The Royal Artillery General Charitable Trust
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Quick Stats
- Annual Expenditure: £653,530 (charitable activities, 2024)
- Annual Income: £686,094
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: Varies by individual need
- Geographic Focus: UK (serving Royal Artillery personnel and dependants)
- Beneficiary Group: Current/former Royal Artillery members and their families
Contact Details
Main Contact:
- Phone: 01980 845233 (Artillery House)
- Email: RARHQ-RACF-Welfare-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
- Welfare Helplines:
- RACF Welfare Secretary: 0300 158 7035
- RACF Welfare Assistant: 0300 159 4560
- RACF Main Office: 01980 634309
- Address: Artillery House, Royal Artillery Barracks, Larkhall, Wiltshire, SP4 8QT
- Website: www.thegunners.org.uk
Application Support:
- SSAFA: 0800 7314 880
- Royal British Legion: 0808 802 8080
Overview
The Royal Artillery General Charitable Trust (charity number 275558) is a specialist benevolent fund dedicated to supporting members of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Operating with the motto “Once a Gunner, always a Gunner,” the trust has two core purposes: promoting recruitment efficiency and morale within the Royal Artillery, and providing relief of poverty or distress among past, present, or future members of all ranks and their families. With an annual charitable expenditure of over £653,000, the trust forms part of a wider Royal Artillery charitable ecosystem that delivers over £1 million annually in welfare support, having assisted over 33,000 Gunners and their dependants over the past 15 years. The trust is governed by 3 trustees and operates with transparency through the Charity Commission.
Funding Priorities
Eligibility
The trust serves a very specific beneficiary group: individuals who have served in the Royal Artillery for as little as one day, along with their families and dependants. This includes serving personnel, veterans, and the families/dependants of deceased members.
Types of Support Available
- Essential household goods
- Funeral costs
- Rental deposits
- Removal costs
- Mobility aids
- Priority debts (rent arrears, council tax arrears, utility arrears)
- Training and employment support
- Care home fees
- Annual grants (for ongoing support)
- Mental health assistance
- Housing repairs
- Cost of living support
- Bereavement support
What They Don't Fund
The trust only supports individuals with a direct connection to the Royal Artillery - it does not make grants to organizations, other military units, or members of the general public without Royal Artillery service.
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Governance and Leadership
The trust is managed by 3 trustees who oversee the charitable activities. One or more trustees receive payments or benefits for services to the charity, as disclosed to the Charity Commission. The trust works closely with the broader Royal Artillery family of charities, including the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund (charity number 210202) and the Royal Artillery Association.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
The trust does not operate a direct public application portal. Instead, applications for assistance are processed through established military welfare organizations:
Primary Application Routes:
- SSAFA (Armed Forces charity): Call 0800 7314 880
- Royal British Legion: Call 0808 802 8080
Direct Contact:
Individuals can also contact the RACF welfare team directly:
- RACF Welfare Secretary: 0300 158 7035
- RACF Welfare Assistant: 0300 159 4560
- Email: RARHQ-RACF-Welfare-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
Applications are assessed on individual circumstances, with the trust taking an approach based on “eligibility criteria with humanity, reality, and flexibility in mind.”
Decision Timeline
Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, but the trust emphasizes “speedy assistance to all members of the Gunner Family” and judges “each case on its own merits.”
Success Rates
Success rates are not publicly available. However, given the specific eligibility criteria and the trust's mission to support all eligible members in need, applications from genuinely eligible individuals facing financial hardship are likely to receive favorable consideration.
Reapplication Policy
No specific reapplication restrictions are documented. Given the trust's approach of assessing each case individually and providing ongoing support through annual grants where appropriate, it appears that individuals can seek assistance multiple times as their circumstances require.
Application Success Factors
Eligibility is Key: The fundamental requirement is service in the Royal Artillery, even for just one day. Family members and dependants of deceased members are also eligible.
Evidence of Need: The trust focuses on “relief of poverty or distress,” so applications should clearly demonstrate financial hardship and genuine need for the specific support requested.
Use Established Pathways: Applying through SSAFA or the Royal British Legion provides credibility and ensures applications are properly documented and assessed by welfare professionals familiar with military charitable support.
Be Specific About Support Required: The trust provides assistance for clearly defined purposes - be specific about whether you need help with household goods, priority debts, mobility aids, or other documented categories of support.
Individual Assessment: The trust prides itself on flexibility and assessing “each case on its own merits,” so providing full context about individual circumstances is important.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Highly Specific Beneficiary Group: This trust exclusively serves Royal Artillery personnel and their families - eligibility is non-negotiable
- Individual Focus, Not Organizational: The trust makes grants to individuals in need, not to other organizations or charities
- Apply Through Welfare Partners: SSAFA and Royal British Legion are the primary application routes, providing structure and credibility to applications
- Benevolent Character: This is a welfare-focused trust addressing immediate needs and hardship rather than funding projects or development work
- Part of Wider Network: The trust operates as part of the Royal Artillery charitable family, collectively delivering over £1M annually in support
- Flexible and Responsive: The trust emphasizes humanity, reality, and flexibility, assessing each case individually rather than applying rigid criteria
- Once a Gunner, Always a Gunner: Even one day of service establishes lifelong eligibility for the individual and their dependants
Similar Funders
These funders frequently fund the same charities:
- Army Benevolent Fund
- ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION LIMITED
- ROYAL ARTILLERY CHARITABLE FUND
- COMBINED FUNDS LIMITED
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References
- Charity Commission Register - The Royal Artillery General Charitable Trust (275558): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/275558
- The Royal Artillery official website - Royal Artillery Charitable Fund: https://www.thegunners.org.uk/charities/royal-artillery-charitable-fund-racf/
- Charity Commission Register - Royal Artillery Charitable Fund (210202): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/210202
- Gunner Net - Supporting Agencies: https://www.gnrnet.com/charities