The Roper Family Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1120400

Annual Expenditure: £0.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £587,040 (charitable activities expenditure, year ending July 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Variable - determined by trustees' meeting schedule
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £60,000
  • Geographic Focus: Bath and North East Somerset

Contact Details

Overview

The Roper Family Charitable Trust (registered charity 1120400) was established by Brian Roper and his wife Margaret, founders of Roper Rhodes, the Bath-based bathroom supplier. Together they donated over £6 million to local charities and organisations. The trust operates as a discretionary grant-making organisation supporting registered charities providing activities and services in Bath and North East Somerset. Since inception, Roper Rhodes channelled 3% of its profits into the charitable trust. Brian and Margaret were awarded the Freedom of Bath for their philanthropy, and Brian received an MBE in 2008 for services to charity. The trust is currently governed by three trustees, including family members Mark and Paul Roper, with Ludlow Trust Company Ltd serving as corporate trustee since 2021. In the year ending July 2024, the trust had a total income of £548,759 and spent £587,040 on charitable activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • General Grant Programme: £1,000 - £60,000
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway
  • No fixed deadlines - applications may be submitted at any time
  • Decisions made at trustees' discretion based on their meeting schedule

Priority Areas

The trust supports a wide range of registered charities providing activities and services in Bath and North East Somerset, including:

  • General charitable purposes
  • Education and training - including scholarships (separate Roper Scholarship Fund has supported 191 students at University of Bath)
  • Health and saving lives
  • Disability support
  • Prevention or relief of poverty
  • Accommodation and housing
  • Arts, culture, heritage, and science
  • Amateur sport
  • Environment, conservation, and heritage
  • Economic and community development
  • Youth and family engagement - particularly projects bringing communities together

What They Don't Fund

  • Organisations outside Bath and North East Somerset area
  • Non-registered charities (must be registered with the Charity Commission or be an exempt charity)
  • Applications not submitted through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (3 total):

  • Mark Roper - Chairman of Roper Rhodes, trustee since 2015
  • Paul Roper - Trustee since 2015, supports over 30 local charities, School Governor, trustee of Bath Mozartfest
  • Ludlow Trust Company Ltd - Corporate trustee appointed 2021

Family Legacy:

Founded by Brian Roper MBE (d. 2022) and Margaret Roper (d. 2015), both LSE alumni who received the Freedom of Bath for their philanthropic contributions. Brian was made an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration by University of Bath in 2009.

Quote from Trust Leadership:

Mark Roper on the Bath City FC partnership: “The club plays a key role in its local community and we are very excited that they will be using our contribution to bring in more young people.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Platform is accessible via PC, tablet, or smartphone
  2. No cost to apply
  3. For non-registered charities, applications can be emailed to charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com (though preference is for registered charities)

Decision Timeline

  • No fixed timeline - decisions are made at the discretion of trustees based on their meeting schedule
  • Applications are matched via the Gateway and shared with trustees when they request to make funding decisions
  • Timeline varies depending on trustees' meeting frequency and volume of applications
  • Applicants should expect variable timelines rather than a standardised decision period

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The trust distributed £587,040 in charitable activities in the year ending July 2024.

Reapplication Policy

Information not publicly available. Applicants should contact the trust through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway or email charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Alignment is Critical:

The trust exclusively supports organisations operating in and around Bath and North East Somerset. Applications from outside this area will not be considered.

Recent Funded Projects (Examples):

  • Bath City FC - Community Family Partnership funding to bring 1,000+ parents and children from local schools to matches free of charge, plus free Under-16 admission at annual Family Day
  • Bath City Farm - Listed as a funder (specific project details not publicly available)
  • University of Bath - Over £500,000 in gifts including the Brian & Margaret Roper Scholarship Fund (119-191 scholarships for low-income students)

What the Trust Values:

  • Community engagement and local impact in Bath area
  • Projects that bring young people and families together
  • Supporting access during economically challenging times
  • Wide-ranging charitable purposes across multiple sectors
  • Registered charity status with proper governance

Application Tips:

  • Ensure your organisation is a registered charity before applying
  • Clearly demonstrate how your work benefits Bath and North East Somerset communities
  • Use the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway platform as required - applications submitted outside this system may not be considered
  • Highlight community engagement and local impact
  • Be specific about how funding will be used and who will benefit
  • Consider the trust's broad charitable interests - they support diverse causes from education to sports to environment

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Location is non-negotiable - Your organisation must operate in Bath and North East Somerset; this is the trust's exclusive geographic focus
  • Use the official portal - All applications must go through https://funding.ludlowtrust.com; no other application method is accepted
  • Rolling basis works in your favour - No deadlines means you can apply when your project is ready, but also means decision timelines are unpredictable
  • Broad interests - The trust supports a wide range of causes, so don't self-select out if you're a registered charity doing good work in the Bath area
  • Family legacy matters - Understanding the Roper family's commitment to Bath community and their business background (Roper Rhodes) provides context for the trust's values
  • Community impact is key - Emphasise how your project will engage and benefit local Bath communities, particularly young people and families
  • Be patient with decisions - With no fixed timeline and trustee-driven decision-making, be prepared for variable response times

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References