The Portrack Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £654,180 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not currently accepting applications
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Founded: 1973

Contact Details

Email: portrackcharitabletrust@gmail.com

Address: The Old Stable, 15A Huntingdon Street, London N1 1BU

Application Status: The trust currently has a backlog of applications and is not accepting new applications. All correspondence should be by email.

Overview

The Portrack Charitable Trust was founded in 1973 and is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 266120). In the financial year ending April 2024, the trust had an income of £568,678 (primarily from investments) and made charitable grants totaling £654,180. The trust operates with broad charitable objectives, supporting causes “for such charitable purposes and in such shares and manner in every respect as the trustees shall in their absolute discretion from time to time think fit.” The trust is managed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, and focuses on supporting registered UK charities working in areas including disability support, poverty alleviation, and culture and the arts. The trust experienced significant investment losses of £3,159,828 in 2023-24, which may impact future grant-making capacity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single discretionary grant program with decisions made entirely at the trustees' discretion. Specific grant amounts and ranges are not publicly disclosed.

Priority Areas

Based on charity registration information, the trust gives grants in the following topic areas:

• Disabled people - Supporting organizations working with people with disabilities
• Poverty - Organizations addressing poverty and economic disadvantage
• Culture and art - Cultural and artistic charitable organizations

What They Don't Fund

• Community Interest Companies (CICs) - Only registered UK charities are eligible
• Individuals - No grants to individual applicants
• Non-UK charities - Only supports UK registered charities

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is managed by three trustees who serve without remuneration. Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed in readily accessible sources. The trust operates with no employees, and financial records confirm that no staff members receive benefits over £60,000, and no trustees receive any payments or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The trust does not have a formal online application portal or publicly available application guidelines. Historically, applications would be made via email correspondence to portrackcharitabletrust@gmail.com.

Current Status: The trust has announced they have a backlog of applications to review and are not accepting any new applications at this time.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the current backlog status, prospective applicants should expect delays.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies have not been publicly disclosed by the trust.

Application Success Factors

Due to limited publicly available information about funded projects and application guidance, specific success factors are difficult to determine. However, based on the trust's stated priorities and operational approach:

• Alignment with priority areas: Projects clearly addressing disability support, poverty alleviation, or cultural/artistic purposes appear most likely to align with the trust's interests
• UK registered charity status: This is a strict eligibility requirement
• Discretionary decision-making: The trustees exercise broad discretion, suggesting applications should clearly articulate charitable impact and alignment with the trust's broad objectives

Without access to examples of funded projects or direct guidance from the trust, applicants would benefit from contacting the trust directly to understand current priorities and application requirements before investing time in a full application.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Currently closed to applications: The trust is not accepting new applications due to a backlog - monitor for updates before applying
• UK registered charities only: Strict eligibility requirement excluding CICs and individuals
• Broad discretionary remit: Trustees have wide discretion in grant-making decisions across disability, poverty, and arts/culture
• Investment-funded: The trust's grant-making capacity depends on investment performance, which has been volatile (major losses in 2023-24)
• Limited public information: Very little guidance is publicly available about grant amounts, application processes, or success factors
• Small operation: Three volunteer trustees manage all decisions with no staff, suggesting a relatively small-scale, hands-on approach
• Email contact only: All correspondence should be via portrackcharitabletrust@gmail.com

References

• UK Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Portrack Charitable Trust (266120). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=266120&subid=0 (Accessed: December 2024)
• Funding Scotland - Portrack Charitable Trust profile. https://funding.scot/funders/001b000000a3H0wAAE/portrack-charitable-trust (Accessed: December 2024)
• Charity Choice - The Portrack Charitable Trust directory listing. https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-portrack-charitable-trust-145644 (Accessed: December 2024)