The Purslow Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £144,056 (2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: £20,000+ (based on known grants)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales, with particular focus on Warrington area
• Charity Number: 1168351

Contact Details

Address: Old Hall Farm, Lymm Road, Thelwall, Warrington, WA4 2TG

Phone: 01925 756314

Note: The trust does not have a publicly available website or email address.

Overview

The Purslow Trust (previously known as The John Purslow Trust) was registered as a charitable company on 21 July 2016. The trust was effectively dormant until receiving a significant donation of £1,000,000 in December 2019, which activated its grant-making activities. With total expenditure of £144,056 in the financial year ending June 2024, the trust operates as a private family foundation making grants to organisations throughout England and Wales. The trustees have established clear funding priorities focusing on helping the poor and disadvantaged, advancing education, and advancing health. The trust appears to make strategic grants through intermediary organisations and has demonstrated particular interest in supporting vulnerable populations in the Warrington area.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs with defined application windows. Instead, the trustees exercise discretion in making grants aligned with their charitable objectives. Known grants include:

• £20,000 to Cheshire Community Foundation for disadvantaged young mothers in Warrington
• Support for The Bread and Butter Thing's affordable food service project in Warrington

Priority Areas

The trustees have decided that the priorities for funding are:

• Helping the poor and disadvantaged: Supporting vulnerable populations, including young mothers and those experiencing food insecurity
• Advancing education: Educational initiatives that benefit disadvantaged groups
• Advancing health: Health-related programs and services for those in need

The trust has demonstrated particular interest in supporting projects in the Warrington area, though their remit extends throughout England and Wales.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private trust operating under trustee discretion, they likely do not fund projects outside their three priority areas or beyond England and Wales.

Ready to write a winning application for The Purslow Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by five trustees:

1. Christopher John Purslow (Chair)
2. Katrina Marie Hennessey
3. Christine Marie Purslow
4. Colin Howard Reilly
5. David Timothy Chisnall Evans

All trustees serve without remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trustee composition suggests this is a family-led private foundation with the Purslow family members playing key governance roles.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Purslow Trust operates as a private charitable foundation where trustees exercise discretion in identifying and supporting charitable causes. Based on available information, the trust makes grants through:

• Trustee-identified initiatives and organisations
• Partnerships with intermediary grant-making bodies (such as Cheshire Community Foundation)
• Direct trustee knowledge of local charitable needs

There is no online application portal, application form, or public grant guidelines available.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available, as the trust operates on trustee discretion rather than scheduled decision rounds.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the trust does not operate an open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's operating model, the following factors appear relevant:

Alignment with trustee priorities: The trust has clearly articulated three priority areas (helping the poor and disadvantaged, advancing education, and advancing health). All known grants align tightly with these objectives.

Local connection to Warrington: Both known grants have supported projects in or around Warrington, suggesting trustees may have particular interest in their local community. The trust's registered address is in Thelwall, Warrington.

Partnership with established intermediaries: The trust's £20,000 grant was channeled through Cheshire Community Foundation, suggesting they may prefer working with established grant-making intermediaries that have local expertise and infrastructure.

Focus on vulnerable populations: Known grants have supported disadvantaged young mothers and food insecurity initiatives, indicating interest in projects serving particularly vulnerable groups.

Practical, direct impact: Support for The Bread and Butter Thing's affordable food service suggests interest in practical, tangible interventions that directly address immediate needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This trust operates on trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited applications. Traditional grant-seeking approaches will not be effective.

• Intermediary partnerships may be key: The trust has worked through Cheshire Community Foundation, suggesting that organisations might be more successful seeking funding through established intermediary grant-makers with connections to the trust.

• Local Warrington focus: Despite operating throughout England and Wales, known grants have concentrated on Warrington area projects. Local organisations may have an advantage.

• Small, focused trust: With five family trustees and no staff, this is a private foundation making strategic grants rather than a large-scale grant-maker with open programs.

• Long-term orientation: The trust received £1 million in 2019 and has been making selective grants, suggesting a sustainable, long-term approach rather than rapid distribution.

• Clear priority alignment essential: With only three stated priority areas (poor and disadvantaged, education, health), any funding would need to fit clearly within these parameters.

• Vulnerable populations focus: Both known grants supported particularly vulnerable groups (disadvantaged young mothers, people experiencing food insecurity), indicating this may be a key interest area.

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, The Purslow Trust (Charity Number 1168351), accessed 29 December 2025. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5082540/full-print

• Companies House, The Purslow Trust (Company Number 10231687), accessed 29 December 2025. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/10231687/officers

• The Bread and Butter Thing, “Award-winning affordable food scheme to open in Warrington,” accessed 29 December 2025. https://www.breadandbutterthing.org/news/award-winning-affordable-food-scheme-to-open-in-warrington