The Portishead Nautical Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £94,263 (2024)
• Success Rate: Highly competitive - “receives far more applications than its income can satisfy”
• Decision Time: Quarterly trustee meetings (approximately 3-4 months between review cycles)
• Grant Range: Small grants and bursaries (specific amounts not publicly disclosed)
• Geographic Focus: Portishead, North Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and the South West region
• Beneficiary Age: Under 25 years old

Contact Details

Address: 108 High Street, Portishead, Bristol, BS20 6AJ

Phone: 01275 847463

Email: portisheadnauticaltrust@gmail.com

Website: www.portisheadnauticaltrust.org

Application Contact: Mrs Liz Knight (at above address)

Overview

The Portishead Nautical Trust, established in 1906 and formally incorporated in 1986, is a charitable company that assists young people under the age of 25 who experience deprivation, poverty, financial hardship, parental neglect, or other misfortunes. With annual expenditure of approximately £94,263 (2024), the Trust has its origins in Henry Fedden's 1869 establishment of a training ship for homeless boys and the subsequent National Nautical School that operated until 1983. The school's sale proceeds formed the basis of the current Trust. The organization makes grants to both individuals and charitable organizations, focusing on enabling disadvantaged and disabled young people to realize their full potential through educational opportunities, training courses, and specialized support programs. All six trustees serve without remuneration, meeting quarterly to review applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Grants to Charitable Organizations

• Small grants to support projects for disadvantaged children and young people
• Funding to facilitate educational and training needs
• Support for programs addressing emotional/behavioral problems
• Application method: Written applications reviewed quarterly

Individual Grants and Bursaries

• Small bursaries enabling attendance at specialized courses or trips
• Support for educational courses
• Application method: Written applications via downloadable form (PDF or MS Word)

Priority Areas

The Trust prioritizes funding for:

• Young people under 25 experiencing deprivation, poverty, or financial hardship
• Individuals with disabilities from deprived backgrounds
• Educational and training opportunities that enable young people to reach their full potential
• Youth work programs supporting vulnerable young people
• Projects demonstrating joint support from other charities or Local Authorities (viewed favorably)
• Local area applications from Portishead, North Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and the broader South West region

Recent funded activities include:

• Life-changing sailing voyages for disadvantaged/disabled young people
• Youth support services (e.g., Off The Record)
• Specialized programs like Springboard Opportunity Group's SPARCS programme

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Trust's focus is clearly defined:

• Applicants over 25 years old are outside the Trust's remit
• Projects outside the South West region are less likely to be supported (local preference stated)
• Applications not aligned with relieving youth deprivation or enabling educational potential

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Trust is governed by six volunteer trustees who serve as both trustees and directors of the charitable company:

• Anne McPherson - Chair
• Colin Crossman - Trustee
• Peter Dingley-Brown - Trustee
• Patricia Margerison - Trustee
• Martin Woodhead - Trustee
• Alison Stone - Trustee

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trustees meet quarterly to consider grant applications and govern the Trust's operations.

Philosophy

The Trust's website emphasizes: “The Trust places importance on continuing contact with beneficiaries,” reflecting their preference for supporting local projects where they can maintain ongoing relationships with those they help.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organizations:

• Email: portisheadnauticaltrust@gmail.com
• Post: Mrs Liz Knight, 108 High Street, Portishead, Bristol, BS20 6AJ

For Individuals:

1. Download the individual application form from www.portisheadnauticaltrust.org
2. Applications should be submitted by “suitably qualified sponsors”
3. Submit via email or post to the above addresses

Decision Timeline

• Review Frequency: Trustees meet approximately quarterly (four times per year)
• Processing Time: Applications are reviewed at the next quarterly meeting following submission
• Estimated Timeline: 3-4 months maximum between submission and decision, depending on when the application arrives in the review cycle
• Notification: The Trust contacts applicants following trustee meetings

Success Rates

The Trust explicitly states on their website: “The Trust receives far more applications than its income can satisfy.”

This indicates:

• Applications are highly competitive
• Demand significantly exceeds available funding
• Many worthy applications cannot be funded due to resource constraints

However, the Trust assures applicants that "every application submitted is considered on its merits, provided its scope is within The Trust's aims and objectives."

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy or waiting period is stated on the Trust's website or public materials. Given the quarterly review cycle, unsuccessful applicants may wish to contact the Trust directly to discuss reapplication timing and any improvements to strengthen their case.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's explicit guidance and stated preferences:

What the Trust Values

1. Local Connection: The Trust explicitly states: “The Trust prefers to support projects and people in the local area because it places importance on continuing contact with beneficiaries.” Applications from Portishead, North Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire are prioritized.

1. Joint Support: The Trust's website clearly states: “The trustees consider favourably applications which show evidence of joint support from other charities or Local Authorities.” Demonstrating that other funders are also investing in your project significantly strengthens applications.

1. Clear Alignment with Mission: Applications must clearly demonstrate how they will help young people under 25 who experience “deprivation, poverty, financial hardship or difficulty, parental neglect, lack of control or other misfortune.”

1. Enabling Potential: The Trust seeks to fund opportunities that enable young people with disabilities or deprived backgrounds “to realise their full potential” - applications should articulate clear pathways to this outcome.

1. Educational/Training Focus: Recent grants suggest the Trust favors educational opportunities, training courses, skills development, and experiential learning (such as sailing voyages).

Proven Success Areas

Organizations funded by the Trust have included:

• Youth counseling and support services (Off The Record)
• Specialized programs for children with additional needs (Springboard Opportunity Group)
• Experiential learning opportunities like sailing programs for disadvantaged/disabled youth

Strategic Application Tips

• Be specific about beneficiaries: Clearly identify the young people you'll help and how they meet the Trust's criteria
• Quantify outcomes: Show how your grant will enable specific individuals to reach their potential
• Demonstrate local impact: Emphasize geographic connection and ability to provide updates
• Show partnership: Highlight any co-funding or support from other charities or Local Authorities
• Request realistic amounts: The Trust offers “small grants” - large requests are unlikely to succeed
• Maintain contact: The Trust values ongoing relationships with beneficiaries, so demonstrate commitment to reporting back

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• High competition: The Trust receives far more applications than they can fund, so applications must be exceptionally well-aligned and compelling

• Local preference is critical: Geographic proximity to Portishead/Bristol area significantly improves chances - emphasize local connections and ability to maintain contact

• Partnership funding strengthens applications: Demonstrating joint support from other charities or Local Authorities is explicitly viewed favorably by trustees

• Quarterly cycles mean timing matters: Plan submissions to align with quarterly meetings, allowing 3-4 months for decision-making

• Small grants only: This is not a major funder - tailor requests to realistic “small grant” levels appropriate to their £94,000 annual expenditure

• Age limit is absolute: Beneficiaries must be under 25 - any project supporting older individuals will be rejected

• Educational focus succeeds: Training, courses, skills development, and experiential learning opportunities have proven track records with this funder

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Nisbet Trust
• The Big Give Trust
• Quartet Community Foundation
• THE VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
• Souter Charitable Trust
• The Medlock Charitable Trust
• The Will Charitable Trust
• The National Benevolent Charity
• THE DAVID FAMILY FOUNDATION
• CLA Charitable Trust
• Smith Charitable Trust
• BBC Children in Need
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• National Lottery
• I CAN DO IT LIMITED
• HENRY SMITH

References

• The Portishead Nautical Trust official website - About page: https://www.portisheadnauticaltrust.org/about

• The Portishead Nautical Trust - How to Apply: https://www.portisheadnauticaltrust.org/how-to-apply

• The Portishead Nautical Trust - History page: https://www.portisheadnauticaltrust.org/history

• The Portishead Nautical Trust - Contact page: https://www.portisheadnauticaltrust.org/contact

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Portishead Nautical Trust (228876): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/228876

• Companies House - Portishead Nautical Trust (The) - Company number 00087906: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00087906

• B&L Ltd - Portishead Nautical Trust funding page: https://bandltd.org.uk/funding/portishead-nautical-trust

• Springboard Opportunity Group - Grant Funding acknowledgment: https://www.springboardweb.org.uk/supporting-us/grant-funding/