The Nancy Kenyon Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 265359
• Annual Giving: £120,290 (2025)
• Annual Income: £87,338 (2025)
• Decision Time: Not applicable - trustee discretion
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (can fund internationally)
• Application Method: No public application process - trustee discretion

Contact Details

Registered Address:

Brook Financial Management Ltd

Meads Barn, Ashwell Park

Ashwell, Ilminster

Somerset TA19 9DX

Note: The trust does not operate a public application process or publish contact details for grant applications.

Overview

THE NANCY KENYON CHARITABLE TRUST was established by trust deed on 18th December 1972 and registered as a charity on 22nd March 1973. This is a family trust managed by six Kenyon family trustees, with annual expenditure of approximately £120,290 (2025). The trust has exceptionally broad charitable objectives, granting trustees absolute discretion to support any charitable purpose according to English law, whether in the UK or internationally. The trust aims to help small organisations, particularly those that help individuals realise their potential. The trust has maintained long-term relationships with beneficiaries, notably supporting The Nehemiah Project's Supported Housing Programme since 2003. The trust operates without public application processes, with grant decisions made entirely at the trustees' discretion. No trustees receive remuneration, and the charity has no employees or trading subsidiaries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single discretionary grant program with no formal application process. Grants are made to both organisations and individuals at the trustees' absolute discretion.

Priority Areas

Based on available information, the trust focuses on:

• Small organisations - The trust specifically aims to help small charitable organisations
• Individual potential - Organisations that help individuals realise their potential
• Supported housing - Documented support for The Nehemiah Project's Supported Housing Programme since 2003
• General charitable purposes - The trust has very broad objectives allowing support for any charitable purpose under English law

The trust can support causes both within the United Kingdom and internationally.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented. The trust deed provides extremely broad discretion to trustees, stating objectives are “for such objects or purposes (whether in the united kingdom or elsewhere) being charitable objects or purposes according to the law of england as the trustees, or the majority of them shall from time to time at their absolute discretion determine.”

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by six family trustees:

• Sally Maria Kenyon
• Maureen Patricia Newton Kenyon
• Lucy Susanna Bee Phipps
• Peter Richard Kenyon
• Kieron Richard James Kenyon
• Sarah Ann Elizabeth Kenyon

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Family Connection: Research indicates a connection to Richard Kenyon, who founded The Nancy Oldfield Trust (a separate charity supporting water-based activities for people with disabilities), suggesting the Kenyon family has a broader tradition of charitable work focused on enabling individual potential.

How to Apply to The Nancy Kenyon Charitable Trust

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Nancy Kenyon Charitable Trust operates entirely through trustee discretion. Grants are awarded to organisations and individuals chosen by the trustees through their own networks and awareness of charitable needs.

The trust's governing document explicitly grants trustees absolute discretion over all funding decisions, with no requirement for public applications, guidelines, or transparent selection criteria.

Organisations cannot apply to this trust in the conventional sense. Funding relationships appear to be established through:

• Trustees' existing knowledge of organisations
• Long-term relationships (as evidenced by 20+ years of support to The Nehemiah Project)
• Trustee-initiated identification of beneficiaries

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustees' discretion without a formal application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Trust's Operational Model:

This trust operates fundamentally differently from grant-makers with public application processes. Success in securing funding depends not on writing a strong application, but on:

1. Being Known to the Trustees - The trust supports organisations within the trustees' awareness and networks. With six Kenyon family trustees, connections may arise through personal, professional, or charitable sector relationships.

1. Alignment with Stated Aims - The trust aims to help “small organisations, in particular those who help individuals realise their potential.” Organisations working in this space may be of interest if they come to trustees' attention.

1. Long-Term Relationships - The documented 20+ year relationship with The Nehemiah Project suggests the trust values sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants.

1. Small-Scale Operations - The trust specifically mentions helping small organisations, suggesting preference for grassroots or community-level work rather than large established charities.

1. Enabling Individual Potential - Organisations whose work focuses on helping individuals grow, develop skills, achieve goals, or overcome barriers appear to align with the trust's documented interests.

Strategic Consideration for Grant Writers:

This trust is not suitable for inclusion in standard grant application portfolios. Organisations cannot proactively pursue funding from this source through traditional application methods.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - This trust cannot be approached through conventional grant-seeking methods
• Trustee discretion model - All funding decisions are made privately by six family trustees
• Focus on small organisations - The trust specifically states its aim to help small charitable organisations
• Emphasis on individual potential - Organisations that help individuals realise their potential align with stated aims
• Long-term partnerships - Evidence of 20+ year support relationships suggests preference for sustained engagement
• Broad scope - The trust can legally support any charitable purpose in the UK or internationally, giving trustees maximum flexibility
• Family trust structure - Six Kenyon family members serve as trustees, suggesting a personal approach to philanthropy
• Not suitable for active fundraising - Organisations should not invest time attempting to contact or apply to this trust

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Tomlinson Family Charitable Trust
• Mole Charitable Trust
• Audrey Earle Charitable Trust
• The Moorview Charitable Trust
• The Wands Charitable Trust
• J E Posnansky Charitable Trust
• The Hawerby Trust
• Two Hands Charitable Trust
• The J P Jacobs Charitable Trust
• The Portrack Charitable Trust

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - THE NANCY KENYON CHARITABLE TRUST (Charity Number 265359)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=265359

Accessed: January 2026

1. The Nehemiah Project - The Nancy Kenyon Charitable Trust supporter page

https://www.tnp.org.uk/portfolio/the-nancy-kenyon-charitable-trust/

Accessed: January 2026

Note: States the trust “aims to help small organisations, in particular those who help individuals realise their potential” and has supported Nehemiah's Supported Housing Programme since 2003

1. UK Charity Commission - Governance information for charity 265359

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/265359/governance

Accessed: January 2026

Note: Trust deed dated 18 December 1972; trustees listed

1. UK Charity Commission - Financial data for charity 265359

Financial year ending 5 April 2025: Income £87,338, Expenditure £120,290

Financial year ending 5 April 2024: Income £87,813, Expenditure £117,921

Accessed: January 2026

1. Nancy Oldfield Trust - History

https://www.nancyoldfield.org.uk/history/

Accessed: January 2026

Note: Confirms Richard Kenyon founded The Nancy Oldfield Trust in 1984 in memory of his parents Nancy and Oldfield, providing water-based activities for people with disabilities