The Lashes Foundation

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1197395
• Annual Income: £110,537 (year ending 31 December 2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £121,144 (year ending 31 December 2024)
• Total Grants Pledged: Over 400 grants totaling over £138,000 (cumulative since 2021)
• First Year Performance: 119 grants approved from 134 requests (89% success rate), totaling over £62,000
• Grant Type: Small grants to individuals and organizations
• Geographic Focus: Clipstone Parish and surrounding areas of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
• Application Method: Online form via website

Contact Details

Address: 2 Cardinal Way, Clipstone Village, Mansfield, NG21 9FH

Phone: 07970189710

Email: hello@lashesfoundation.co.uk

Website: www.lashesfoundation.co.uk

Charity Shop (Lashes HQ): 115b Clipstone Road West, Forest Town

• Open Wednesday to Saturday, 9am-1:30pm

Overview

The Lashes Foundation was established in July 2021 by Emma and Lee Wilson in memory of their 13-year-old daughter Evie, who passed away in July 2021. Officially registered as a charity on 7 January 2022, the foundation was created to keep Evie's legacy alive and continue her kindness in helping others within the local community. The name “Lashes” was chosen because Evie loved fake eyelashes.

Since its inception, the foundation has demonstrated remarkable impact, pledging over 400 grants totaling more than £138,000 to support local people and groups. In its first year alone, the foundation received 134 grant requests and approved 119, distributing over £62,000. The charity operates through a combination of fundraising activities, corporate partnerships, and their charity shop “Lashes HQ” in Forest Town, with all proceeds supporting their grant-making work. The foundation focuses on relieving financial hardship, sickness, and poor health amongst the community, particularly serving the elderly and disadvantaged people in the Clipstone Parish and surrounding areas. Their work has supported people with mental health challenges, domestic violence survivors, disability needs, food banks, hardship relief, and local sports groups.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Lashes Foundation issues small grants to individuals in need and organizations working within the community. While specific grant amounts are not publicly stated, the foundation has awarded grants ranging from modest amounts for football boots and shopping vouchers to larger grants for specialized wheelchairs and disability equipment.

Application Method: Rolling basis via online application form on their website (www.lashesfoundation.co.uk/applying-for-assistance)

Priority Areas

Individual Support:

• Relief of financial hardship and poverty
• Support for sickness and poor health
• Mental health support, including professional counseling
• Domestic abuse survivors (e.g., shopping vouchers for safe houses, furniture for new homes)
• Specialized disability equipment and wheelchairs
• Medical equipment needs (e.g., oxygen supplies, safe beds for children with health conditions)
• Sensory equipment and toys for disabled children

Young People:

• Financial support for young people demonstrating exceptional commitment or ability in academics, sport, or performing arts
• Help accessing recreational and educational activities they couldn't otherwise afford
• Sports equipment (e.g., football boots) for children from families facing financial difficulties

Community Support:

• Food banks
• Local sports groups
• Organizations working to improve standard of life and prevent poverty
• Initiatives improving mental well-being across the community

Geographic Focus: Primarily Clipstone Parish and surrounding community areas in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's charitable objects focus on:

• The Clipstone Parish and surrounding areas (geographic limitation)
• Individual and community hardship relief
• They do not appear to fund projects outside their geographic area or unrelated to relieving hardship, sickness, or supporting young people's development

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Governance and Leadership

The Lashes Foundation operates as a charitable trust with a board of eight trustees who support the development, growth, and impact of the foundation.

Trustees (as of January 2027):

• Andrew James Sumner - Chair (appointed 22 November 2021)
• Emma Wilson - Founder and Trustee (appointed 22 November 2021), Evie's mother
• Lee Wilson - Founder and Trustee (appointed 22 November 2021), Evie's father
• Kelly Wilson - Trustee (appointed 22 November 2021)
• Lindsay Pownall - Trustee (appointed 22 November 2021)
• Patrick Delahunty - Trustee (appointed 22 November 2021)
• Annie Lee Wilson - Trustee (appointed 01 October 2024)
• Diane Darby - Trustee (appointed 01 October 2024)

Key Quotes from Leadership

Emma Wilson (Founder and Trustee):

• “Evie was an amazing girl who was well-known in our area for helping others, so we want to make sure the foundation is there to help anyone in need.”
• "The support we have had in this past year, and the love from our friends and family, have absolutely carried us through. The messages of support and generosity has been mind-blowing, and people are really focused on helping us to keep our amazing daughter's memory alive."
• “The support we have had is nothing short of incredible, and the money we have raised has been much more than we expected.”

Lee Wilson (Founder and Trustee):

• "It will help young, old whatever age, whatever their problems. You might have a lad wanting to play football and times are tough, so we will get him the football boots he needs. You might have an elderly person who needs help getting a mobility scooter. We will do whatever we can to help make people's lives better through Evie's name and the Lashes Foundation."
• Explained the foundation was named “Lashes Foundation because Evie loved fake eyelashes” and was being set up “to ensure her name and kindness for others would live on.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through an online application form available on the foundation's website at: www.lashesfoundation.co.uk/applying-for-assistance

Applicants complete the form and will be contacted by the foundation regarding their application.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timeframes are not publicly stated, though the foundation's first-year statistics show they processed 134 applications and approved 119, suggesting a responsive review process. Applicants are contacted directly by the foundation once a decision is made.

Success Rates

First Year (2021-2022) Performance:

• Applications received: 134
• Grants approved: 119
• Success rate: 89%
• Total awarded: Over £62,000

Cumulative Impact (2021-present):

• Total grants pledged: Over 400
• Total funding awarded: Over £138,000

The exceptionally high success rate (89% in the first year) indicates the foundation takes a compassionate, inclusive approach to grant-making and is genuinely focused on helping as many people as possible within their community.

Reapplication Policy

No formal reapplication policy is publicly stated. Given the foundation's community-focused mission and high approval rates, unsuccessful applicants may wish to contact the foundation directly to discuss their circumstances or reapply if their situation changes.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's mission, funded projects, and founder statements, here are key factors for successful applications:

1. Clear Connection to Local Community: The foundation prioritizes individuals and organizations in Clipstone Parish and surrounding Mansfield areas. Demonstrating you are from or serve this geographic area is essential.

2. Genuine Financial Need: The foundation's core mission is relieving financial hardship. Applications should clearly articulate why the support is needed and why the applicant cannot access it through other means. As Lee Wilson stated, they help people “whatever their problems” when “times are tough.”

3. Specific, Practical Support Needs: The foundation has funded concrete items and services - wheelchairs, football boots, furniture, counseling, medical equipment. Applications should specify exactly what is needed and how it will improve quality of life.

4. Impact on Vulnerable Groups: The foundation has shown particular responsiveness to applications supporting:

• Domestic abuse survivors rebuilding their lives
• Children and adults with disabilities needing specialized equipment
• Families dealing with terminal illness
• Young people with talent or potential held back by financial circumstances
• Mental health support needs

5. Alignment with Evie's Legacy of Kindness: The foundation exists to continue Evie Wilson's caring approach to helping others. Applications that reflect compassionate support for people in genuine need align with the foundation's heart and mission.

6. Young People's Development: For young people seeking support for academic, sporting, or performing arts pursuits, demonstrating “exceptional commitment and/or ability” alongside financial barriers is important.

7. Modest, Reasonable Requests: The foundation issues “small grants” - requests should be proportionate and realistic rather than large-scale funding requests.

8. Community Benefit: For organizational applicants, showing how the grant will improve lives, prevent poverty, or enhance mental well-being in the local community strengthens applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• High approval rate: With an 89% success rate in their first year, this is an exceptionally accessible funder for the local community - don't be deterred from applying if you have genuine need
• Local focus is essential: You must be from or serve Clipstone Parish and surrounding Mansfield areas - this is non-negotiable
• Small grants, big impact: The foundation provides modest grants for practical needs rather than large-scale funding - tailor requests accordingly
• Rolling applications: No deadlines to worry about - apply when the need arises
• Compassionate approach: Founded in memory of a caring young person, the foundation genuinely wants to help - be honest and straightforward about your circumstances
• Diverse support areas: From football boots to wheelchairs to mental health counseling, they support a wide range of needs across all age groups
• Strong track record: Over 400 grants and £138,000 distributed since 2021 demonstrates consistent, reliable grant-making
• Apply through the website: Use the online form at lashesfoundation.co.uk/applying-for-assistance rather than email or phone applications

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Noel Sweeney Foundation
• The David Wilson Foundation
• 3R Foundation
• The Halsall Foundation
• Michael Lowe's and Associated Charities
• The League of the Helping Hand
• The Moulding Foundation
• Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire
• Focus Foundation
• Hedley Foundation Limited

References

• https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5190715/
• Accessed: 27 January 2027

• www.lashesfoundation.co.uk
• Including pages: About Lashes, Apply for a Grant, Making a Difference, Lashes HQ
• Accessed: 27 January 2027

• https://www.sdctrailers.com/news/2024/staff-at-sdc-trailers-support-mansfield-charity-the-lashes-foundation
• Contains impact statistics: over 400 grants pledged totaling over £138,000
• Accessed: 27 January 2027

• Including "Community raises 'incredible' amount at charity match in memory of Clipstone's Evie Wilson"
• "Family of Clipstone teenager Evie Wilson on the 'incredible' support and plans for 2022"
• First year statistics: 134 requests received, 119 approved, over £62,000 awarded
• Accessed: 27 January 2027

• Including "Charity shop to continue Evie Wilson's legacy"
• "Evie's legacy lives on"
• Accessed: 27 January 2027

• https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-lashes-foundation
• Accessed: 27 January 2027