The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (grand Fleet And Kindred Funds)

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 206243
• Founded: 1922 (Royal Charter)
• Annual Expenditure: £11,456,475
• Individual Grants Budget: £2.3 million annually
• Decision Time: 1-2 days (grants up to £750); 3-5 days initial contact (larger grants)
• Grant Range: Up to £750 (online portal); larger grants available via caseworker
• Geographic Focus: Throughout England and Wales; also Australia, Canada, Cyprus, France, Malta, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, United States, Zimbabwe, Greece, Turkey, Hong Kong

Contact Details

Main Contact:

• Website: www.rnbt.org.uk
• Email: rnbt@rnbt.org.uk
• Phone: 023 9269 0112
• Helpline: 023 9421 6294 (Monday-Friday, 0800-1600)
• Help Email: help@rnbt.org.uk
• Address: Castaway House, 311 Twyford Avenue, Portsmouth PO2 8RN

Pre-Application Support:

• For serving personnel: Contact local Royal Navy Family & People Support first
• For general enquiries: Use the Helpline (023 9421 6294) or help@rnbt.org.uk

Overview

The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (RNBT) was established under Royal Charter in 1922, with roots tracing back to Admiral Lord Jellicoe's Grand Fleet Fund founded in 1916. Operating under the motto “Serve a day, supported for life,” the charity has evolved into the principal benevolent fund supporting Royal Navy ratings, Royal Marines other ranks, and their families. With annual expenditure exceeding £11.4 million, RNBT provides both direct financial assistance (£2.3 million annually in individual grants) and residential care through two specialist nursing homes.

The organization's approach combines immediate crisis support with long-term care provision. In recent years, RNBT has modernized its application process through partnership with Lightning Reach (launched January 2023), enabling faster decision-making for smaller grants. The charity is distinguished by its governance structure, where the majority of trustees are serving or ex-serving ratings and other ranks, ensuring decisions are made by those who understand the beneficiary community firsthand.

RNBT receives significant funding from Greenwich Hospital (£1.7 million three-year grant) and works collaboratively with other naval charities as part of the wider forces welfare network. Under the patronage of His Majesty King Charles III and the leadership of President Admiral Sir Tim Fraser KCB (appointed March 2023), the organization continues to adapt its services to meet changing needs while maintaining its century-long commitment to the naval family.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants (up to £750) - Lightning Reach Portal

• Amount: Up to £750
• Application Method: Online via Lightning Reach portal
• Decision Time: 1-2 days on average
• Covers: Food, clothing, pre-payment utility costs (UK residents only)
• Volume: Over 480 applications processed through Lightning Reach since January 2023

Standard Grants (over £750)

• Amount: Over £750 (no stated upper limit)
• Application Method: Via caseworker report (SSAFA, Royal British Legion, or RNBT caseworker)
• Decision Time: Initial contact within 3-5 working days
• Scope: Wide-ranging support for diverse circumstances

Regular Charitable Payments (RCP)

• Type: Quarterly payments
• Recipients: Beneficiaries with very low incomes
• Funding Source: Supported by Greenwich Hospital grant (£1.7m over three years)

Organizational Grants

• Amount: Typically under £10,000
• Payment: Quarterly installments
• Recipients: Organizations directly assisting RNBT beneficiaries (e.g., hospices in Portsmouth and Plymouth areas)
• Volume: Very small number awarded annually

Priority Areas

RNBT makes grants to assist in a wide variety of circumstances demonstrating “necessity or distress”:

• Essential Living Costs: Food, clothing, utility payments
• Housing: Rent arrears, rent in advance, house repairs
• Employment Support: Job training and education for employment
• Home Furnishings: Furniture and essential household items
• Medical Equipment: Specialist medical equipment, mobility aids (EPVs, stairlifts, riser recliner chairs)
• Care Costs: Care home top-up fees, domiciliary care costs
• Financial Difficulties: Support across a range of financial challenges

Residential Care:

• Admiral Jellicoe House (Portsmouth): 66 luxury en-suite rooms, opened 2022
• Pembroke House (Gillingham, Kent): Sister facility to Admiral Jellicoe House
• Both homes provide residential care, nursing care, and dedicated in-house dementia care using the Butterfly Approach model

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

• Support for officers (the Trust specifically serves Warrant Officers and below)
• Support for individuals not meeting the eligibility criteria (see below)

Widows/widowers or divorced/separated spouses who are cohabiting with a new partner are not eligible for assistance.

Note: The charity states their eligibility list is “not exhaustive and individual circumstances can be complicated,” encouraging those with doubts to contact them directly.

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Governance and Leadership

Patron

His Majesty King Charles III

Key Leadership

• President: Admiral Sir Tim Fraser KCB (appointed March 2023)
• Chair of Trustees: Commodore Russell Best OBE (elected February 2023)
• Vice President/Honorary Treasurer: Dr Alf Crossman (elected March 2025)
• Chief Executive: Debbie Dollner (appointed April 2024)

Governance Structure

Central Committee (governing body, meets three times annually), supported by three standing sub-committees:

• Finance and Risk Committee
• Care and Safeguarding Committee
• Benevolence Committee

Trustee Composition:

• Admiralty Governor Trustee: Colonel Matt Stovin-Bradford Royal Marines
• Senior Officer Trustee: Captain Jonathan Carrigan Royal Navy
• Up to ten Ordinary Member Trustees (serving or former RN ratings or RM other ranks, three-year renewable terms)
• Four Specialist Trustees (finance/investment, legal, care/safeguarding, building projects management)

Distinguishing Feature: The majority of trustees and volunteer members are serving and ex-serving RN ratings and RM other ranks, ensuring decisions are made by those with lived experience of the beneficiary community. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits.

Leadership Quotes

Debbie Dollner, Chief Executive, on RNBT's five-year strategy: “This strategy reaffirms our unwavering commitment to serving the Royal Navy family. Our Help Hubs and strategy ensure we remain rooted in our mission — offering timely, practical and compassionate support.”

Debbie Dollner on the Greenwich Hospital grant: “This £1.7 million grant will help us maintain and strengthen our ability to provide regular financial assistance to those in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines community who need it most.”

Debbie Dollner on WWII veterans: “The sacrifice Second World War veterans made to help secure the freedom we enjoy today is almost unimaginable.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Grants Up to £750 (UK Residents Only):

1. Apply online via the Lightning Reach portal at www.lightningreach.org/application-portal
2. Available for one-off financial assistance for food, clothing, and pre-payment utility costs
3. Direct application - no caseworker required
4. Decisions made on average within 1-2 days

For Grants Over £750:

1. Caseworker submits Application for Assistance to RNBT
2. Application vetted by Grants Administrators who may liaise with other charities (almonisation process)
3. Straightforward cases decided by Grants Administrators
4. Complex or costly applications passed to Grants Committee (decisions approved by three Committee members)

For Currently Serving Personnel:

Contact your local Royal Navy Family & People Support first for guidance before approaching RNBT directly.

For Organizational Grants:

Contact RNBT directly to discuss potential funding for organizations assisting RNBT beneficiaries.

Decision Timeline

Lightning Reach Applications (up to £750):

• Average decision time: 1-2 days from submission

Standard Applications (over £750):

• Initial contact from Grants Team: Usually within 3-5 working days
• Full decision time: Not specified, depends on complexity
• Simple cases: Decided by Grants Administrators
• Complex cases: Referred to Grants Committee (meets regularly)

Success Rates

Since partnering with Lightning Reach, RNBT has:

• Processed over 480 applications through the portal
• Achieved 68% applicant engagement beyond initial application
• Seen 60% of applicants apply for other grants

Volume of Support:

• In one financial half-year: 554 individual grants totaling just under £500,000
• Total annual benevolence through individual grants: £2.3 million
• £110,000 expended on 148 cases involving serving personnel and their dependants

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. For guidance on reapplication after an unsuccessful attempt, contact the RNBT Helpline at 023 9421 6294 or help@rnbt.org.uk.

Application Success Factors

RNBT-Specific Guidance

1. Utilize the Right Application Channel

• For smaller, urgent needs (up to £750): Use Lightning Reach for fastest decision-making
• For larger or complex needs: Work with an established caseworker organization
• If currently serving: Start with Royal Navy Family & People Support

2. Demonstrate Necessity or Distress

The charity's Royal Charter requires circumstances to involve “necessity or distress.” Applications should clearly demonstrate genuine need and how the grant will achieve “a reasonable quality of life.”

3. Work Through Established Caseworkers

For grants over £750, applications through recognized caseworker organizations (Royal British Legion, SSAFA, or RNBT caseworkers) are required. These organizations:

• Understand RNBT's processes and criteria
• Can present cases effectively
• May coordinate with other charities (almonisation process)

4. Consider the Decision-Making Structure

• Grants Administrators handle straightforward cases quickly
• Complex or costly applications go to the Grants Committee
• Committee members are themselves serving or ex-serving ratings/other ranks who understand the community
• Tailor applications to show practical impact on daily life

5. Lightning Reach Portal Success Factors

Since January 2023, RNBT has processed over 480 applications through Lightning Reach with rapid turnaround. This channel works best for:

• UK residents only
• Food, clothing, or pre-payment utility costs
• Amounts up to £750
• Urgent needs requiring fast decisions

6. Understand RNBT's Collaborative Approach

RNBT works with other naval charities and participates in almonisation (coordination with other charities). They may:

• Direct applicants to more appropriate funding sources
• Coordinate support packages with multiple charities
• Provide partial funding alongside other organizations

7. Don't Assume Ineligibility

The charity explicitly states their eligibility list is “not exhaustive and individual circumstances can be complicated,” and encourages those with doubts to contact them. If unsure, make contact - the helpline team is available Monday-Friday, 0800-1600.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Two-tier application system: Lightning Reach portal for grants up to £750 (1-2 day decisions) offers the fastest route for urgent, smaller needs; larger grants require caseworker support but have no specified upper limit.

1. Speed matters: RNBT has significantly streamlined its processes - Lightning Reach applications average 1-2 days for decisions, and all applicants receive initial contact within 3-5 working days maximum.

1. Caseworker relationships are crucial: For grants over £750, working with established caseworkers (Royal British Legion, SSAFA, or RNBT's own staff) is mandatory - building these relationships before urgent needs arise is strategic.

1. Decision-makers understand the community: The majority of trustees and committee members are serving or ex-serving ratings and other ranks - applications should speak to the practical realities of naval service and veteran life rather than generic hardship narratives.

1. “Serve a day, supported for life” is literal: Minimal service requirement (one day) with no age, gender, nationality, or regional restrictions makes RNBT unusually accessible - don't overlook potential beneficiaries with very short service records.

1. Think beyond one-off grants: RNBT offers Regular Charitable Payments (quarterly) for those with very low incomes, residential care options, and grants to organizations - consider the full range of support when advising beneficiaries.

1. Collaborative funding is expected: RNBT actively participates in almonisation with other naval and forces charities - applications may result in coordinated support packages rather than single-source funding, which can actually increase overall support value.

References

1. Royal Naval Benevolent Trust official website. Available at: https://rnbt.org.uk/ []

1. Royal Naval Benevolent Trust - Our Organisation. Available at: https://rnbt.org.uk/about-us/our-organisation/ []

1. Royal Naval Benevolent Trust - How We Help. Available at: https://rnbt.org.uk/how-we-help/ []

1. Charity Commission Register: THE ROYAL NAVAL BENEVOLENT TRUST (GRAND FLEET AND KINDRED FUNDS) - Charity Number 206243. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=206243 []

1. Lightning Reach (2023). “Enhancing Support: Innovating Digital Applications for RNBT”. Available at: https://www.lightningreach.org/post/partner-spotlight-royal-naval-benevolent-fund []

1. Cobseo (2023). “The RNBT partners with Lightning Reach to streamline access to financial support”. Available at: https://www.cobseo.org.uk/the-rnbt-partners-with-lightning-reach-to-streamline-access-to-financial-support-for-their-service-users/ []

1. Greenwich Hospital (2025). “Greenwich Hospital awards a £1.7 million three-year grant to The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust”. Available at: https://www.cobseo.org.uk/greenwich-hospital-awards-a-1-7-million-three-year-grant-to-the-royal-naval-benevolent-trust-to-fund-regular-charitable-payments-to-royal-navy-and-royal-marines-personnel-and-their-families-in-need/ []

1. Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (2024). “The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust announces new Chief Executive”. Available at: https://rnbt.org.uk/news/2024/02/the-royal-naval-benevolent-trust-announces-new-chief-executive/ []

1. National World (2024). "Royal Navy charity's care homes adopt acclaimed 'Butterfly Approach' dementia model". Available at: https://www.nationalworld.com/your-world/royal-navy-charitys-care-homes-adopt-acclaimed-butterfly-approach-dementia-model-4903096 []

1. Royal Navy (2022). “Royal Navy charity opens new home for veterans”. Available at: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2022/october/24/20221024-royal-navy-charity-opens-new-home-for-veterans []

1. GOV.UK - Veterans Support: The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/support-for-veterans/the-royal-naval-benevolent-trust []

1. Royal Naval Benevolent Trust - Who We Help. Available at: https://rnbt.org.uk/get-help/who-we-help/ []

1. Wikipedia. “The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust”. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royal_Naval_Benevolent_Trust []