The Lidbury Family Trust
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £219,124 (2024)
- Annual Income: £259,478 (2024)
- Decision Time: Variable (at trustees' discretion)
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Geographic Focus: UK
- Application Method: Rolling basis via online portal
Contact Details
Application Portal: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com
Email: charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com (for non-registered charities)
Phone: 0117 313 8200
Address: 5th Floor, Trinity Quay 2, Avon Street, Bristol, BS2 0PT
Overview
The Lidbury Family Trust is a UK charitable trust established in August 1999 with general charitable purposes. Registered as charity number 1078511, the trust is administered by Ludlow Trust Company (formerly NatWest Trust Services), which manages over 400 charitable trusts. With an annual expenditure of approximately £219,124 (2024), the trust accepts applications from UK registered and exempt charities through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway, an online platform launched in September 2023.
The trust maintains a relatively low public profile with limited disclosure of specific funding priorities or grant recipients. A letter of wishes associated with the trust mentions several well-known charities including RNLI, National Trust, British Heart Foundation, Arthritis Care, Diabetes UK, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Cancer Research, and various religious institutions including Gloucester Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Ely Cathedral, and several churches. However, it is unclear whether these represent the trust's current funding priorities or if the trust accepts applications from organizations beyond this list.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust operates under “general charitable purposes” and accepts applications on a rolling basis through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway. Specific grant amounts and program details are not publicly disclosed.
Priority Areas
Limited public information is available about specific funding priorities. The trust's letter of wishes mentions:
- Maritime rescue and safety (RNLI)
- Heritage and conservation (National Trust)
- Health and medical research (British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, Diabetes UK, Arthritis Care)
- Disability support services (Guide Dogs for the Blind)
- Religious institutions (various cathedrals and churches)
It is important to note that the letter of wishes represents guidance to trustees rather than binding commitments, and the trust may fund beyond these areas given its general charitable purposes.
What They Don't Fund
Not publicly disclosed. The trust's eligibility criteria are limited to UK registered charities and exempt charities.
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Governance and Leadership
Trustee: Ludlow Trust Company (formerly NatWest Trust Services)
Number of Trustees: 1 corporate trustee
Governance: Trust deed dated 2 August 1999
The trust is professionally managed by Ludlow Trust Company, which was established in 2020 to acquire and manage the UK trust business of Coutts and the NatWest Group. Ludlow Trust Company manages over 5,000 trusts including more than 400 charitable trusts, providing experienced trust administration and philanthropic expertise.
How to Apply to The Lidbury Family Trust
How to Apply
Online Portal: Applications must be submitted through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway at https://funding.ludlowtrust.com
Eligibility: UK registered charities and exempt charities. Non-registered charities can email applications to charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com
Application Options:
- Apply specifically to The Lidbury Family Trust
- Submit a general application that can be matched with any of the 275+ charitable trusts in the Ludlow network
Application Process:
- Create an account on the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway
- Provide detailed information about your charity's aims and the project requiring funding
- The platform will match your application to relevant charitable trusts based on purpose, geography, and beneficiary groups
- Trust managers review matched applications
- Trustees consider applications in the usual course of their decision-making process
No Application Deadlines: Applications can be submitted at any time on a rolling basis.
Platform Accessibility: The portal is accessible via PC, tablet, and smartphone.
Decision Timeline
Decision timelines are at the discretion of the trustees and are not standardized. The Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway matches applications to relevant trusts, but each trust's trustees determine their own decision-making schedule.
Charities are notified through the online portal.
Success Rates
Success rates for The Lidbury Family Trust specifically are not publicly available.
For context on the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway overall: since its launch in September 2023, the platform has received over 17,000 applications and facilitated the distribution of over £5 million in grants and donations across all 400+ trusts in the network.
Reapplication Policy
Reapplication policies are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should consult the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway FAQs or contact the trust administrators for guidance.
Application Success Factors
Due to limited public disclosure about the trust's specific grant-making decisions and priorities, specific success factors are not available. However, general guidance for applying through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway includes:
Comprehensive Information: The Ludlow platform emphasizes providing detailed information about your charity's aims, the specific project or work requiring funding, and the impact you aim to achieve. The more comprehensive your application, the better the platform can match you with appropriate trusts.
Clear Alignment: While The Lidbury Family Trust has general charitable purposes, applicants should consider whether their work aligns with the areas mentioned in the trust's letter of wishes (health, heritage, disability, religious institutions) or other charitable causes.
Geographic and Beneficiary Focus: The gateway matching system considers specific projects, defined geography, and specific groups of people. Be clear about these elements in your application.
Professional Presentation: As the trust is professionally managed by an experienced trust company, applications should be well-prepared with clear objectives, budgets, and impact statements.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Rolling Applications: There are no deadlines—submit applications whenever you're ready through the online portal
- Professional Management: The trust is managed by Ludlow Trust Company, suggesting professional standards and thorough review processes
- Limited Public Information: The trust maintains a low profile with minimal public disclosure about specific grants or priorities
- Broad Charitable Purposes: The trust operates under general charitable purposes, potentially allowing flexibility in funding decisions
- Gateway Advantage: Submitting through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway provides exposure to 400+ trusts simultaneously if you choose the general application option
- Letter of Wishes Context: While the trust has named specific charities in its letter of wishes, this does not necessarily limit the trust to funding only these organizations
- Be Patient: Decision timelines vary and are at the trustees' discretion—plan accordingly and don't expect rapid decisions
Similar Funders
These funders frequently fund the same charities:
- Garfield Weston Foundation
- The Wolfson Foundation
- Benefact Trust Limited
- Moondance Foundation
- Academy Of Medical Sciences
- Rosetrees Trust
- The Linbury Trust
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International
- The Nancy Bateman Charitable Trust
- The Muriel And Gershon Coren Charitable Foundation
- The Golden Bottle Trust
- The Medlock Charitable Trust
- The Reece Foundation
- Peacock Charitable Trust
- The Bridge Trust
- Historic Houses Foundation
- The Ofenheim Charitable Trust
- The Arts Council Of England
- Grantscape
- White Rose
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References
- The Charity Commission Register of Charities. (2024). “The Lidbury Family Trust - Charity 1078511.” Retrieved December 2, 2025, from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1078511&subid=0
- Ludlow Trust Company. (2023). “The Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway.” Retrieved December 2, 2025, from https://www.ludlowtrust.com/insights/the-ludlow-funding-enquiry-gateway/
- Ludlow Trust Company. “About Ludlow Trust.” Retrieved December 2, 2025, from https://www.ludlowtrust.com/about/
- OpenCharities. “The Lidbury Family Trust.” Retrieved December 2, 2025, from http://opencharities.org/charities/1078511
- Scotland's International Development Alliance. "Ludlow Trust Company's Funding Enquiry Gateway." Retrieved December 2, 2025, from https://intdevalliance.scot/membership/funding-update/ludlow-trust-companys-funding-enquiry-gateway/
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