The Mackay And Brewer Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £174,402 (2023/24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: UK (general charitable purposes)

Contact Details

Phone: 02380 722525

Application Portal: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com

Administrative Office:

Ludlow Trust Company (Southampton) Ltd

Yarmouth House, Solent Business Park

Whiteley, Fareham PO15 7PA

Overview

The Mackay and Brewer Charitable Trust was established in December 1998 as a grant-making charitable trust with broad philanthropic aims. Originally managed by HSBC Trust Company (UK) Limited, the trust was transferred to Ludlow Trust Company (Southampton) Ltd in March 2025 as part of Ludlow Trust's acquisition of HSBC's trust business. The trust operates with the objects “to pay or apply the income from the trust fund for the benefit of those charities which the trustees in their absolute discretion think fit,” giving it flexibility to support a wide range of charitable causes. With total expenditure of £174,402 in the 2023/24 financial year against income of £82,192, the trust actively distributes funds to support charitable organizations across various sectors. The trust is classified as a grant-making foundation making grants to organizations, other charities, and voluntary bodies. The trust has been identified as a supporter of organizations including PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals), indicating support for animal welfare among other charitable purposes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates with broad discretionary powers, allowing trustees to support charitable causes they deem appropriate. Applications are accepted through the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway on a rolling basis.

Priority Areas

The trust has general charitable purposes with no specific restrictions. Known areas of support include:

• Animal welfare
• General charitable purposes as determined by trustees

The trust's broad charitable objects mean it can consider applications from a wide range of charitable sectors.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented. The trust operates under the broad remit of “general charitable purposes” with decisions at the trustees' absolute discretion.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Ludlow Trust Company (Southampton) Ltd (formerly HSBC Trust Company (UK) Limited until March 2025)

The trust is professionally managed by Ludlow Trust Company, which is now the largest provider of trust services in the UK onshore trust advisory sector, managing over 5,000 trusts including more than 400 charitable trusts.

Following the acquisition of HSBC Trust Company by Ludlow Trust in March 2025, Matthew Wickers (CEO of Ludlow Trust) stated: “This latest opportunity underscores our commitment to growth and excellence in the UK trust market.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The trust accepts applications through the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway at https://funding.ludlowtrust.com

Application Process:

1. UK registered charities and exempt charities are eligible to apply
2. Applications are submitted online at no cost
3. Applicants provide details about their charitable purposes, including specific areas of focus, whether for a particular project, geography, or specific group of people
4. The Gateway matches applications with potential funders from among the 250-400+ charitable trusts managed by Ludlow Trust
5. Trust Managers review applications and filter them based on chosen criteria
6. Relevant applications are presented to trustees for consideration

Application Options:

• Apply to a specific charitable trust (if known)
• Submit a general application that can be considered by any Ludlow-managed charitable trust

Rolling Basis: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis with no fixed deadlines.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified and likely vary depending on trustee meeting schedules and application review processes.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The trust distributed £174,402 in the 2023/24 financial year.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust operates through the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway alongside 250-400+ other charitable trusts, success likely depends on:

Alignment with Trustee Priorities: The trust has broad discretionary powers, so clearly articulating how your organization aligns with general charitable purposes is important.

Comprehensive Application: The Gateway system matches applications based on charitable purposes, specific focus areas, geography, and target beneficiaries. Providing detailed, specific information helps ensure appropriate matching.

Quality of Project Description: Since Trust Managers filter applications before presenting them to trustees, ensuring your application clearly communicates your charitable purpose and impact is essential.

Known Areas of Interest: The trust has supported animal welfare organizations (e.g., PDSA), though this does not preclude other charitable causes given the trust's broad remit.

Professional Presentation: As the trust is professionally managed by Ludlow Trust Company, applications should be well-prepared and professionally presented.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Broad Charitable Remit: The trust has flexibility to support various causes - don't self-exclude based on perceived restrictions
• Gateway Application: Use the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway system, which can match your application to multiple trusts simultaneously
• General or Specific: You can either apply specifically to this trust or submit a general application considered by multiple Ludlow-managed trusts
• Rolling Applications: No deadline pressure - applications accepted year-round
• Professional Management: The trust is managed by the UK's largest trust services provider, suggesting professional standards in application review
• Active Grant-Making: With expenditure exceeding income (£174,402 vs £82,192 in 2023/24), the trust is actively distributing funds
• No Application Fees: The online application process is free for eligible charities

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE PAMELA EDMUNDSON/CONNOLLY CHARITABLE TRUST
• A J H Ashby Will Trust
• THE NICKA VASSILIOU CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Joyce Lomax Bullock Charitable Trust
• THE MISS J K STIRRUP CHARITY TRUST
• The Pointer Family Trust
• THE BLYTH CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Mumford Memorial Trust
• THE CHARLOTTE HEBER-PERCY CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUST

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - THE MACKAY AND BREWER CHARITABLE TRUST (Charity No. 1072666): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1072666&subid=0 (Accessed 28 December 2025)
• Charity Commission - Accounts and Annual Returns for Charity 1072666: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3957121/accounts-and-annual-returns (Accessed 28 December 2025)
• Ludlow Trust - “The Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway”: https://www.ludlowtrust.com/insights/the-ludlow-funding-enquiry-gateway/ (Accessed 28 December 2025)
• Ludlow Trust - “Ludlow Trust acquire HSBC Trust Company (UK) Limited from HSBC UK Bank plc”: https://www.ludlowtrust.com/insights/ludlow-trust-acquire-hsbc-trust-company-uk-limited-from-hsbc-uk-bank-plc/ (Accessed 28 December 2025)
• Financial Planning Today - "Ludlow Trust acquires HSBC's trust company" (11 March 2025): https://www.financialplanningtoday.co.uk/news/ludlow-trust-acquires-hsbc-s-trust-company (Accessed 28 December 2025)
• PDSA - “Our major donors and supporters”: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/donate/philanthropy/major-donors-and-supporters (Accessed 28 December 2025)