The Oakdale Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £350,000 in grants per annum
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified
• Grant Range: £250 to £3,000 (average £2,000)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Wales, with some UK-wide support

Contact Details

• Website: www.oakdaletrust.org.uk
• Email: oakdale@tanh.uk
• Phone: 01832 226386 (note: answerphone is for private use only - do not leave messages)
• Postal Address: The Oakdale Trust, Tansor House, Tansor, Peterborough PE8 5HS

Overview

The Oakdale Trust is a grant-making charity (registered charity number 218827) that provides funding to charitable organisations and voluntary bodies. The Trust is a small family-run foundation established in 1946 by Brandon Cadbury, focusing primarily on organisations operating in Wales, with additional support for UK-wide projects in specific areas. With annual grant distribution of approximately £350,000, the Trust supports social and community projects, penal reform initiatives, medical support programmes, environmental conservation, arts with Welsh connections, and UK-based charities working in the developing world. The Trust is governed by five trustees from the Cadbury family who meet twice yearly to consider applications and award grants.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

• Welsh-based social and community projects
• Medical support groups operating in Wales
• UK-based medical research projects
• Environment conservation projects based in Wales
• Arts projects where there is a Welsh connection
• UK-based registered charities working in the developing world
• Penal reform

Geographic Focus

• Primarily funds organisations operating within Wales
• Also supports UK-based medical research projects
• Supports UK-based charities working in the developing world

What They Don't Fund

• Charitable organisations registered outside the UK
• Organisations that have received a grant within the previous two years

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by five trustees:

• Rupert Cadbury (Chair)
• Bruce Cadbury
• Olivia Tatton-Brown
• Rebecca Cadbury
• Gabrielle Cadbury

The trustees meet twice a year in April and October to consider applications and award grants. No trustees receive remuneration for their service.

How to Apply to The Oakdale Trust

How to Apply

The Trust accepts applications through two methods:

1. Online application form (strongly preferred - available on their website)
2. Postal applications (still accepted but online applications are preferred)

Email applications are NOT accepted.

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines follow a regular pattern:

• First week of March for the April trustee meeting
• First week of September for the October trustee meeting

Applicants should check the website to confirm specific deadline dates.

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made at the twice-yearly trustee meetings in April and October. No grants are awarded between meetings.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Organisations are not usually considered for further grants within two years of an award.

Application Success Factors

Given the Trust's focused geographic and thematic priorities, successful applications likely demonstrate:

• Clear benefit to Welsh communities (for Wales-focused projects)
• Alignment with one or more of the Trust's priority areas
• Strong organisational track record
• Clear, measurable outcomes for beneficiaries
• Compliance with eligibility criteria including organisational structure requirements

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Oakdale Trust primarily funds organisations operating in Wales, though some UK-wide projects are supported in specific areas
• Focus areas include social/community projects, penal reform, medical support/research, environmental conservation, arts with Welsh connections, and international development
• Grant range is £250 to £3,000 with an average of £2,000
• Applications must be submitted via online form or post - email applications are not accepted
• Application deadlines typically fall in the first week of March and first week of September
• Trustees meet twice yearly in April and October to award grants
• Organisations must typically wait two years between grants
• With annual grant distribution of approximately £350,000, the Trust makes a significant number of awards each year
• The Trust is family-governed by members of the Cadbury family, suggesting potential alignment with Quaker values and social justice priorities
• Community groups can apply but must have proper governance structures (constitution, elected committee, and appropriate bank account controls)

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Moondance Foundation
• Welsh Government
• The Waterloo Foundation
• Bbc Children In Need
• The Tula Trust Limited
• National Lottery
• Baillie Gifford
• Project Giving Back
• The Prudence Trust
• The Legal Education Foundation
• The Stone Family Foundation
• The A B Charitable Trust
• The Linbury Trust
• The Tolkien Trust
• The Hospital Saturday Fund
• The Lord Mayor's Appeal
• The Constance Travis Charitable Trust
• The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation (forte Charitable Foundation)
• John James Bristol Foundation
• The Calleva Foundation

References

• The Oakdale Trust official website: www.oakdaletrust.org.uk
• UK Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/218827
• Financial information from Charity Commission filing for year ending 05 April 2025