The R C Snelling Charitable Trust
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £16,090,050 (total income, year ending April 2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: Quarterly trustee meetings
- Grant Range: Not publicly specified
- Geographic Focus: 30-mile radius of Blofield, Norfolk
- Established: 1999
Contact Details
- Website: www.rcsnellingcharitabletrust.org
- Email: trustee@rcsnellingcharitabletrust.org
- Phone: 01603 712202 (or 1603711737)
- Address: Laundry Lane, Blofield Heath, Norwich NR13 4SQ
- Charity Number: 1074776
Overview
The R.C. Snelling Charitable Trust was established in 1999 by Roy Snelling, founder of the Snelling Group of businesses in Norfolk. The trust supports individuals and organizations within a 30-mile radius of Blofield village, focusing on medical, educational, Christian, welfare, and environmental resource needs. With total income of over £16 million (year ending April 2024), the trust operates as part of the broader Snelling Group structure, which includes multiple subsidiaries. The trust employs 75 staff members and is governed by 9 trustees. Roy Snelling's founding principle of “being determined to do the right thing” continues to guide the trust's approach to community support, emphasizing professional integrity, trustworthiness, and social responsibility.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust operates a single discretionary grant program reviewed quarterly by trustees. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through an online application form. The trust focuses on one-time grants for specific needs rather than ongoing funding relationships.
Priority Areas
The trust funds projects and needs in five main categories:
- Medical: Health-related needs and equipment
- Educational: Educational purposes and resources
- Christian/Religious: Faith-based initiatives and activities
- Welfare: Social welfare and community support
- Environmental Resources: Environmental and conservation needs
Eligible Support Types
- Equipment purchases
- Capital appeals
- Specific needs and projects
- Local community projects
- Setup or running costs (one-time assistance)
- Fundraising events
What They Don't Fund
- Salaries or ongoing salary commitments
- Sponsorship exceeding one year
- General or national appeals
- Continued running cost assistance
- Projects outside the 30-mile radius of Blofield

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Governance and Leadership
The trust is governed by 9 trustees who are selected based on integrity, honesty, respect, Christian values, and vision to invest and develop business responsibly. Some trustees receive payments or benefits for services provided. The trust also acts as directors of subsidiaries within the Snelling Group.
Founder's Vision: Roy Snelling (1924-2012) established the trust to support the local community that helped build his business empire. His guiding principle was: “What I have achieved would not have been possible were it not for the assistance, understanding and loyalty that I have received from Staff, customers, suppliers...”
The trust operates with core values of being professional, trustworthy, and friendly, with a focus on “excellence, social responsibility, ethics.”
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
- Confirm UK residency
- Agree to the trust's privacy policy
- JavaScript must be enabled to submit the online form
Decision Timeline
Trustees meet quarterly to review applications. The trust does not publicly specify exact timelines from application submission to decision notification.
Success Rates
Success rates and application statistics are not publicly disclosed.
Reapplication Policy
The trust does not publicly state its reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants.
Application Success Factors
Based on the trust's stated priorities and eligibility criteria:
- Geographic specificity is crucial: Applications must clearly demonstrate a connection to the 30-mile radius around Blofield village. Be explicit about your location.
- Focus on one-time, specific needs: The trust explicitly states donations are “not intended to form an ongoing relationship” but rather to “meet specific needs (e.g., equipment).” Frame your request as a discrete, time-limited need.
- Align with the five priority areas: Clearly articulate how your project addresses medical, educational, Christian, welfare, or environmental resource needs.
- Demonstrate local impact: The trust was founded to support the local Norfolk community that supported the Snelling Group. Emphasize community benefits.
- Provide comprehensive financial information: The application requires latest financial documents, suggesting the trust conducts thorough due diligence.
- Avoid requests for ongoing support: Applications for salaries, multi-year sponsorship, or continued running costs will be rejected.
- Show alignment with trust values: The trust emphasizes integrity, honesty, Christian values, and social responsibility. Applications that reflect these principles may resonate more strongly.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Geography is non-negotiable: If you're not within 30 miles of Blofield, Norfolk, don't apply.
- One-time equipment and capital needs are ideal: The trust explicitly prefers specific, discrete funding needs over ongoing operational support.
- Christian ethos matters: While the trust funds across five categories, it was founded on Christian values and actively supports Christian causes.
- Be patient with quarterly decisions: With trustees meeting only four times per year, build adequate lead time into your funding timeline.
- Financial transparency is expected: Prepare comprehensive financial documentation as part of your application.
- Local community connection strengthens applications: Emphasize how your project serves the Norfolk community that the trust was established to support.
- Align with founder's vision of community reciprocity: Roy Snelling created the trust to give back to the community that supported his business success.
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References
- R.C. Snelling Charitable Trust official website, “Apply for a Grant”: https://www.rcsnellingcharitabletrust.org/apply-for-a-grant
- R.C. Snelling Charitable Trust official website, “About Us”: https://www.rcsnellingcharitabletrust.org/about-us
- R.C. Snelling Charitable Trust official website, Homepage: https://www.rcsnellingcharitabletrust.org
- The Charity Commission for England and Wales, “THE R C SNELLING CHARITABLE TRUST - 1074776”: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1074776&subid=0
- Great Yarmouth Mercury, "Tributes to Norfolk's Roy Snelling": https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/21087440.tributes-norfolks-roy-snelling/