The Roughley Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 264037

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M
Geographic Focus: Birmingham City

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £213,500 - £222,500 (grants distributed)
  • Total Income: £288,705 (year ending April 2024)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £3,000 (Birmingham smaller grants); up to £35,000 (larger established grants)
  • Decision Time: Applications August-October; decisions in November
  • Geographic Focus: Birmingham (with some international grants)
  • Application Window: 1 August - 1 October annually

Contact Details

  • Website: www.roughleytrust.org.uk
  • Email: correspondent@roughleytrust.org.uk
  • Phone: 07989 577020
  • Correspondent: Adam Wilkins
  • Address: 562 Kenilworth Road, Balsall Common, Coventry, CV7 7RZ

Overview

The Roughley Charitable Trust was established in 1972 by Maisie and Geoffrey Smith, making it one of Birmingham's long-standing grant-making trusts with over 50 years of charitable giving. The Trust was created as “an expression of everything they believed in and worked towards,” with the founders drawing on family wealth from their respective businesses in butchery and construction (Bryants the builders).

With annual income of approximately £288,705 and grant expenditure of around £222,500, the Trust positions itself as a medium-sized Birmingham grant-making trust. The Roughley Trust uses its knowledge of local issues and neighbourhoods to identify applicants who can use modest grants for the greatest benefit. Their stated approach is to “make a big difference” through modest grants, focusing on addressing disadvantage, special needs, health, and well-being, as well as supporting arts, heritage, and environmental initiatives in Birmingham.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Birmingham Smaller Grants (Unsolicited Applications): £500 - £3,000

  • Open to all eligible Birmingham charities via annual application window
  • Focus on community organisations addressing disadvantage

Birmingham Larger Grants: Up to £35,000

  • Reserved for select Birmingham-registered charities where trustees have specialized knowledge
  • Typically ongoing relationships with established organisations

AW60 Grants: Variable amounts

  • Established November 2015 from funds gifted by the AW60 Trust
  • Trustees consider projects nominated by Anthony Wilson during his lifetime

International Grants: £8,000 - £25,000

  • Trustees regularly support overseas charities
  • May fund select non-Birmingham charities where trustees have personal involvement

Gap Year Grants: For Birmingham students

  • Separate application process for individual gap year projects

Priority Areas

  • Community and youth work
  • Special needs support (youth, elderly, homelessness, disability, addiction, victim support)
  • Health and wellness initiatives
  • Education
  • Arts and leisure
  • Heritage preservation
  • Environmental improvement
  • Refugee and asylum seeker support

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (except Gap Year Grants programme)
  • National charities (even with Birmingham branches, unless the branch has a separate charity number and accounts)
  • Medical charities based in Birmingham
  • Animal charities
  • Church fabric appeals
  • Community interest companies (CICs)
  • Social enterprises
  • Church projects focused on religious teaching
  • Organisations with turnover exceeding £1M
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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by 8 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Current Trustees

| Name | Role | Appointed |

|------|------|-----------|

| Martin Christopher Geoffrey Smith | Chair | October 1985 |

| Rosanna Amina Maria Ghinai | Trustee | November 2024 |

| Gillian Ball | Trustee | December 2023 |

| Caroline Ward | Trustee | April 2019 |

| Camilla Newton | Trustee | January 2019 |

| Rachel Anna Richards | Trustee | October 2015 |

| Benjamin Mark Newton | Trustee | October 2015 |

| Verity Emma Owen | Trustee | October 2015 |

Martin Christopher Geoffrey Smith, the Chair and a founding family member, has led the Trust since 1985. Two trustees (Martin Christopher Geoffrey Smith and Verity Emma Owen) also serve on The Martann Trust, indicating connections within Birmingham's philanthropic community.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a Birmingham-registered local charity
  • Annual turnover less than £1M
  • Must work within Birmingham city boundaries (or near boundaries if majority of clients are in Birmingham)
  • Applications from Sandwell, Solihull, Wolverhampton, or Walsall are “not normally accepted” unless primarily serving Birmingham residents

Application Method:

  • Applications accepted via email only
  • Submit to: correspondent@roughleytrust.org.uk
  • Accepted formats: MS Word, PDF, or JPEG

Required Materials:

  1. Application Form: Complete by typing in expandable boxes (keep to approximately 3 pages maximum)
  2. Cover Letter: Signed letter addressed to “Adam Wilkins - Correspondent” on organizational letterhead as PDF attachment. Should explain why the project merits support without repeating form information
  3. Supporting Photos: 2-3 photographs as JPEGs illustrating the project
  4. Financial Information: Accounts data for entire charity (not just project). The Trust reconciles accounts information with Charity Commission records

Decision Timeline

  • Application Window: 1 August - 1 October annually
  • Grant Decisions: November
  • Application Acknowledgment: Within two weeks of submission
  • Late Applications: Will not be reviewed

Application Success Tips from the Funder

The Trust provides specific guidance:

  • “Submit well before the October 1 deadline, as late applications may be disadvantaged during shortlisting”
  • “Write a clear, succinct cover letter to improve shortlisting chances”
  • “Trustees tend to give priority to applications from smaller or medium size organisations”

Grant Terms and Conditions

  • Grants distributed via bank transfer
  • Recipients must provide proof of bank account
  • Must acknowledge receipt and confirm grant will be spent for approved purpose
  • Any changes to fund usage require prior approval
  • Surplus funds must be returned to the Trust
  • Progress reports may be requested
  • Trust reserves right to withhold payment if false information supplied or organisation becomes insolvent
  • Recipients agree Trust may use their name or photos in promotional materials

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Local Impact: The Trust prioritises Birmingham-based organisations and uses its knowledge of local neighbourhoods. Show deep understanding of Birmingham communities you serve.

Show Value for Modest Grants: The Trust explicitly looks for applicants “who can use modest grants for the greatest benefit.” Demonstrate how a £1,000-£3,000 grant will create meaningful impact.

Align with Priority Areas: Recent grants have supported organisations like:

  • Hope Projects (£35,000) - refugee and migrant support
  • Carrs Lane Counselling Centre (£10,000) - mental health services
  • Birmingham Settlement (£8,000) - community support
  • Beyond the Horizon (£8,000) - special needs
  • Birmingham Samaritans (£5,000) - crisis support

Be a Smaller Organisation: The Trust states “Trustees tend to give priority to applications from smaller or medium size organisations” - organisations under £1M turnover only.

Submit Early: The Trust explicitly warns that “late applications may be disadvantaged during shortlisting.”

Clear, Succinct Cover Letter: This is specifically highlighted as improving shortlisting chances.

Accurate Financial Information: The Trust cross-references with Charity Commission records and will request amendments for discrepancies.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Birmingham-only focus: National charities are excluded even with local branches. Your organisation must be registered as a Birmingham charity with separate accounts
  • Small to medium organisations prioritised: Turnover must be under £1M, and smaller organisations are explicitly favoured
  • Fixed annual window: Applications only accepted 1 August - 1 October, with decisions in November. Mark your calendar and submit early
  • Modest grants, significant impact: Typical grants are £500-£3,000. Focus your application on demonstrating how modest funding creates meaningful local benefit
  • Cover letter is critical: The Trust specifically highlights clear, succinct cover letters as improving shortlisting chances
  • No CICs or social enterprises: Only registered charities are eligible - community interest companies and social enterprises are explicitly excluded
  • Financial accuracy matters: They verify your accounts against Charity Commission records, so ensure consistency

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