The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust
Charity Number: 263929
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: Approximately £579,000 in charitable activities (2024)
- Total Income: £844,728 (2024)
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Geographic Focus: Desborough, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland
Contact Details
Address: Shakespeare Martineau LLP, Two Colton Square, Leicester, LE1 1QH
Phone: 0116 257 4462
Email: helen.pole@shma.co.uk
Correspondence Administrator: The trust is administered through Shakespeare Martineau, a leading UK law firm with specialist expertise in charity law and legacy administration.
Overview
The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust (Charity Number 263929) was registered on 2 May 1972 and operates as a grant-making charitable trust focused on supporting charitable organizations in specific East Midlands regions. With total assets of approximately £598,000 (as of March 2022) and annual charitable expenditure of £579,158 (2024), the trust provides funding through an investment-based income model. The trust operates with a broad charitable remit determined at the trustees' absolute discretion, with a geographic focus on Desborough, the counties of Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland. The trust is administered professionally through Shakespeare Martineau solicitors in Leicester, reflecting a traditional model of private charitable trust administration.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust does not operate named grant programs. Instead, it makes discretionary grants for charitable purposes as determined by the trustees. Application methods and processes are not publicly documented and likely require direct correspondence with the trust administrators at Shakespeare Martineau.
Priority Areas
The trust supports a broad range of charitable purposes including:
- Children and young people's services
- Elderly and older people's care
- Disability services and supported living
- General charitable purposes within the designated geographic areas
The trust has funded projects such as building renovations for supported living facilities and ongoing support for children's holiday charities.
Geographic Focus
- Desborough, Northamptonshire
- The county of Northamptonshire
- Leicestershire
- Rutland
What They Don't Fund
The trust's exclusions are not publicly documented. Given the geographic restrictions, organizations operating outside the specified East Midlands regions are unlikely to be considered.

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Governance and Leadership
Trustees
- Mr Roger Bowder (Chair)
- Mr Michael Jones
- Mrs Katherine Elizabeth Alison Hall
The trust notes that one or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for their role as trustees, which is disclosed in accordance with Charity Commission requirements.
Administration
The trust is professionally administered by Shakespeare Martineau LLP, a major UK law firm with specialist expertise in charity law, trusts, and estates. Shakespeare Martineau advises over 150 charities and not-for-profit organizations across the UK.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
The application process is not publicly documented. Prospective applicants should contact the trust administrators directly:
Contact: Helen Pole at Shakespeare Martineau
Email: helen.pole@shma.co.uk
Phone: 0116 257 4462
As a privately administered trust operating through solicitors, applications likely require written correspondence outlining the charitable purpose, geographic alignment, and funding requirements.
Decision Timeline
Decision timelines are not publicly available. As the trust operates at the trustees' discretion without published meeting schedules, applicants should inquire about timeframes when making initial contact.
Success Rates
Success rates and application statistics are not publicly disclosed.
Reapplication Policy
Reapplication policies are not publicly documented.
Application Success Factors
Given the limited public information available about the trust's decision-making criteria, the following factors can be inferred from the trust's stated purposes and known grant recipients:
- Geographic alignment: Projects must serve communities in Desborough, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, or Rutland
- Established organizations: Known recipients include registered charities with clear charitable purposes
- Capital and operational funding: The trust has supported both capital projects (e.g., building renovations for Oakfield Community's Easton Maudit facility) and ongoing charitable operations (e.g., Leicester Children's Holidays)
- Vulnerable populations: Focus on children, elderly, and people with disabilities aligns with known funding patterns
- Professional application: Given administration through a major law firm, clear, professional applications with well-defined charitable outcomes are likely expected
Known Grant Recipients
- Oakfield Community: Supported Phases 1 & 2 of the Easton Maudit Renovation (supported living accommodation for adults with physical and learning disabilities)
- Leicester Children's Holidays: Ongoing support for providing holidays and respite for children facing hardship
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Geographic restriction is absolute: Only organizations serving Desborough, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, or Rutland should apply
- Direct contact required: No online application system; approach via email or phone to Helen Pole at Shakespeare Martineau
- Professional administration: The trust operates through a major law firm, suggesting formal, well-documented applications are expected
- Broad charitable remit: The trustees have wide discretion, allowing for varied charitable purposes within geographic boundaries
- Focus on vulnerable groups: Known funding includes children, elderly, and people with disabilities
- Capital and operational funding: The trust supports both one-time capital projects and ongoing charitable activities
- Limited public information: The trust operates as a traditional private charitable trust with minimal public disclosure; building a relationship through professional correspondence is advisable
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References
- Charity Commission for England and Wales - Charity Overview for The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust (263929): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=263929&subId=0
- Find that Charity - GB-CHC-263929 The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-263929
- Oakfield Community - Our Supporters: https://www.oakfieldhome.org.uk/our-supporters
- Leicester Children's Holidays - Annual Reports: https://leicesterchildrensholidays.co.uk/annual-reports/
- Shakespeare Martineau - Charity Lawyers & Solicitors: https://www.shma.co.uk/for-life/wills-trusts-estates/charities/