The National Benevolent Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £388,000 (organisational grants, 2023)
• Success Rate: 64% (individual grants: 729 awarded from 1,132 applications in 2023)
• Decision Time: 2-3 weeks (individual grants); reviewed weekly (organisation grants)
• Grant Range: £150 - £40,000 (individual grants £150-£750; organisation grants £2,000-£40,000)
• Geographic Focus: Bristol, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire & Swindon for organisation grants; UK-wide for individual grants

Contact Details

Website: www.natben.org.uk

Phone: 01666 505 500

Email:

• Individual grants: office@natben.org.uk
• Organisation grants: vicky.oram@natben.org.uk

Key Contacts:

• CEO: Ali Russell (ali.russell@natben.org.uk)
• Organisation Grants Manager: Vicky Oram-Ahern (01666 848 667)

Overview

Founded in 1812 and incorporated by Royal Charter, The National Benevolent Charity (Charity No. 212450) has over 200 years of history supporting people experiencing poverty. The charity's mission is “the relief of qualifying persons who are in need of assistance by reason of old age, infirmity, sickness or economic circumstances.” With total income of £811,048 and charitable expenditure of £1.03 million, the charity operates with core values of being Open, Compassionate, and Collaborative. In 2023, they awarded 729 individual grants and 42 organisational grants, distributing £388,000 in organisational funding. The charity emphasizes a personalized approach, stating: “We never forget that people are at the heart of everything that we do.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Grants (UK-wide)

• Amount: £150 - £750 (average award £360)
• Application: Rolling basis, decisions within 15 working days
• Format: E-vouchers, bank transfer, or direct payment to suppliers
• Limit: One grant per household per 12 months, maximum three in five years

Organisation Grants - Bristol (Fixed deadline)

• Amount: £20,000 per annum over two years (£40,000 total per organisation)
• Volume: Three new organisations funded per year
• Application: Annual deadline (e.g., April 2025)

Organisation Grants - Gloucestershire

• Amount: Up to £10,000 per organisation per year
• Application: Rolling basis, reviewed weekly

Organisation Grants - Wiltshire & Swindon

• Amount: Up to £10,000 per organisation per year
• Application: Rolling basis, reviewed weekly

Small Grants Programme

• Amount: Up to £2,000
• Application: Considered throughout the year, outside panel meetings

Priority Areas

Individual Grants:

• Essential household items and white goods
• Food and clothing
• Priority debts (when accompanied by debt advice)
• Financial, emotional, and practical support needs

Organisation Grants (Improving Lives Fund):

• Frontline organisations working with marginalised people
• Grassroots community organisations
• Relief of destitution
• Strengthening families
• Supporting education
• Tackling poverty and improving lives of the most disadvantaged

What They Don't Fund

Organisation Grants:

• Projects exclusively serving religious purposes
• Political campaigns and legislative lobbying
• Animal or plant welfare organisations
• Retrospective or deficit funding
• One-off conferences or events (unless within wider aligned context)
• Work outside Bristol, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire & Swindon

Individual Grants:

• Goods or services already purchased
• Emergency help
• Applications from those outside UK or without Indefinite Leave to Remain
• Applicants under 18 years old
• Those not resident in UK for at least 12 months

Ready to write a winning application for The National Benevolent Charity?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by 8 trustees who receive no remuneration. The organisation employs 3 staff members.

Key Leadership:

• CEO: Ali Russell - Available for inquiries at ali.russell@natben.org.uk
• Organisation Grants Manager: Vicky Oram-Ahern - Provides application support at vicky.oram@natben.org.uk / 01666 848 667

The charity emphasizes its collaborative approach and states: “We never forget that people are at the heart of everything that we do,” reflecting leadership's commitment to person-centered support.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Individual Grants:

• Complete application form and checklist
• Must include referrer statement/letter from independent professional (Charity Advice Worker, Social Worker, Housing Officer, Money Advice Worker, CAB Advisor, Health Visitor, or GP)
• Referrer letter should include: description of circumstances, what's being applied for, professional involvement, and support for application
• Must have applied to trade-related benevolence funds (if applicable)
• Submit to: office@natben.org.uk

Organisation Grants:

• Begin with Expression of Interest form
• Rolling programme with no deadlines (except Bristol programme which has annual deadline)
• Applications reviewed weekly
• For successful EOIs, phone call scheduled within 2 weeks
• Organisations need not be registered charities but must be not-for-profit with agreed constitution
• Pre-application support available from Vicky Oram-Ahern

Decision Timeline

Individual Grants: Applications can usually be decided within 15 working days if all information is provided. Notification via email.

Organisation Grants:

• Weekly review of Expression of Interest forms
• Phone call scheduled within 2 weeks for applications moving forward
• Panel meetings for larger grants (Bristol and larger awards in Gloucestershire/Wiltshire & Swindon)
• Small grants (under £2,000) considered outside panel meetings for faster decisions

Success Rates

Based on 2023 data:

• Individual Grants: 64% success rate (729 grants awarded from 1,132 applications)
• Organisation Grants: 42 grants awarded in 2023

Reapplication Policy

Individual Grants: Households limited to one successful grant per 12 months, maximum three successful grants in five years.

Organisation Grants: Unsuccessful applicants receive feedback via email. No specified waiting period mentioned, but applicants can contact grants manager for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements for Individual Grants:

• Professional referrer statement is mandatory - applications will not be considered without this
• Applicants must be in receipt of all state benefits they're entitled to (or awaiting/appealing decision)
• Bank statements should not show significant gambling or addiction spending, unless actively seeking help with evidence

For Organisation Grants:

• Strong alignment with poverty relief and supporting marginalized communities
• Clear demonstration of work in Bristol, Gloucestershire, or Wiltshire & Swindon
• Focus on frontline delivery and grassroots community support
• Don't hesitate to contact Vicky Oram-Ahern for pre-application guidance (01666 848 667)

Key Success Terminology:

• “Relief of poverty”
• “Marginalized people”
• “Grassroots community organisations”
• “Improving lives”
• “Destitution,” “strengthening families,” “supporting education”

Application Etiquette:

The charity asks applicants to be courteous, noting that staff are doing their best. This suggests they value respectful communication.

Notable Policy:

The charity may decline applications where financial statements show issues but remains open to considering cases where applicants can demonstrate they're actively addressing problems like addiction with professional support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• 200+ year heritage: This is one of the oldest benevolence charities in the UK, established 1812, with Royal Charter incorporation - emphasize alignment with long-standing mission of poverty relief
• High success rate for individuals: 64% success rate shows they're genuinely accessible, but professional referrer support is non-negotiable
• Rolling basis for most programmes: Organisation grants (except Bristol) reviewed weekly with no deadlines, allowing flexible timing for applications
• Pre-application support is welcomed: Vicky Oram-Ahern actively encourages contact before applying - use this resource to strengthen applications
• Geographic focus matters: Organisation grants strictly limited to Bristol, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire & Swindon - don't apply if outside these areas
• Person-centered approach: Their stated value “We never forget that people are at the heart of everything that we do” suggests applications should emphasize individual impact stories and human-centered outcomes
• Small grants available: The £2,000 small grants programme offers quicker decisions outside panel meetings - consider starting here to build relationship

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Quartet Community Foundation
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• Power to Change Trust
• The Barrow Cadbury Trust
• Somerset Community Foundation
• Thirty Percy Foundation
• The Blagrave Trust
• THE VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
• The Aurora Trust
• The Nisbet Trust
• The Medlock Charitable Trust
• The Will Charitable Trust
• The Francis Winham Foundation
• THE DAVID FAMILY FOUNDATION
• National Lottery
• ACCESS - THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENT
• LOCAL TRUST
• THE BIG GIVE TRUST
• CLA CHARITABLE TRUST
• I CAN DO IT LIMITED

References

1. The National Benevolent Charity official website - Homepage and About section (www.natben.org.uk) -
2. The National Benevolent Charity - Grants for Individuals page (https://www.natben.org.uk/grants-for-individuals) -
3. The National Benevolent Charity - Grants for Organisations page (https://www.natben.org.uk/grants-for-organisations) -
4. The National Benevolent Charity - Organisation Grants page (https://natben.org.uk/organisation-grants) -
5. Charity Commission Register - THE NATIONAL BENEVOLENT CHARITY (Charity No. 212450) (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=212450&subid=0) -
6. GrantStation - National Benevolent Charity: Improving Lives Fund (https://grantstation.com/grantmakers/national-benevolent-charity-improving-lives) -
7. The National Benevolent Charity - FAQs page (https://www.natben.org.uk/faqs) -