The Rc Sherriff Rosebriars Trust

Charity Number: 272527

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £60,000 - £70,000 in grants
  • Total Income: £168,453 (2024)
  • 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

Address: Office 111, Ashley Park House, Walton on Thames, Surrey

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 established in 1993 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 realized from its sale established this independent charitable trust (registered 15 December 1976, charity number 272527). With total annual income of approximately £168,453, 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 organizes arts initiatives, publishes the quarterly “Arts Focus” magazine, and provides advice and information to the local arts community, operating with a total annual budget of around £155,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust offers four types of grants:

  • Project Grants: For organizations and individuals to support specific arts projects
  • Underwriting Grants: For organizations requiring financial guarantees against losses
  • Capital Grants: For venues and arts organizations 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 (11 members)

Chair: Barry Cheyne

Trustees:

  • Janet Turner
  • Margaret Jean Latter
  • Tricia Welch Bland
  • Karen Randolph
  • Brian Nathan
  • Tannia Shipley
  • Shweta Kapadia
  • Wendy Smithers
  • Elizabeth Cooper
  • James Arthur Vickers

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

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 organizations.

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)

Application Process and Timeline

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), totaling 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 organizations 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 organizations and advice beyond just grant-making

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References