The Puttenham Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £90,000-115,000 (estimated based on expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Puttenham village and nearby villages, Tring Rural parish, Hertfordshire

Contact Details

Phone: 01296668337 or 07514 548289

Email: christine.rutter2@gmail.com

Address: Astrope Folly, Astrope, Tring, HP23 4PN

Website: None

Overview

The Puttenham Trust is a small, locally-focused charitable trust established through the efforts of Joan Newman (1921-2000) to support the Puttenham village community near Tring, Hertfordshire. With annual expenditure ranging from £99,000 to £115,000 in recent years, the Trust generates income primarily through property rentals. The charity makes grants to multiple beneficiaries including local university students, elderly and infirm residents, local charities, and maintains St Mary's Church and Cecilia Hall. Operating without a website or formal application process, this trust exemplifies traditional community philanthropy administered through personal connections and local knowledge by its seven volunteer trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Educational Grants: Support for local students attending university (covering costs associated with studies)
• Elderly Support Grants: Financial aid for elderly and infirm residents in need
• Local Charity Grants: Support for local charities to assist with their duty of care
• Church and Hall Maintenance: Regular funding for St Mary's Church, churchyard maintenance, and Cecilia Hall

Priority Areas

• Education support for local university students
• Welfare of elderly and vulnerable residents
• Support for local charitable organizations
• Preservation of community buildings and religious heritage

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but funding is geographically restricted to Puttenham and nearby villages in the Tring Rural parish area.

Ready to write a winning application for The Puttenham Trust?

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

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by seven unpaid trustees who manage the charity's activities locally:

• Dr. E.M.C. Ernst
• Mrs. L. Elliott
• Mrs. G. Barber
• Mrs. C. Rutter (Christine Rutter) - Main contact person
• Mr. E. G. Rutter
• Mr. T. Watson
• Mr. O. C. Matthews

Christine Rutter serves as the primary contact and has been involved with the Trust since partnering with founder Joan Newman after Margaret Vincent's death in 1987.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Trust operates informally through local community connections. Grants are typically awarded through:

• Direct contact with trustees via phone or email
• Local knowledge and community relationships
• Recommendations from St Mary's Church Puttenham or Cecilia Hall
• Personal approaches to Christine Rutter as the main contact

Contact Methods:

• Phone: 01296668337 or 07514 548289
• Email: christine.rutter2@gmail.com
• In person through local community venues

Getting on Their Radar

For potential beneficiaries in the Puttenham area:

• Engage with St Mary's Church Puttenham or Cecilia Hall activities
• Contact Christine Rutter directly to discuss needs
• For educational grants, ensure residency requirement is met (3 years in Puttenham parish prior to university application)
• Build relationships within the local community network

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed; likely informal and based on trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly stated.

Application Success Factors

Given the Trust's informal, community-based approach:

• Local residency is essential - must be from Puttenham or nearby villages in Tring Rural parish
• For educational grants: Must have resided in Puttenham parish for 3 years immediately prior to university application
• Personal connection matters - this Trust operates through relationships and local knowledge
• Demonstrate genuine local need - the Trust focuses on supporting vulnerable community members
• Align with traditional community values - church maintenance and elderly care are core priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a hyperlocal trust with no formal application process - personal contact is essential
• Geographic restrictions are strict - only Puttenham and immediately surrounding villages qualify
• Christine Rutter is the key contact person for all inquiries
• The Trust values traditional community support: education, elderly care, church preservation
• With property rental income providing stable funding, the Trust can make regular grants
• No website or formal guidelines means flexibility but also requires direct communication
• Best approached through existing community connections rather than cold applications

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• John Bristow and Thomas Mason Trust
• Sir Edmund de Moundeford Charity
• Clifford Chambers Relief in Need Charities
• Lady Elizabeth Hastings' Estate Charity
• Waterside Community Fund
• The Whittlesey Charity
• Chippenham Borough Lands Charity
• John Cockerton Foundation
• Babington's Charity
• Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - Charity Details for The Puttenham Trust (Charity Number 1050953)
• Charity Commission Annual Return and Financial Information 2019-2024
• Local historical records regarding Joan Newman and the founding of The Puttenham Trust
• Contact information verified through Charity Commission records