The Lauderdale Trust

Charity Number: 1195066

Annual Expenditure: £1.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1.13 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (receives more applications than can be funded)
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed at trustee meetings held 3 times per year (March, June, October)
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £50,000 per year (exceptionally higher for strategic partnerships)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (must be in areas of deprivation, IMD Deciles 1-4)
  • Maximum Funding Period: 3 years (reviewed every 6 months)
  • Maximum Funding Proportion: Up to 50% of total project costs

Contact Details

Address: Unit 1, Chuck-a-Bush Farm, Royston Road, Whittlesford, Cambridge, CB22 4NW

Phone: 01223 650626

Email: info@lauderdaletrust.org

Website: www.lauderdaletrust.org

For Application Advice: Contact Clare Jackson at info@lauderdaletrust.org

Overview

The Lauderdale Trust was registered as a charity in July 2021 (Charity Number 1195066) with a clear mission to transform communities by making Jesus known through grant funding and support to Christian charities. The Trust has grown rapidly since its inception, with income rising from £76,850 in its first year to £379,180 by 2024, while maintaining total annual expenditure of approximately £1.13 million in grant-making and operations. The Trust focuses exclusively on supporting small to mid-sized Christian charities (with annual income under £1 million) working at the grassroots level in the UK's most deprived communities. Beyond financial support, the Trust is committed to building meaningful relationships with funded organizations, offering light-touch reporting requirements and the potential for site visits to foster genuine partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Grants Programme

  • Amount: £10,000 - £50,000 per year
  • Duration: Up to 3 years (with 6-monthly reviews)
  • Funding Coverage: Up to 50% of total project costs
  • Application Method: Two-stage process (Expression of Interest followed by full application if invited)
  • Deadlines: Three rounds per year with EOI deadlines approximately 7 days before application deadlines

Strategic Partnership Grants (Exceptional Circumstances)

  • Amount: Over £50,000 per year
  • Criteria: Reserved for projects with exceptional strategic partnership potential
  • Coverage: Negotiated based on project needs

Priority Areas

The Trust funds Christian charities working on community-focused initiatives in areas of deprivation across the UK. Key areas include:

  • Youth work in deprived communities
  • Church planting in underserved areas
  • Community development projects on estates
  • Faith-based community transformation initiatives
  • Staffing and operational costs for qualifying projects
  • New and existing work that enables step-change in deprived areas
  • Projects must be located in IMD Deciles 1-4 (most deprived areas) in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Small to mid-sized UK registered charities (annual income under £1 million)
  • Minimum of three trustees
  • Project postcode must fall within IMD Deciles 1-4
  • Must advance the Christian faith
  • Must demonstrate community focus

What They Don't Fund

  • Property purchases
  • Building work and construction projects (though refurbishment and repurposing of buildings for specific community purposes may be considered in exceptional cases)
  • Projects outside IMD Deciles 1-4 (less deprived areas)
  • Charities with annual income over £1 million
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Michael James Kinton - Chair (appointed June 2021)

  • Also serves as trustee of The Lewin Trust

Matthew Christopher Kinton - Trustee (appointed June 2021)

  • Also serves as trustee of Grace Church Upton and The Lewin Trust

John Robert Harrison - Trustee (appointed June 2021)

Alexander Komashie - Trustee (appointed June 2021)

Andrew Edward Hayman - Trustee (appointed March 2024)

Colin Robert Campbell - Trustee (appointed June 2024)

  • Also serves as trustee of Speke Baptist Church

Ann Marie Taylor - Trustee (appointed June 2024)

Note: No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Staff

Clare Jackson - Provides advice on the application process and serves as the primary contact for applicants

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Lauderdale Trust operates a two-stage application process:

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

  • Submit EOI form at least 7 days before the application deadline
  • Projects should demonstrate how they “transform communities by making Jesus known and enable a step change in an area of deprivation”
  • Relatively light-touch initial submission

Stage 2: Formal Application (by invitation only)

  • Only invited if EOI is successful
  • Must include:
  • Organization details: Charity information, purpose, and alignment with Trust's vision
  • Project description: What funding is needed for, relevant experience, expected outcomes
  • Detailed project finances: Budget breakdown, grant allocation, other funding sources (secured or planned), sustainability plan beyond grant period
  • Supporting documents: Recent accounts, up-to-date safeguarding policy (updated within last 12 months), contact details for two referees

Application Restrictions:

  • Only one application per organization per funding round
  • Organizations can check IMD decile eligibility using government postcode lookup tools before applying

Decision Timeline

  • Trustee Meetings: Held 3 times per year to review applications
  • Decision Announcements: Made in March, June, and October
  • Total Timeline: From submission to decision typically spans several months, depending on which funding round is entered

Success Rates

The Trust does not publicly disclose specific success rate percentages. However, they explicitly state that they “receive more applications per round than [they are] able to fund” and that they “cannot fund every project.” This indicates a competitive application process with limited funding available relative to demand.

Reapplication Policy

For Unsuccessful Applicants:

  • Cannot re-apply for the same project within a 12-month period
  • May apply for different projects from the same organization earlier than 12 months

For Successful Grantees:

  • May re-apply for further funding (for the same or similar project) via the normal application process during their last year of support
  • This allows for continuity of funding for successful projects

Application Success Factors

What Makes a Successful Application

Based on the Trust's guidance and funded projects, successful applications demonstrate:

  1. Clear Alignment with Vision: Projects must explicitly show how they “transform communities by making Jesus known”
  1. Genuine Deprivation Focus: Must be located in qualifying areas (IMD Deciles 1-4) and demonstrate real community need
  1. Grassroots Impact: The Trust values local, community-based initiatives over large-scale institutional projects
  1. Step-Change Potential: Projects should demonstrate capacity to create significant transformation, not just incremental improvements
  1. Financial Realism: Budget should be detailed, realistic, and show how other funding (50%+) will be secured
  1. Organizational Readiness: Up-to-date safeguarding policies and good governance structures are essential
  1. Sustainability Thinking: Clear plans for project continuation beyond grant period

Examples of Funded Projects

Rise:61 (Salisbury)

  • Youth work charity on the Bemerton Heath estate
  • Funding enabled increased hours for youth workers to invest in young people and families

Barton Community Church (Oxford)

  • Diverse community of approximately 40 people on the Barton estate
  • Mix of long-term residents and new arrivals committed to community engagement

Hope Church Rhondda (South Wales)

  • Church planting initiative in Trebanog, an isolated community in the Rhondda Valley
  • Funding resourced church planting team to reach local council estate
  • Services began in community centre in January 2024

Language and Approach

The Trust uses inclusive, relational language emphasizing:

  • “Transform communities”
  • “Making Jesus known”
  • “Step change”
  • “Meaningful relationships”
  • “Grassroots”
  • “Community-focused”

Applications should reflect authentic community engagement rather than top-down program delivery.

Getting Advice

The Trust actively encourages applicants to contact Clare Jackson (info@lauderdaletrust.org) for advice on the application process. This suggests they value pre-application dialogue and relationship building.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic Eligibility is Non-Negotiable: Check your project postcode against IMD data before applying. Projects outside Deciles 1-4 will not be considered, regardless of merit.
  1. The 50% Rule is Critical: You must secure at least 50% of project costs from other sources. Your budget narrative must clearly demonstrate how this will be achieved.
  1. Think Multi-Year: The Trust offers up to 3 years of funding with 6-monthly reviews. Frame your project with a long-term vision and clear milestones.
  1. Start with EOI: Don't invest heavily in a full application until invited. Focus on a compelling, concise Expression of Interest that clearly demonstrates deprivation focus and transformational potential.
  1. Safeguarding is Essential: Ensure your safeguarding policy is updated within the last 12 months before applying. This is a mandatory requirement.
  1. Build Relationships: The Trust values “meaningful relationships” with funded organizations. Consider reaching out to Clare Jackson early for guidance, and emphasize your openness to partnership in your application.
  1. Be Realistic About Competition: With limited funds and high demand, applications must be exceptional. Emphasize what makes your project uniquely positioned to create “step change” in your community.

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