The Notgrove Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £227,086 (FY ending Sept 2024)
• Annual Income: £101,712
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (supports small to medium grants)
• Geographic Focus: Gloucestershire (with occasional exceptions for trustee connections)
• Application Method: Rolling basis via email or letter
• Accepts CICs: No (registered charities only)

Contact Details

Address: The Manor, Notgrove, Cheltenham GL54 3BT

Email: diana@notgrove.com

Phone: 01451 850239

Website: www.notgrove.com

Overview

The Notgrove Trust was established in 1979 by Mr and Mrs David Acland in the village of Notgrove in the Cotswolds. It is a small grant-giving charity that actively seeks out small or medium organisations in Gloucestershire that may struggle to find funding elsewhere. The Trust is currently managed by the Acland family, with Diana Frances Acland and Harry Alexander Acland serving as trustees. The Trust operates with total annual expenditure of approximately £227,000 and focuses its grant-making on local charities that serve vulnerable populations. The Trust is particularly known for its willingness to offer non-restrictive grants and to form ongoing relationships with its beneficiaries, often awarding multi-year grants to aid cash flow and reduce administrative burden.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Current Focus: Young People

The Trust is currently focused on helping young people who often face numerous challenges in their lives, whether through poverty, social divide, or mental disability. Educational opportunities or support at this vital stage can be life-changing, and the Trust seeks charities that can make this happen.

Other Beneficiary Groups:

• Elderly/old people
• People with disabilities
• Relief of poverty
• General charitable purposes

Types of Organisations Funded:

• Small to medium charities registered with the Charity Commission
• Local organisations in Gloucestershire
• Charities struggling to find funding from larger sources

Recent Grant Examples

• Cotswold Canals Trust: Grant to assist with maintenance and operation of work boats and dredgers for canal restoration
• Ruskin Mill Trust, Nailsworth: Partial funding to build a new barn for goat dairy supporting 100+ students aged 16-25 with complex behavioral and learning difficulties
• The Rock, Cheltenham: Ongoing support for youth services
• #FeedGloucester and #FeedCheltenham: £3,000 to each crowdfunder during COVID-19 crisis
• The Family Haven: Support for family services
• Gloucestershire Bike Project: Community transport initiative
• Cotswold Riding for the Disabled: Accessibility and disability support
• Home Start Cotswolds: Family support services
• Kate's Home Nursing: Healthcare services
• Guiting Music Festival: Arts and culture
• Cheltenham Christian Arts Festival: Community arts

What They Don't Fund

• Community Interest Companies (CICs) - only registered charities are eligible
• Medical research
• Personal applications
• Major national charities (unlikely to receive funding)
• Complete project funding (prefer to contribute partial funding as a “helping hand”)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Diana Frances Acland
• Harry Alexander Acland
• Elizabeth Acland
• Lucy Henrietta Morris

The Trust has 5 trustees in total, none of whom receive remuneration or benefits from the charity.

Trustee Approach:

Diana and Harry Acland take a hands-on approach to grant-making. They regularly receive letters from local charities and carefully review each project to assess how they can help and who will benefit most. They are known to visit funded organisations to see the work in progress firsthand. After visiting the Cotswold Canals Trust, Diana Acland commented: “Harry and I felt it was such a worthwhile exercise coming to visit you. We feel the grant we have given you will be very well spent.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Rolling basis via email or letter (no application form)

What to Include:

• A written explanation of what your organisation does
• Why you want a grant
• A copy of your last year's accounts (helpful but not explicitly required)

Contact for Applications:

• Email: diana@notgrove.com
• Post: The Manor, Notgrove, Cheltenham GL54 3BT

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be registered with the Charity Commission
• Preference for small to medium charities in Gloucestershire
• CICs are not eligible
• Charities outside Gloucestershire considered only where trustees have an established connection

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The Trust operates on a rolling basis, suggesting applications are reviewed as received rather than at fixed intervals.

Multi-Year Funding

The Notgrove Trust regularly awards multiple-year grants to charities with which they have formed ongoing relationships. This approach aids recipient cash flow and reduces administrative burden for both the charity and the Trust.

Non-Restrictive Grants

The Trust is often able and willing to award non-restrictive grants, depending on individual circumstances. This flexibility is particularly valuable for small charities that need unrestricted funding to maintain operations.

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Looks For:

1. Small to Medium Local Charities: The Trust actively seeks out organisations in Gloucestershire that may struggle to find funding elsewhere. If your charity finds it difficult to secure grants from larger funders, emphasize this in your application.

1. Focus on Young People: Currently prioritized. If your work supports young people facing challenges through poverty, social divide, or mental disability, clearly articulate the life-changing educational opportunities or support you provide.

1. Clear Beneficiary Impact: The trustees carefully assess “who will benefit from their help the most.” Be specific about your beneficiaries and the tangible difference the grant will make in their lives.

1. Partial Funding Welcome: The Trust acknowledges they "won't be able to fund the whole project“ but are happy to give ”a helping hand towards building projects and achieving goals." Don't be discouraged if you're seeking partial funding - frame your request as a contribution toward a larger goal.

1. Relationship Building: The Trust likes to form ongoing relationships with their charities. If you're seeking initial funding, indicate openness to a longer-term partnership. If you're a previous recipient, reference the relationship in your application.

1. Registered Charities Only: Ensure you are registered with the Charity Commission. CICs are explicitly not eligible.

1. Simplicity and Authenticity: With no application form required, keep your letter or email straightforward. The trustees appreciate direct communication about what you do and why you need support.

Examples of Funded Work:

• Projects supporting students with complex behavioral and learning difficulties (Ruskin Mill Trust)
• Community infrastructure for volunteer-led restoration projects (Cotswold Canals Trust)
• Emergency food security during crises (#FeedGloucester/#FeedCheltenham)
• Youth services (The Rock, Cheltenham)
• Community transport and accessibility (Gloucestershire Bike Project, Cotswold Riding for the Disabled)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Target audience: This Trust is ideal for small to medium Gloucestershire charities that struggle to secure funding from larger sources
• Current priority: Applications supporting young people facing poverty, social challenges, or mental disability are particularly well-aligned with current focus
• Simple process: No application form - just write or email explaining what you do and why you need funding, ideally with recent accounts attached
• Partial funding: Don't be deterred if you need only part of your project funded; the Trust explicitly welcomes contributing toward larger goals
• Multi-year potential: Emphasize your interest in building a relationship; the Trust offers multi-year grants to reduce administrative burden
• Non-restrictive grants: If you need flexible, unrestricted funding, this Trust is particularly sympathetic to that need
• Personal approach: Trustees Diana and Harry Acland personally review applications and visit projects - authenticity and direct communication matter
• Eligibility matters: Confirm you're a registered charity with the Charity Commission; CICs are not eligible

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• County of Gloucestershire Community Foundation
• The Rowlands Trust
• The Joyce Fletcher Charitable Trust
• The Portishead Nautical Trust
• THE VERDON-SMITH FAMILY CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT
• The Saintbury Trust
• The Gloucestershire Association for Disability
• Sylvanus Lysons Charity
• Skyrme Hart Charitable Trust
• Peter Lang Children's Trust

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Notgrove Trust (278692). Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/278692/charity-overview

1. “Notgrove Estate.” Notgrove Holidays. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://notgroveholidays.com/notgrove-estate/

1. “Latest funding from The Notgrove Trust.” Notgrove Holidays. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://notgroveholidays.com/latest-funding-from-notgrove/

• Direct quote from Diana Acland: “Harry and I felt it was such a worthwhile exercise coming to visit you. We feel the grant we have given you will be very well spent.”

1. “THE NOTGROVE TRUST | Charity Factsheet.” Giving is Great. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=278692

1. "Trusts & Supporters." The Rock. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://therock.uk.com/newpagea4c8a8c4

1. “Our Supporters.” The Family Haven. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://www.thefamilyhaven.com/whats-on-offer/our-supporters/

1. “Gloucestershire charitable trust leads the way to feed local families in crisis.” Punchline Gloucester. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aanews/gloucestershire-charitable-trust-leads-the-way-to-feed-local-families-in-crisis