The Nisbet Trust

Charity Number: 1143496

Annual Expenditure: £1.3M
Geographic Focus: Bristol City

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately £1-1.5 million (estimated based on cumulative £14 million since 2011)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months (quarterly trustee meetings)
  • Grant Range: Up to £10,000 (small grants), £10,001-£30,000 (medium grants), larger amounts for significant capital projects
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Bristol area

Contact Details

Website: www.nisbettrust.co.uk

Email: admin@nisbettrust.co.uk

Phone: 0117 914 1437

Director: Alison Hope (alison.hope@nisbettrust.co.uk) - Contact for initial grant enquiries

Administrator: Gemma Roberts

Overview

The Nisbet Trust is an independent charitable trust established in 2011 by the Nisbet family to support charitable causes across the Greater Bristol area. Since its founding, the Trust has awarded over £14 million in grants to local organisations. The Trust is funded by the trading activity of Key West Holdings and operates with a clear focus on addressing disadvantage and inequality in Bristol communities. The Trust makes both revenue grants (single and multi-year funding for up to three years) and capital grants for transformational projects. The Trust prioritises local impact, with a strong preference for Bristol-based organisations rather than national charities operating in the region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants: Up to £10,000

Medium Grants: £10,001 to £30,000

Multi-Year Grants: Single or multi-year funding for up to three years

Capital Grants: Larger amounts considered for significant capital projects (no fixed upper limit stated)

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with quarterly deadlines (December, March, June, and September) for trustee meetings held at the end of January, April, July, and October.

Priority Areas

The Trust has four main funding priorities:

  1. Children and Young People: Supporting disadvantaged children and young people to gain skills for life and work
  2. Community Cohesion: Projects which support equality, diversity and social inclusion for high need groups from all communities in Bristol
  3. Prevention of Homelessness: Support for organisations providing advice and guidance to people at risk of losing their homes
  4. The Arts: Arts activities that benefit disadvantaged young people

The Trust focuses on social welfare, education, and the arts sectors.

What They Don't Fund

  • Medical research
  • Single condition medical charities
  • Individual grants
  • Animal welfare charities
  • Sponsorship
  • National charities (strongly prefer Bristol-based organisations)
  • Community Interest Companies primarily dependent on grants (CICs should derive at least 25% income from trading)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Anne Nisbet DL (Chair) - Director of Key West Holdings, previously with Nisbets PLC. Upcoming High Sheriff for Bristol 2026/27. Actively involved in Bristol charitable causes.

Rose Nisbet - Active in local community and involved in grant allocation for the Bristol region.

Michael Bothamley - Retired development lawyer involved with multiple Bristol charities. Former High Sheriff of Bristol (2014/15).

Zoe Joyner - Community and Engagement Partner at Nisbets Limited with experience in Corporate Social Responsibility. Worked on NHS vaccination program during pandemic.

Andrew Nisbet - Director at Key West Holdings, invests in private equity, direct investments, and property.

Joe Nisbet - Director at Key West Holdings and Non-Executive Director at Jongor Hire.

Staff

Alison Hope (Director) - Charity fundraising specialist who has worked with 40+ charities. Former Head of Fundraising at University of Gloucestershire.

Gemma Roberts (Administrator) - Serving since 2011, focusing on efficient trust administration.

Leadership Perspective

Alison Hope stated: "We focus on supporting disadvantaged children and young people, so we're delighted to award a grant to this exciting charity, enabling school children from inner city areas to get hands-on with [science] and broaden their career horizons."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Trust operates a two-stage process:

  1. Initial Enquiry: Send a brief email to Trust Director Alison Hope (alison.hope@nisbettrust.co.uk) outlining your request and the funding amount. A few sentences are ideal at this stage.
  1. Full Application: If invited to proceed, complete a full application form (available from the website).

Decision Timeline

Application Deadlines:

  • December (for January trustee meeting)
  • March (for April trustee meeting)
  • June (for July trustee meeting)
  • September (for October trustee meeting)

Trustee Meetings: Quarterly at the end of January, April, July, and October

Typical Timeline: 3-4 months from application deadline to decision

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed by the Trust.

Reapplication Policy

Organisations can reapply for grants. When reapplying, organisations should include a report (no more than 2 pages) detailing the number of people supported and the change or outcomes achieved with previous funding. No specific waiting period is indicated for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Key Advice from the Funder

  • Bristol focus is critical: The Trust strongly prefers Bristol-based organisations. National charities are “less likely to be supported.”
  • Brief initial enquiry: Keep your first contact to “a few sentences” outlining the request and amount.
  • CIC requirements: Community Interest Companies must have been established for at least 3 years, have annual income over £50,000, and derive at least 25% from trading (not grants).
  • Focus on outcomes: Reports should detail “the number of people supported and the change or outcomes achieved.”

Recent Funding Examples

Revenue Grants:

  • 1625 Independent People: £30,000 for Peer Educators project addressing homelessness
  • Bristol Somali Resource Centre: £54,000 for Employment Support Programme
  • Off The Record: £60,000 for Peer Navigator volunteer mental health program
  • Access Sport: £30,000 to develop community sports clubs for disadvantaged youth
  • Bristol Refugee Rights: £60,000 for Welcome and Advice Services
  • Babbasa: £67,000 for Our City 2030 Upward Mobility Coordinator
  • Housing Matters: £75,000 for specialist housing crisis support
  • Young Bristol: £78,000 for Outdoor Employment Programme
  • ACTA Theatre: £55,000 for youth theatre for vulnerable young adults
  • Oasis North Bristol Hub: £69,000 for Youth Empowerment Lead Worker

Capital Grants:

  • Bristol Beacon Transformation Appeal
  • Coach House Transformation by Black South West Network
  • Empire Fighting Chance
  • Kingsley Hall Transformation Project
  • Gympanzees Home Appeal
  • Creative Youth Network Magistrates Courts
  • Underfall Yard Recovery Project

Strategic Considerations

  • The Trust values local roots - being Bristol-based is essential
  • Projects addressing disadvantage and inequality align with core priorities
  • Skills development for young people is a recurring theme
  • The Trust supports both operational costs and capital projects
  • Multi-year funding is available, showing commitment to sustained impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Local is essential: Being a Bristol-based organisation (not just operating in Bristol) significantly increases chances of success
  • Keep initial contact brief: The Trust values concise communication - a few sentences in your initial enquiry is sufficient
  • Align with priorities: Ensure your project clearly addresses one or more of their four priority areas (children/young people, community cohesion, homelessness prevention, or arts)
  • Demonstrate outcomes: Focus on the number of people supported and the tangible changes/outcomes your work achieves
  • Multi-year funding available: Consider requesting multi-year support (up to 3 years) if appropriate for your project
  • Capital projects welcomed: The Trust has a strong track record of supporting transformational capital projects alongside revenue grants
  • Quarterly cycles: Plan your application timing around the four annual deadlines to align with trustee meetings

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