The Rc Sherriff Rosebriars Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £60,000 - £70,000 in grants
• Total Income: Not publicly specified
• Decision Time: Quarterly meetings (4 times per year)
• Grant Range: Variable by grant type
• Geographic Focus: Borough of Elmbridge, Surrey

Contact Details

Website: www.rcsherrifftrust.org.uk

Email: arts@rcsherrifftrust.org.uk

Phone: 01932 229996

Registered Address: Civic Offices, High Street, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9SD

Director: Pete Allen

Project Manager/Administrator: Sam Thompson

Pre-application Contact: Contact with the Director is mandatory before applying

Overview

The RC Sherriff Rosebriars Trust was registered as a charity on 15 December 1976 (charity number 272527), following the death of playwright R.C. Sherriff in 1975, who left his house “Rosebriars” in Esher to Elmbridge Borough Council for social and cultural purposes. The capital realised from its sale (the property was sold in 1993) established this independent charitable trust. The charity was amended by schemes of the Charity Commissioners dated 23 August 1993. The Trust awards £60,000-£70,000 annually in grants to support amateur and professional arts in the Borough of Elmbridge. Beyond grant-making, the Trust actively organises arts initiatives, publishes the quarterly “Arts Focus” magazine, and provides advice and information to the local arts community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Trust offers four types of grants:

• Project Grants: For organisations and individuals to support specific arts projects
• Underwriting Grants: For organisations requiring financial guarantees against losses
• Capital Grants: For venues and arts organisations seeking funding for equipment or facilities
• Individual Grants: Available to individual artists

Application process varies by grant type with specific forms and guidelines available for download from their website.

Priority Areas

The Trust supports arts projects that:

• Relate to the arts (all art forms)
• Benefit members of the Elmbridge community
• Support amateur and professional arts development
• Serve diverse beneficiaries including children/young people, elderly people, people with disabilities, other charities/voluntary bodies, and the general public

What They Don't Fund

• Ongoing educational costs
• Projects outside the Borough of Elmbridge
• Projects scheduled to start less than three weeks after the trustees' decision meeting

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Board comprises local councillors and independent members representing professional arts and related specialisms. No trustees receive remuneration.

Trustee names can be verified on the Charity Commission register for charity number 272527.

Staff Team

Pete Allen - Trust Director: Available to discuss grant applications, working in the arts, being self-employed, applying for performing rights, and can signpost applicants to other organisations.

Sam Thompson - Project Manager/Administrator

Quote from Pete Allen: “The charity is a perfect example of how the arts can be used to address, and tackle, issues of health and wellbeing across communities.” (regarding Music in Hospitals & Care partnership)

How to Apply to The Rc Sherriff Rosebriars Trust

How to Apply

Mandatory Pre-Application Step: Before submitting any application, you must contact Trust Director Pete Allen at arts@rcsherrifftrust.org.uk or 01932 229996. This is a required first step.

Application Process:

1. Contact the Director to discuss your project
2. Download the appropriate application form and guidelines from the website
3. Review the full terms and conditions for your specific grant type
4. Submit your completed application

The guidelines contain specific requirements for each type of grant offered.

Decision Timeline

• Trustees' Meetings: Four times per year (quarterly)
• Notification: Applicants are informed of outcomes via email after each meeting
• Project Start: Projects must be scheduled to start at least three weeks after the trustees' decision meeting
• Processing: Applications are reviewed at the next scheduled quarterly trustees' meeting

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly documented. Applicants should discuss this with the Trust Director when making initial contact.

Application Success Factors

Critical Success Factors:

1. Pre-application Contact: The requirement to speak with Pete Allen before applying is mandatory, not optional. Use this conversation to ensure your project aligns with Trust priorities.

1. Elmbridge Focus: Your project must clearly benefit members of the Elmbridge community. Strong demonstration of local impact is essential.

1. Arts Connection: The project must relate to the arts. The Trust supports all art forms but the connection must be clear and central to the project.

1. Appropriate Timing: Ensure your project can start at least three weeks after the relevant trustees' meeting. Plan application timing accordingly.

1. Long-term Relationships: The Trust has shown capacity for sustained support—Music in Hospitals & Care received funding for 25 consecutive years (1995-2020), totalling just under £50,000. Quality work that demonstrates ongoing community benefit can lead to repeat funding.

1. Community Health and Wellbeing: The Trust values projects that use arts to address health and wellbeing issues across communities, as evidenced by Pete Allen's quote about their Music in Hospitals partnership.

Examples of Funded Work:

• Music in Hospitals & Care: Live music sessions in healthcare settings across Elmbridge (funded for 25 years)
• Elmbridge Choir: Grant awarded in 2023 to develop musical competence through live accompaniment at concerts

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pre-application contact with Pete Allen is mandatory—use this opportunity to validate your project concept and get advice before investing time in a full application
• The Trust values long-term partnerships with organisations delivering consistent quality work in the Elmbridge community
• Geographic focus is strict: your project must benefit Elmbridge residents
• With only four decision points per year, timing is crucial—plan ahead to meet appropriate quarterly deadlines
• The Trust sees arts as a tool for addressing community health and wellbeing issues, not just cultural enrichment
• Projects must demonstrate clear arts content and community benefit within Elmbridge
• The Trust is accessible and supportive—they offer signposting to other organisations and advice beyond just grant-making

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Betty Riseley Trust For Children
• Walsingham Care
• Cecil And Hilda Lewis Charitable Trust
• The Elaine And Angus Lloyd Charitable Trust
• The Prince Philip Trust Fund
• Gatwick Airport Community Trust
• E F And M G Hall Charitable Trust
• Guildford Poyle Charities
• The Bassil Shippam And Alsford Trust
• Farnham Round Table Charitable Trust Fund

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “THE RC SHERRIFF ROSEBRIARS TRUST - 272527,” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/272527/full-print
• RC Sherriff Trust website, www.rcsherrifftrust.org.uk
• Elmbridge Borough Council, “Arts grants and funding,” https://elmbridge.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/arts-and-culture/arts-grants-and-funding
• Music in Hospitals & Care, “Celebrating 25 years of support from The RC Sherriff Trust,” https://mihc.org.uk/rc-sherriff-25/
• Music in Hospitals & Care, “Sharing live music in Elmbridge with RC Sherriff Trust,” https://mihc.org.uk/rc-sherriff-2023/
• Elmbridge Choir, “RC Sherriff Trust Grant awarded,” May 2023, https://www.elmbridgechoir.co.uk/dbpage.php?pg=view&dbase=uploads&id=70470