The Lemford Foundation

Charity Number: 1200034

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £126,640 (2023/24)
  • Total Income: £3.62 million (2023/24)
  • Charity Number: 1200034
  • Founded: 2022
  • Geographic Focus: Mursley, Buckinghamshire (with amateur rugby support extending to Bedfordshire)
  • Total Assets: £3.7 million (approximate)

Contact Details

Website: www.thelemfordfoundation.co.uk

Email: David@attenboroughs.com

Phone: 01992 468536

Address: c/o Attenboroughs Accountants, Tower House, Tower Centre, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 8UR

Overview

The Lemford Foundation is a relatively new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) established in August 2022. With substantial initial funding of £3.56 million in donations and legacies in its first full year of operation (2023/24), the foundation made charitable expenditures of £126,640. The foundation focuses primarily on supporting the village of Mursley in Buckinghamshire, with specific priorities including education for those experiencing financial hardship, relief for vulnerable residents, church maintenance, amateur rugby, and environmental conservation. The foundation is governed by four trustees, chaired by Richard Neil Coles, who also serves as a trustee of Mursley Sports Association. With significant reserves of approximately £3.45 million retained for future use, the foundation appears positioned to increase its grant-making activities in coming years.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Education

  • Supporting individuals in Mursley, Buckinghamshire who are experiencing financial hardship in accessing education

Relief of Need

  • Providing assistance to people in Mursley, Buckinghamshire who are in need due to:
  • Youth
  • Age
  • Ill-health
  • Disability
  • Financial hardship
  • Other disadvantages

Religious Buildings

  • Maintenance, repairs, and improvements to St Mary the Virgin Church, Mursley

Sports Development

  • Promoting community participation in healthy recreation
  • Specifically supporting amateur rugby and associated sports in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire

Environmental Conservation

  • The conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment

What They Don't Fund

Based on their charitable objects, the foundation does not fund:

  • Projects outside their geographic focus (Mursley, Buckinghamshire, except for amateur rugby which extends to Bedfordshire)
  • National or international projects
  • Professional sports (focus is on amateur rugby only)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Richard Neil Thomas Coles - Chair

  • Appointed: 11 August 2022
  • Also serves as trustee of Mursley Sports Association

Andrew Richard Cowell - Trustee

  • Appointed: 11 August 2022

Arthur James New - Trustee

  • Appointed: 11 August 2022

Margaret Ann Coles - Trustee

  • Appointed: 11 August 2022

The foundation has 4 employees and operates with no trustee remuneration. The connection between the chair and Mursley Sports Association suggests strong local ties to the community.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Lemford Foundation website (www.thelemfordfoundation.co.uk) provides application forms for both organizations and individuals. Successful applicants are required to:

  • Submit a completed application form (separate forms available for organizations and individuals)
  • Sign a funding agreement letter
  • Submit a final grant report upon completion of the funded activity

The foundation provides grants to both organizations and individuals, with specific grant terms and conditions outlined during the application process.

Application Portal: Application forms are available on the foundation's website

Decision Timeline

No specific information is publicly available regarding decision timelines or notification methods. As a relatively new foundation (established 2022), processes may still be developing.

Success Rates

With annual charitable expenditure of £126,640 in 2023/24 and substantial reserves of £3.45 million, the foundation appears to be in a growth phase. Specific success rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No publicly available information on reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's specific geographic focus and charitable objects, the following factors are likely important for successful applications:

Geographic Alignment

  • Strong preference for projects and individuals in Mursley, Buckinghamshire
  • Amateur rugby projects can extend to Bedfordshire

Charitable Object Match

  • Education projects supporting those experiencing financial hardship
  • Support for vulnerable residents (youth, elderly, disabled, financially disadvantaged)
  • St Mary the Virgin Church maintenance and improvements
  • Amateur rugby and healthy recreation initiatives
  • Environmental conservation projects

Local Connection

  • Given the trustee chair's connection to Mursley Sports Association, demonstrating genuine local ties and community benefit may be important

Financial Need

  • Many of the foundation's objects specifically reference financial hardship, suggesting need-based criteria are important

Reporting Capability

  • The requirement for final grant reports suggests the foundation values accountability and outcomes measurement

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Hyper-local focus: This foundation serves a very specific geographic area (Mursley village), so applications must demonstrate clear benefit to this community
  • New foundation with significant reserves: With £3.45 million retained for future use and only £126,640 spent in 2023/24, the foundation may be building its grant-making capacity
  • Dual application streams: Separate processes for organizations and individuals suggests flexibility in who can apply
  • Multiple charitable purposes: Five distinct areas of focus provide multiple entry points for applications (education, relief of need, church support, rugby, environment)
  • Strong local governance: Trustees with local connections (Mursley Sports Association) suggest intimate knowledge of community needs
  • Limited public information: As a new foundation, detailed guidance, success stories, and application tips are not yet widely available - direct contact may be valuable
  • Reporting requirements: Final grant reports are required, indicating the foundation values outcomes and accountability

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