The Leslie Sell Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £339,575 (year ending April 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Minimum 4 months for trip applications; monthly review cycle
• Grant Range: £75 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: UK and Northern Ireland (Scout and Guide groups only)

Contact Details

Address: 1st Floor, 8-10 Upper Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3UR

Phone: 01727 843603

Email: admin@lesliesellct.org.uk

Website: www.lesliesellct.org.uk

Overview

The Leslie Sell Charitable Trust was established in May 1969 by the late Leslie Sell to provide financial assistance to the Scouting and Guiding movement throughout the UK and Northern Ireland. The Trust operates as an independent fund making small grants to Scout and Guide groups to help with repairs, equipment purchases, and trips both in the UK and overseas. With total expenditure of £339,575 in the year ending April 2024 (compared to £294,789 in grants in 2023), the Trust has demonstrated significant growth in its grant-making capacity in recent years. In April 2024, the Trust made a notable £50,000 grant to Girlguiding to co-design a new Eco award with young people, reflecting the Trust's commitment to environmental initiatives and youth engagement.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Standard Grants: £75 - £1,000

• Rolling applications accepted throughout the year
• Monthly trustee review
• Applications must be submitted at least 4 months before trip/event date
• Applications accepted no earlier than 8 months before event
• Only one grant application per group per year

Peter Sell Annual Award: Up to £5,000

• Application deadlines: 14 February and 14 September annually
• Decisions announced by end of March and October
• No matched funding requirement
• Aims to widen engagement and involvement in Scouting and Guiding
• Preference for projects with environmental focus and lasting legacy

Priority Areas

Eligible Activities:

• UK or overseas trips for Scout and Guide groups
• New start-up Scout or Guide units
• Replacement of camping or other equipment
• One-off events
• Small-scale building works, repairs, or alterations to huts (total project cost not exceeding £20,000)
• Equipment purchases
• Minibus replacements
• Projects that encourage new people to engage with Scouting/Guiding
• Environmental initiatives

Peter Sell Award Priorities:

• Projects that widen engagement and involvement
• Initiatives creating lasting legacy beyond the initial grant
• Environmental focus (solar panels, wind technology, urban beekeeping, sustainable facilities)
• Projects demonstrating innovation and uniqueness

What They Don't Fund

• Pre-trip meet-ups
• Planning and preparation weekends
• Reunion weekends
• Insurance costs
• Bank fees
• Hut rental and utility bills
• Individual applications (unless only one person from a group is attending a trip)
• Applications from organizations outside the Scout or Guide movement
• Community projects outside the UK

Ready to write a winning application for The Leslie Sell Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The Leslie Sell Charitable Trust is governed by three trustees who serve voluntarily without remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust employs no staff members with benefits exceeding £60,000. The Peter Sell Annual Award was established in 2011 in memory of Peter Sell, one of the Trust's former trustees, reflecting the Trust's commitment to honoring those who have contributed to the Scouting and Guiding movement.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Standard Grants:

• Download application form from the Trust's website (www.lesliesellct.org.uk)
• Submit completed form with a covering letter on official Scout or Guide headed notepaper
• For trips, include: destination, number and names (first and surname) of participants, planned activities, costs, and travel dates
• For equipment/events/building works, provide: project details, costs, and quotations
• Mention any fundraising activities being undertaken
• Provide complete bank details for payment (preferably BACS transfer)

Peter Sell Annual Award:

• Maximum 2 pages (A4, 12-point font minimum)
• Include: group name and contact details, amount requested, project description, explanation of how project widens involvement, potential participant numbers, why project is unique, environmental impact details
• Email application to admin@lesliesellct.org.uk

Key Application Rules:

• Applications must be submitted at least 4 months before departure/event date
• Do not apply earlier than 8 months before the event
• Only one grant application per group per year
• Group Leader should submit collective applications for trips
• No individual applications accepted (except single-person trips)
• Applications from groups only, not individuals

Decision Timeline

Standard Grants:

• Applications processed once per month throughout the year
• Minimum 4-month processing time required
• Applications can take “at least a minimum of four months to be processed”
• Payments made via BACS transfer or cheque to group accounts

Peter Sell Annual Award:

• Applications considered at trustee meetings in March (for February 14 deadline) and October (for September 14 deadline)
• Winners announced by end of March and October respectively

Success Rates

The Trust awards hundreds of grants annually. Total grant expenditure has increased significantly in recent years: £157,402 (2020), £170,075 (2021), £186,519 (2022), £294,789 (2023), and £339,575 (2024). However, specific statistics on application numbers, success percentages, or rejection rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Groups may only submit one grant application per year. The Trust's policy on reapplication after rejection is not explicitly stated on their website, though the annual limit suggests groups must wait until the following year before submitting a new application.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's published guidance and recent award patterns, successful applications typically demonstrate:

Clear Scout/Guide Connection: “Applications are usually treated sympathetically provided they are connected to the Scout or Guide movement.” The Trust strictly adheres to its remit of supporting Scouting and Guiding organizations within the UK and Northern Ireland.

Adequate Planning Time: The Trust emphasizes that they “are unable to consider applications for trips submitted within four months of your departure or event date due to processing times.” Successful applicants plan well in advance and submit applications 4-8 months before their planned activity.

Complete Documentation: The Trust requests full project details including costs, quotations, group bank details, and for trips specifically, “details of the destination, the number and names, First and Surname, of the young people and leaders taking part and any planned activities, together with the costs involved and dates of travel.”

Evidence of Fundraising Effort: “Grant applicants are requested to mention any fundraising activities being undertaken.” The Trust values groups that demonstrate their own fundraising commitment alongside seeking grant support.

Environmental Focus (Peter Sell Award): Recent Peter Sell Award winners demonstrate strong environmental components:

• 19th Argyll Scout Group: Environmental barn renovation with solar panels and wind technology
• 7th Newham Salaam Scout Group: Urban beekeeping project
• 1st Rye Scout Group: Sustainable Explorer Base Camp
• 17th Reigate Scout Group: Mobile Activity Unit renovation

Widening Engagement (Peter Sell Award): The Peter Sell Award specifically seeks projects that “encourage new people to engage with Scouting and Guiding” and create “a lasting legacy beyond the initial grant.”

Proper Formatting (Peter Sell Award): Applications must not exceed 2 pages in A4 format with 12-point font or larger, demonstrating the Trust's preference for concise, well-organized proposals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Applying too close to event date (within 4 months)
• Applying for non-Scout/Guide activities
• Requesting funding for large-scale projects (building works over £20,000)
• Submitting incomplete documentation
• Applying for excluded costs (insurance, bank fees, pre-trip meetings, etc.)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Timing is Critical: Submit applications 4-8 months before your planned activity. Applications within 4 months of departure are automatically rejected.

• One Chance Per Year: Groups can only submit one application per year, so make it count by ensuring completeness and accuracy before submission.

• Scout/Guide Focus is Non-Negotiable: The Trust exclusively supports the Scout and Guide movement. Community projects outside this remit will not be considered, regardless of merit.

• Show Your Fundraising Effort: Demonstrate your group's commitment by highlighting fundraising activities undertaken alongside your grant request.

• Peter Sell Award for Bigger Projects: If your project requires more than £1,000, focus on the Peter Sell Annual Award with clear evidence of how it will widen engagement, create lasting impact, and ideally incorporate environmental elements.

• Environmental Initiatives Favored: Recent awards show strong preference for projects with sustainability components—solar panels, beekeeping, eco-friendly building renovations.

• Applications Treated Sympathetically: The Trust states applications “are usually treated sympathetically provided they are connected to the Scout or Guide movement,” suggesting a supportive approach for properly prepared applications within their remit.

References

• The Leslie Sell Charitable Trust Official Website: www.lesliesellct.org.uk
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 258699: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=258699
• The Leslie Sell Charitable Trust FAQ Page: https://lesliesellct.org.uk/f-a-q/
• The Peter Sell Annual Award Page: https://lesliesellct.org.uk/the-peter-sell-annual-award/
• Girlguiding Partnership Announcement: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/about-us/our-partners-and-supporters/leslie-sell-charitable-trust/
• Various UK voluntary sector funding directories including Funding Scotland, Devon Funding News, and Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum