The Roger & Douglas Turner Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £714,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 3-4 weeks (from deadline to trustee meeting decision)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000 (typically); larger grants considered for regular beneficiaries
• Geographic Focus: Birmingham, Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsol, Wolverhampton), Worcestershire, and Herefordshire

Contact Details

• Website: www.turnertrust.co.uk
• Email: grants@turnertrust.co.uk
• Phone: 01299 861368
• Grants Officer: Simon Evans FCA (sevans@turnertrust.co.uk)
• Address: Arley House, Lion Lane, Upper Arley, Near Bewdley, Worcestershire, DY12 1SQ

Important Note: All applications and letters should be sent digitally. Records are now retained in digital format only.

Overview

The Roger & Douglas Turner Charitable Trust traces its origins to 1964 and 1971 when local industrialists and philanthropists Douglas Turner and his son Roger Turner established separate grant-giving trusts. In 2013, the trustees merged these into a single Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The Trust has an income of approximately £2.2 million annually, primarily from investments (£1.32 million), and distributes around £714,000 in grants to local charities each year. Beyond grantmaking, the Trust also provides public access and education at Arley Arboretum, part of the Arley Estate in Worcestershire's Severn Valley. The Trust focuses on supporting registered charities in their defined beneficial area across the West Midlands region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Standard Grants: £1,000 - £5,000 (most common range)
• Larger Grants: Available for regular beneficiaries and capital projects once financial viability is demonstrated
• Maximum First-Time Grant: Up to £5,000
• Application Method: Rolling basis with three annual trustee meetings

Priority Areas

The Trust actively funds registered charities working in the following sectors:

• Children & Young People
• Disabled & Health
• Environment & Heritage
• The Arts
• Work in the Community & the Elderly
• Social Support
• Hospices

Eligible expenditure includes:

• Specific project costs
• Capital costs
• Core costs of running a charity

What They Don't Fund

• Specific staff salaries
• Appeals outside their geographical area (Birmingham, Black Country, Worcestershire, Herefordshire)
• Organizations with significant private sector funding potential
• Organizations with large defined-benefit pension fund deficits
• Non-registered charities

National Charities: Applications are only considered from national charities that have a registered or headquarters address in the beneficial area AND can demonstrate specific work in that area. Exception: National charities that received a grant in the past two calendar years may still apply.

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Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

• Grants Officer: Simon Evans FCA (sevans@turnertrust.co.uk)

Trustees

The Trust has 6 trustees who serve without remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Individual trustee names are not publicly disclosed on the website, though they are available in annual reports and on the Charity Commission register.

Staff & Volunteers

• 46 employees
• 21 volunteers
• One senior employee earns between £90,000-£100,000

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Application Format: Submit applications digitally via email to grants@turnertrust.co.uk
2. Online Portal: Available at turnertrust.co.uk/grant-application
3. Maximum Applications: One application per calendar year
4. Reapplications: Repeat applications welcomed after 12 months from previous application

Decision Timeline

The Trust operates three funding rounds per year:

2025 Deadlines and Decisions:

• Round 1: Deadline Friday 14 February → Decision 7 March
• Round 2: Deadline Friday 6 June → Decision 27 June
• Round 3: Deadline Friday 24 October → Decision 21 November

Timeline: Approximately 3-4 weeks from deadline to trustee decision meeting.

Important: Appeals arriving after papers are prepared for the trustee meeting will be retained and carried forward to the following meeting.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed by the Trust.

Reapplication Policy

• Unsuccessful applicants can reapply after 12 months from their previous application
• The Trust welcomes repeat applications for funding
• Regular beneficiaries may receive long-term support
• If you become a regularly funded charity, trustees will try to visit every two years to check progress

Application Success Factors

Relationship Building

• Site Visits: A Trust representative may visit your charity as part of the assessment process
• Long-term Support: The Trust often considers supporting charities on a long-term basis
• Regular Monitoring: Regularly funded charities receive trustee visits every two years

Application Tips

• Be Concise: Submit only the information requested - do not over-elaborate
• Contact for Help: Contact the Grants Officer (Simon Evans) if you need assistance with your application
• Demonstrate Local Impact: Clearly show how your work benefits people in the beneficial area
• Financial Viability: For larger grants and capital projects, demonstrate clear financial viability

Successful Grant Example

• St. Paul's Trust received £3,000 to enhance their offer to improve the lives of children. St. Paul's noted that the Turner Trust "has supported St. Paul's for a number of years“ and they are ”extremely grateful for their continual support," indicating the Trust values long-term relationships with effective charities.

What They Look For

• Clear demonstration of charitable work in the beneficial geographic area
• Registered charity status (essential requirement)
• Projects or organizations working in their priority sectors
• For capital projects: evidence of financial viability
• For national charities: registered/headquarters address in beneficial area AND specific local work

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Focus is Strict: You must be based in or demonstrate specific work in Birmingham, Black Country, Worcestershire, or Herefordshire. This is a firm requirement.
• Build Long-term Relationships: The Trust values ongoing relationships with effective charities and may offer multi-year support to regular beneficiaries.
• Keep Applications Concise: Submit only requested information. The Trust emphasizes brevity and clarity.
• Three Annual Opportunities: Plan applications around three annual deadlines, with decisions made 3-4 weeks after each deadline.
• Core Costs Welcome: Unlike some funders, the Trust will fund core costs, not just projects - making this an attractive funder for general operating support.
• First-time Grants Capped at £5,000: Initial grants typically don't exceed £5,000, but regular beneficiaries can access larger amounts for capital projects.
• Contact if Unsure: The Grants Officer Simon Evans is available to assist applicants - don't hesitate to reach out with questions before applying.

References

• The Roger & Douglas Turner Charitable Trust official website: https://www.turnertrust.co.uk
• Grant Application Guidelines: https://www.turnertrust.co.uk/grant-application/
• Grant Deadlines 2025: https://www.turnertrust.co.uk/grant-awards/
• Contact Information: https://www.turnertrust.co.uk/contact/
• Charity Commission Register Entry: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5034618
• Charity Commission Financial History: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5034618/financial-history
• St. Paul's Trust grant acknowledgment: https://stpaulstrust.org.uk/the-roger-douglas-turner-charitable-trust/
• Get Grants funding database entry: https://www.getgrants.org.uk/roger-douglas-turner-charitable-trust/