The Peter Kershaw Trust

Charity Number: 268934

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately £175,000 (total expenditure 2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed in May (Ordinary Grants) and November (Memorial Bursary)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £3,000 (Ordinary Grants); £50,000 over 3 years (Memorial Bursary)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Manchester and North Cheshire
  • Total Assets: £3,770,415 (as of March 2024)

Contact Details

Website: www.peterkershawtrust.org

Email: grants@peterkershawtrust.org (for help with application form or deadlines)

Phone: 01204 414 317

Address: C/O Beyond Profit, F114 Bolton Arena, Arena Approach, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6LB

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm (Closed weekends & public holidays)

Overview

The Peter Kershaw Trust was established in 1974 by Peter Kershaw, a descendant of Joseph Holt who owned the Manchester brewery that bears his name. The Trust was created when Peter Kershaw gifted a substantial holding of his brewery shares, following the philanthropic tradition of the Holt family. The Trust's sole investment remains these original Joseph Holt brewery shares, which generated £115,860 in dividends in 2023-24. With total assets of £3.77 million as of March 2024, the Trust continues Peter Kershaw's philosophy to “give something back” to the community where the brewery operated. Following Peter's death in 2000, his son Richard Kershaw became Chief Executive of the brewery and Chairman of the Trust's Board of Trustees. The Trust does not actively fundraise and focuses on careful stewardship of its existing resources to combat social disadvantage in Greater Manchester and North Cheshire.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Ordinary Grants: £1,000 - £3,000

Small grants for registered charities in Greater Manchester working on social welfare projects. Applications are received via online application form and must be submitted by 31 March for consideration at the May meeting. These grants support a wide variety of purposes including assistance for people with medical conditions, disabilities, addiction, elderly care, and youth work. The Trustees give special consideration to “pump priming” requests for funding to help new initiatives get started.

2. Peter Kershaw Memorial Bursary: £50,000 over 3 years

An annual award to further innovative youth work in the Greater Manchester area. The bursary is intended primarily to fund the costs of a youth leader, though other forms of innovative youth work will be considered. Applications are considered at the November meeting. Ordinarily, three projects receive funding from the memorial bursary on a three-year basis at any given time. Recent recipient: Access Sport (2021).

3. School Bursaries

Educational support provided to students in need, usually applied for by the relevant educational establishment on behalf of the pupil. All school bursaries are given a formal review before being agreed upon and are supported for extended periods until the recipient has completed their education in year 13.

Priority Areas

  • Social welfare projects addressing disadvantage in Greater Manchester
  • Support for people with medical conditions
  • Disability services
  • Addiction recovery programs
  • Services for elderly people
  • Youth work and development
  • Innovative approaches to social welfare challenges
  • New initiatives requiring “pump priming” funding

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (grants only made to registered charitable organizations)
  • Capital building or renovation projects (not normally supported)
  • Organizations outside the Greater Manchester and North Cheshire region
  • Non-registered charities
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Governance and Leadership

Chairman and Current Leadership: Richard Kershaw, son of founder Peter Kershaw, serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees as well as Chief Executive of Joseph Holt brewery.

Trustees: The Trust has 7 trustees who give their time freely with no trustee remuneration paid.

Delegated Authority: The Chairman has delegated authority to agree to small grants up to a total budget of £3,000 per annum, subject to confirmation and agreement from one other Trustee.

Family Legacy: The Trust continues the Holt family's long tradition of philanthropy. The first Edward Holt was a founder of the Christie Hospital and in 1914 raised £20,000 for the Holt Radium Institute (equivalent to £2 million today). The second Edward Holt established a trust providing housing for retired workers with limited income.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Ordinary Grants: Applications must be submitted via the online application form available at peterkershawtrust.org/ordinary-grants. The application should include:

  • An outline of the organisation and project for which financial assistance is being sought
  • Budgetary forecasts
  • A copy of the latest financial accounts

Memorial Bursary: Details available on the Trust website.

School Bursaries: Usually applied for by the relevant educational establishment on behalf of the pupil.

Pre-Application Support: The Trust offers help with completing the online application form or questions about deadlines. Contact grants@peterkershawtrust.org or call 01204 414 317 during office hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm).

Decision Timeline

Ordinary Grants:

  • Deadline: 31 March
  • Decision Meeting: May
  • Important: There is only one grant window per year. Applications received after 31 March will not be considered until the following year.

Memorial Bursary:

  • Decision Meeting: November
  • Applications are considered for three-year funding commitments

School Bursaries: Reviewed on an ongoing basis until completion of education in year 13.

Success Rates

Success rate data and the number of applications received are not publicly available. However, with total expenditure of approximately £175,000 and ordinary grants ranging from £1,000-£3,000, the Trust likely awards between 50-75 ordinary grants per year, plus the memorial bursary and school bursaries.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Organizations should contact the Trust directly if they have questions about reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Trust Values: The Trust continues Peter Kershaw's philosophy of “giving something back” to the Greater Manchester community. Applications that demonstrate clear benefit to disadvantaged people in the region are prioritized.

Pump Priming Priority: The Trustees give special consideration to “pump priming” requests - funding to help get new initiatives started. If your project represents an innovative approach or new program, emphasize this in your application.

Social Welfare Focus: Frame your work clearly within the “social welfare” context. The Trust has a broad interpretation including medical conditions, disabilities, addiction, elderly care, and youth work, but applications should demonstrate clear social welfare benefits.

Geographic Clarity: Ensure your application clearly demonstrates that beneficiaries are in Greater Manchester or North Cheshire, as this is a strict requirement.

Complete Applications: Applications must include an outline of the organization, project description, budgetary forecasts, and latest financial accounts. Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Timing is Critical: With only one annual deadline (31 March for ordinary grants), missing the deadline means waiting a full year. Plan ahead and submit early.

Registered Charity Status Required: The Trust only funds registered charities, so applications from unregistered organizations will not be considered.

Relationship to Joseph Holt Brewery: The Trust's sole investment is Joseph Holt brewery shares, reflecting its origins in Manchester's brewing heritage. While not a requirement, connections to the brewery's traditional operating areas in Greater Manchester may resonate with trustees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Single Annual Deadline: Mark 31 March in your calendar - it's the only opportunity each year to apply for ordinary grants
  • Pump Priming Advantage: New initiatives and innovative approaches receive special consideration, so emphasize the novelty and potential impact of your project
  • Keep It Local: Geographic focus is strict - clearly demonstrate beneficiaries are in Greater Manchester and North Cheshire
  • Modest Expectations: Ordinary grants range from £1,000-£3,000, so align your request and project scope accordingly
  • Pre-Application Support Available: Use the Trust's offer of help with applications - contact grants@peterkershawtrust.org with questions
  • Consider the Memorial Bursary: If you're doing innovative youth work, the £50,000 three-year Memorial Bursary may be a better fit than ordinary grants
  • Registered Charity Only: Do not apply unless you have registered charity status with the Charity Commission

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