187), the Trust has provided continuous support to the local community for nearly 60 years.

The Trust had total income of £240,482 and expenditure of £212,533 in the year ending December 2024. It is closely connected to the Willey Estate, with members of the Forester family maintaining active governance roles. The Trust operates without paid staff, relying entirely on volunteer trustees. It is registered with HMRC for Gift Aid and maintains an excellent compliance record, with all 20 required returns submitted on time.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust makes grants to individuals and organisations for items, services, or facilities that:

  • Alleviate suffering or assist recovery
  • Are not readily available from statutory sources (e.g., Local Authority, NHS)

Applications are accepted from:

  • Individuals (via professional intermediaries)
  • Medical professional bodies
  • Other organisations
  • Charitable trusts

Priority Areas

  • Support for people who are sick, convalescent, disabled, or infirm
  • Equipment and aids not available through statutory services
  • Specially adapted software for specific disabilities
  • Items and services to aid recovery from illness or injury

What They Don't Fund

  • Building extensions or home improvements (including gardens)
  • Household bills
  • Educational grants
  • Items already paid for
  • Standard computers (though specially adapted software for specific disabilities may be considered)
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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by 7 trustees, with a gender balance of 57% female and 43% male.

Key Trustees:

  • The Hon Alice Sophie Stoker - Chair (appointed 2002)
  • Henry William Hugh Carpenter - Longest-serving trustee (appointed 2004)
  • Charles James Stanbury Whitaker - (appointed 2017)

The Forester family maintains active involvement in the Trust. Catherine, Lady Forester (wife of the late 8th Baron Forester) chairs various charitable activities associated with the Willey Estate, and several family members sit on the Lady Forester Trust board.

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust has robust governance policies in place including financial reserves, internal financial controls, investment procedures, safeguarding, conflicts of interest, and trustee expenses policies.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: Individuals cannot apply directly.

Applications must be submitted through a professional intermediary such as:

  • Doctors
  • Health professionals
  • Social workers
  • Other relevant medical or care professionals

Process:

  1. The intermediary contacts the Trust to request a proposal form
  2. The intermediary completes the form on behalf of the individual
  3. The Trust reviews the application and makes a decision

Contact for applications:

  • Phone: 01952 884318
  • Email: lft@willeyestates.co.uk

Decision Timeline

No specific decision timelines are publicly documented.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated criteria and eligibility requirements:

  • Geographic priority: Applicants from the ancient Borough of Wenlock (Much Wenlock area) receive preference, followed by other Shropshire residents
  • Need-based assessment: The Trust focuses on items and services not readily available from statutory sources
  • Professional endorsement: Applications must come through a recognised intermediary who can verify the applicant's circumstances and needs
  • Specific purpose: Grants are for defined items or services that will directly alleviate suffering or assist recovery
  • Gap funding: Demonstrate that the requested support cannot be obtained from the Local Authority, NHS, or other statutory bodies

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Intermediary required: Individuals cannot apply directly - a doctor, health professional, or social worker must submit the application on their behalf
  2. Geographic focus: Strong preference for residents of the ancient Borough of Wenlock (Much Wenlock area), with secondary consideration for wider Shropshire
  3. Statutory gap: The Trust funds items and services not available from Local Authority or NHS - applicants must demonstrate this gap
  4. Specific exclusions: Do not apply for home improvements, household bills, education, or standard computers
  5. No website: The Trust operates through Willey Estates and does not have its own website - contact must be made directly by phone or email
  6. Small, focused charity: With annual spending around £213,000, this is a modest-sized trust focused on individual beneficiary support rather than large organisational grants
  7. Family involvement: The Forester family maintains active governance, reflecting the Trust's origins in Lady Mary Anne Forester's philanthropic legacy

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References

Accessed: December 2025