The Rowlands Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £649,496 (2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Quarterly trustee meetings (approximately 3-4 months between meetings)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000 (larger grants exceptional)
• Geographic Focus: West and South Midlands (Birmingham, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire)

Contact Details

For Charitable Grant Applications:

• Email: louise.ruane@therowlandstrust.org.uk
• Phone: 07812743485
• Address: Mrs Louise Ruane, The Rowlands Trust, Bishop Fleming Rabjohns LLP, 1-4 College Yard, Worcester WR1 2LB

Registered Address:

Pear Tree Cottage, Yarrington Road, Alfrick, Worcester WR6 5EX

Note: The Trust does not maintain a public website for grant applications.

Overview

The Rowlands Trust was established through the will of Herbert Roy Rowlands, who died on 3 December 1996. Registered as charity number 1062148 in April 1997, the Trust operates two distinct funding streams: charitable grants to organizations and education awards for students. With total expenditure of £649,496 in 2024 (income £46,368), the Trust draws on its endowment to support causes across the West and South Midlands. The Trust is administered by five trustees and maintains a focused regional approach, concentrating its support on capital projects rather than revenue funding. The founder's vision emphasizes supporting research, education and training to “promote success” alongside traditional charitable causes including medical research, the arts, the environment, and Anglican church restoration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Charitable Grants Programme

• Amount: £1,000 - £5,000 (larger grants exceptional)
• Type: Capital expenditure only
• Application: Rolling applications considered at quarterly trustee meetings
• Geographic: West and South Midlands

Education Award Scheme

• Provides financial assistance to students entering further education at university
• Selection made through partnership with schools
• Schools nominate suitable candidates
• Focus on promoting success through education

Priority Areas

According to the founder's memorandum, the Trust supports:

• Medical and Scientific Research: Charities advancing health research and scientific inquiry
• The Services: Support for armed forces charities
• Social Welfare: Organizations helping the sick, poor, disabled (handicapped), and elderly
• Arts and Culture: Music and arts organizations
• Environment: Environmental conservation and heritage projects
• Anglican Church Buildings: Restoration and maintenance of church buildings in the West and South Midlands, particularly projects that increase community use
• Education and Training: Research and educational initiatives that promote success

What They Don't Fund

• Revenue Funding: The trustees' usual practice is to make grants only for capital expenditure. Applications for revenue funding such as annual running costs (e.g., salaries, rent, and administration expenses) will not be considered.
• Organizations Outside Geographic Area: The Trust focuses exclusively on the West and South Midlands region (Birmingham, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Ian James Crockatt Smith (Chair)

• Appointed: 2015

Lady Diana Charlotte Crabtree

• Appointed: 2014

Mr Gary Barber

• Appointed: 2011

Patrick Wrixon

• Appointed: 2021
• Also trustee of The Cart Shed Charity

Rebecca Widdowson

• Appointed: 2020
• Also trustee of Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire

All five trustees serve without remuneration, and the charity has no employees with benefits over £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Charitable Grants:

1. Contact Louise Ruane to request a standard application form
2. The trustees prefer to receive applications on their standard form
3. Complete and return the form via email or post
4. Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year

For Education Awards:

Applications are managed through selected schools rather than direct individual applications. Schools establish a selection panel (minimum 3 members including at least one senior leadership team member and the Chair or Vice Chair of the Local Governing Body) to nominate suitable candidates.

Application Form Request:

• Email: louise.ruane@therowlandstrust.org.uk
• Phone: 07812743485

Decision Timeline

• Applications are considered at quarterly trustee meetings (approximately every 3 months)
• Specific meeting dates are not published
• Applicants should allow time for the next scheduled quarterly meeting plus decision notification
• Estimated timeline: 3-4 months from submission to decision, depending on when application is received in the quarterly cycle

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The Trust's 2024 expenditure of £649,496 suggests active grant-making, though specific numbers of applications received versus grants awarded are not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Applicants are advised to contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Capital vs. Revenue Distinction:

The Trust has a clear policy favouring capital expenditure. Ensure your application focuses on one-time capital costs (equipment, building works, refurbishment) rather than ongoing operational expenses. This is explicitly stated as the "trustees' usual practice."

Regional Focus:

Strong alignment with the West and South Midlands geographic area is essential. Projects must operate within Birmingham, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, or Worcestershire.

Church Building Projects:

For Anglican church restoration applications, emphasize how the project will “lead to an increase in community use.” The founder specifically supported restoration and maintenance that serves broader community benefit, not just congregation needs.

Education Award Applications (via Schools):

Selection panels should assess:

• The circumstances of each candidate
• The motivation and determination to succeed
• The candidate's ability to set and achieve both personal and educational targets related to their chosen area of study

The founder's vision emphasized “promoting success” through education, so demonstrating potential for achievement is key.

Grant Size Expectations:

Most grants fall in the £1,000-£5,000 range. Larger grants are awarded “as an exception rather than as a rule.” Applicants seeking amounts above £5,000 should provide strong justification for the higher amount.

Founder's Values:

Herbert Roy Rowlands' memorandum provides insight into the Trust's values. Applications aligned with medical research, support for the armed services, helping vulnerable populations (sick, poor, disabled, elderly), arts, environment, and Anglican heritage will resonate with the Trust's founding purpose.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Capital only: Structure your application around one-time capital costs, not ongoing revenue needs like salaries or rent
• Regional requirement: Your organization must operate in the West/South Midlands; projects outside this area will not be considered
• Modest expectations: Most grants are £1,000-£5,000; larger requests are exceptional and require strong justification
• Quarterly cycle: Plan for 3-4 month decision timeline based on quarterly trustee meetings
• No website: You must contact Louise Ruane directly to obtain the required application form; no online portal exists
• Church projects: If applying for Anglican church restoration, emphasize community benefit and increased community use
• Relationship building: As a traditional trust without public web presence, establishing contact and demonstrating alignment with the founder's vision is important

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trust
• The Wolfson Foundation
• The Waterloo Foundation
• THE HEADLEY TRUST
• THE EVESON TRUST
• Thirty Percy Foundation
• The Reed Foundation
• The Hobson Charity Limited
• The Evolution Education Trust
• The Elmley Foundation
• The Finnis Scott Foundation
• The Grimmitt Trust
• The Saintbury Trust
• The Street Foundation
• The Hawthorne Charitable Trust
• The Cole Charitable Trust
• National Lottery
• THE GRAY TRUST

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - The Rowlands Trust (Charity No. 1062148)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1062148&subid=0

Accessed: December 2025

1. Giving is Great - The Rowlands Trust Charity Factsheet

https://www.givingisgreat.org.uk/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1062148

Accessed: December 2025

1. National Churches Trust - Rowlands Trust Support Organisation Profile

https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/support-organisations/rowlands-trust

Accessed: December 2025

1. Making Music - Rowlands Trust Funding Opportunity

https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/funding-opportunity/rowlands-trust

Accessed: December 2025

1. SCVO.info - The Rowlands Trust

https://www.scvo.info/2025/08/27/the-rowlands-trust/

Accessed: December 2025

1. Blue Key CIC - Rowlands Trust Information

https://bluekeycic.org.uk/2019/02/28/rowlands-trust/

Accessed: December 2025