The Millennium Oak Trust
Stay updated on changes from The Millennium Oak Trust and other funders
Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £279,830 (2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Geographic Focus: UK and international
- Application Method: No public application process
Contact Details
- Email: office@milleniumoaktrust.org
- Phone: 07971 424661
- Website: milleniumoaktrust.org
- Charity Number: 1083384
Overview
The Millennium Oak Trust is a private family grant-making trust registered with the UK Charity Commission since 2000. With annual giving of approximately £280,000 (2024), the trust operates with a board of four trustees led by Nicholas Morton Roads, who has served as Chair since the trust's founding. The trust supports a wide range of organizations across multiple charitable sectors, reflecting the diverse philanthropic interests of its trustees. Operating on an invitation-only basis, the trust proactively identifies and supports organizations aligned with its broad charitable mission rather than accepting unsolicited applications. The trust maintains a lean operational structure with no paid employees, directing the majority of its resources toward charitable grants.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The Millennium Oak Trust does not operate formal, named grant programs. Instead, the trustees make discretionary grants throughout the year to organizations that align with their interests.
Application Method: Invitation only - the trust does not accept unsolicited applications but makes grants throughout the year at the trustees' discretion.
Priority Areas
The trustees have broad charitable interests spanning:
- Medical and research: Healthcare projects and medical research initiatives
- Children: Organizations supporting children's welfare and development
- Animals: Animal welfare charities
- Environment and climate change: Environmental conservation and climate action projects
- The disadvantaged: Supporting vulnerable and marginalized populations
- Overseas aid: International development and humanitarian relief
- General public benefit: Broad-based charitable work benefiting communities
What They Don't Fund
While the trust's specific exclusions are not publicly documented, they maintain a focused approach by not accepting unsolicited applications, suggesting they fund only organizations within their existing networks or those specifically identified by the trustees.
Ready to write a winning application for The Millennium Oak Trust?
Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.
Governance and Leadership
Board of Trustees:
- Nicholas Morton Roads - Chair (appointed September 2000) - Founding trustee who has led the organization since its inception
- Andrew Armiger - Trustee (appointed January 2021)
- Alexander Keith Roads - Trustee (appointed January 2020)
- Dawn Scarlett Roads - Trustee (appointed February 2016)
The presence of multiple trustees with the surname “Roads” suggests this is a family trust, with philanthropic decisions reflecting the collective interests and values of the family members serving as trustees. The trust operates without paid staff, with trustees serving in a voluntary capacity. At least one trustee serves as a director of the charity's subsidiaries.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
The Millennium Oak Trust does not have a public application process. According to their Charity Commission filing, the trust “does not normally accept unsolicited applications.”
Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees throughout the year to organizations they have identified or with which they have established relationships. The trust operates on a proactive grant-making model where trustees initiate contact with potential beneficiaries rather than responding to applications.
Financial Information:
- Total income (2024): £273,006
- Total expenditure (2024): £279,830
- The trust accepts donations at any time of the year
Application Success Factors
As this trust does not accept public applications, the traditional success factors do not apply. Organizations receive grants when:
- They operate in one or more of the trustees' areas of interest (medical/research, children, animals, environment, disadvantaged populations, overseas aid, or public benefit)
- They have come to the attention of the trustees through their networks, research, or other channels
- The trustees have proactively decided to support their work
Organizations cannot directly apply for funding from this trust.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No public application process: This trust cannot be applied to through traditional means - unsolicited applications are not accepted
- Proactive grant-making model: The trustees identify and approach organizations they wish to support rather than responding to applications
- Broad charitable interests: The trust supports work across diverse sectors including health, children, animals, environment, and international aid
- Family trust structure: The governance suggests a family philanthropic vehicle with long-standing leadership
- Small, focused operation: With four trustees and no staff, the trust makes targeted grants within their networks
- Accepts donations: While not accepting grant applications, the trust welcomes donations to support its charitable work
- Not suitable for active pursuit: Organizations should not attempt to solicit this funder as they explicitly do not accept unsolicited approaches
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
References
- UK Charity Commission Register of Charities, “The Millennium Oak Trust - Charity 1083384,”. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1083384
- UK Charity Commission, “The Millennium Oak Trust - Accounts and Annual Returns,”. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3973658/accounts-and-annual-returns
- UK Charity Commission, “The Millennium Oak Trust - Trustees,”. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3973658/trustees
- OpenCharities, “The Millennium Oak Trust,”. http://opencharities.org/charities/1083384