The Rugeley Educational Endowment

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 528603
• Annual Income: £56,319 (2024/25)
• Annual Expenditure: £32,543 (2024/25)
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: Rugeley and Staffordshire area
• Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: Treasury & Pensions, 2 Staffordshire Place, Tipping Street, Stafford, ST16 2LP

Email: melanie.stokes@staffordshire.gov.uk

Phone: 01785 276330

Charity Commission: Register Entry 528603

Overview

The Rugeley Educational Endowment was established as a charitable trust to advance education in the Rugeley area of Staffordshire. The charity has deep historical roots in local educational philanthropy, with foundations dating back to the 19th century when members of the Curzon family established endowments to support local schools. Today, the endowment is managed by Staffordshire County Council acting as sole trustee through their Charities and Trusts Committee.

The endowment operates on two main fronts: providing scholarships, grants, and financial assistance to individual students, and supporting local schools with equipment and facilities. With an annual income of approximately £56,000, the charity focuses on advancing educational opportunities for young people in the Rugeley area, including those transitioning from education into trades or professions.

Unlike many modern grant-making trusts, this endowment does not operate a public application process, with funding decisions made at the discretion of the trustee based on identified need and the charity's historical objectives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates through two main mechanisms:

Individual Student Support: Awards scholarships, grants, and maintenance allowances to beneficiaries at schools, universities, or other places of learning. Also provides financial assistance for outfits, clothing, tools, instruments, or books to help beneficiaries prepare for entering a trade or profession after leaving educational establishments.

School Equipment and Facilities: Provides school equipment and other items, services, and facilities for eligible schools in the Rugeley area to advance education and promote the education (including social and physical training) of beneficiaries.

Prize Charity: Awards prizes to pupils of Fair Oak Comprehensive School (now The Hart School following the 2016 merger of Fair Oak Academy and Hagley Park Academy) in recognition of academic, artistic, moral, or physical achievements.

Priority Areas

• Educational advancement for young people in Rugeley and surrounding areas
• Support for students transitioning from education to employment or vocational training
• Equipment and facilities for local schools
• Recognition of student achievement in academic, artistic, moral, or physical domains
• Financial assistance for students at all levels of education, from schools through to universities

What They Don't Fund

Based on the charity's objects, the endowment does not fund:

• Activities outside the Rugeley/Staffordshire geographical area
• Non-educational purposes
• Beneficiaries with no connection to Rugeley or its schools
• General operational costs unrelated to educational advancement

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee Structure

Sole Trustee: Staffordshire County Council

The County Council exercises its trustee powers through the Charities and Trusts Committee, a specialized committee responsible for managing all charities and trusts for which the Council serves as trustee.

Charities and Trusts Committee

The committee comprises five members who are responsible for:

• Approving annual reports and accounts
• Approving Charity Commission returns
• Making decisions about charity property and assets
• Overseeing management of the endowment

Current Committee Members (as of latest information):

• Craig Humphreyson (Chairperson)
• Robin Hall (Vice-Chairperson)
• Thomas Baker
• Catherine Brown
• Rhys Mandry

Committee Support: Chantelle Denham (chantelle.denham@staffordshire.gov.uk)

Administrative Management

Day-to-day administration is handled by Staffordshire County Council's Treasury & Pensions department, with Melanie Stokes serving as the primary contact for the endowment.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This endowment does not have a public application process.

The Rugeley Educational Endowment operates under trustee discretion, with Staffordshire County Council as sole trustee making funding decisions based on the charity's objectives and identified need. Unlike many modern charitable trusts, there is no online application portal, application form, or published application guidelines available to the public.

Historically, this type of endowment would identify beneficiaries through:

• Direct relationships with local schools (particularly The Hart School, successor to Fair Oak Comprehensive School)
• Referrals from educational institutions
• Trustee knowledge of community needs
• Historical patterns of support established by the endowment's founding documents

Decision Timeline

No public information is available regarding decision timelines or meeting schedules for grant awards. The Charities and Trusts Committee meets a minimum of two times per municipal year, but specific dates for endowment decisions are not published.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available due to the absence of a formal application process.

Reapplication Policy

Given the lack of a formal application process, there is no published reapplication policy.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Endowment's Approach

Since this endowment operates without a public application process, traditional “application success factors” do not apply. However, based on the charity's structure and objectives, the following insights may be relevant:

For Individual Students:

• Connection to Rugeley area schools (particularly The Hart School)
• Demonstrated financial need for educational purposes
• Clear educational goals, whether academic or vocational
• Transitioning from education to employment or further training

For Schools:

• Location in the Rugeley area
• Specific equipment or facility needs that advance educational objectives
• Alignment with the endowment's historical mission of supporting local education
• Projects that promote educational, social, or physical development of students

Historical Context:

The endowment has roots in 19th-century educational philanthropy, particularly the work of the Curzon family who supported local schools. Understanding this historical context suggests the endowment values:

• Supporting local educational infrastructure
• Helping young people overcome financial barriers to education
• Recognizing and rewarding student achievement
• Facilitating transitions from education to productive careers

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: This endowment does not accept unsolicited applications from individuals or organizations. Funding is awarded at the discretion of Staffordshire County Council as trustee.

• Local Focus is Essential: The endowment's geographic scope is limited to Rugeley and the surrounding Staffordshire area. Only beneficiaries with a clear connection to local schools are likely to receive support.

• Schools May Be the Gateway: For individual students, support may come through schools (particularly The Hart School) rather than direct application to the endowment.

• Dual Purpose: The endowment serves both individual students and educational institutions, so both types of beneficiary should be aware of its existence even without a formal application route.

• Historical Endowment Model: This is a traditional educational endowment managed by local government rather than a modern grant-making foundation. Expectations should be adjusted accordingly.

• Contact for Inquiries: While there's no application process, schools or individuals with genuine need might consider contacting Melanie Stokes at the County Council to understand if support might be available in specific circumstances.

• Modest Scale: With expenditure around £32,000-£99,000 annually, this is a small endowment focused on targeted local impact rather than large-scale grant programs.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Connolly Foundation (UK) Limited
• Risley Educational Foundation
• Yardley Educational Foundation
• The William Price Charitable Trust
• Market Harborough and The Bowdens Charity
• James Marshall Foundation CIO
• The Ken Wrigley Memorial Charity
• EDUFUND UK
• Babington's Charity
• Mountsorrel Educational Fund

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Rugeley Educational Endowment (Charity No. 528603).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/528603

1. Staffordshire County Council - Charities and Trusts Committee Details.. https://staffordshire.moderngov.co.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=928

1. British History Online - “Rugeley: Churches, schools and charities” in A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 5.. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/staffs/vol5/pp162-173

1. TotalGiving - The Rugeley Educational Endowment Profile.. https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/the-rugeley-educational-endowment

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities - Stafford Educational Endowment Charity (Charity No. 517345) - referenced as a comparison model for similar local educational endowments managed by Staffordshire County Council..