The Scops Arts Trust

Charity Number: 1186893

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M
Geographic Focus: Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £327,166 (2024)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £30,000 (most grants under £10,000)
  • Decision Time: 10 weeks
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
  • Application Schedule: Three fixed rounds annually
  • Typical Grant: £3,000 - £10,000

Contact Details

Website: www.scopsartstrust.org.uk

Email: info@scopsartstrust.org.uk

Phone: 07549 764667

Registered Charity Numbers: 1186893 (England & Wales), SC050216 (Scotland)

Overview

The Scops Arts Trust was established in March 2019 through an endowment from the late Tony Wingate, an inspirational English teacher with a passion for arts, particularly music, and education. The trust's name honors both a species of owl found in the Alps (an area Tony loved) and the medieval minstrel or “Scop” who performed poetry with music. The trust operates as a small grant-making organization with annual expenditure of approximately £327,166 (2024), awarding a limited number of grants to high-quality performing arts projects. The trust is particularly committed to supporting small-to-medium-sized organizations that widen access to the performing arts and create lasting cultural impact in communities. In 2024, the trustees reviewed their grant-making approach and adopted a focused strategy, dedicating each of their three annual grant rounds to different categories within the performing arts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates three fixed grant rounds per year (typically with board meetings in March, July, and November), with each round focused on a specific area within the performing arts:

  • Round 1 (January): Local music festivals with focus on cultural provision in underserved areas
  • Round 2 (May): Early career musicians - performance programmes supporting dance, drama, and music
  • Round 3 (September): Children's and young people's instrumental music education

Grant Amounts: £1,000 - £30,000, though most grants awarded are considerably less than £10,000. Multi-year grants occasionally available (up to £15,000 per year).

Application Method: Two-stage online application process through the trust's grants system. Applications must be submitted via their online portal with strict deadlines (5pm on specified deadline day).

Priority Areas

The trust funds projects that enable people of all ages, backgrounds, and life circumstances to:

  • Understand, participate in, and enjoy the performing arts (music, drama, opera, and dance)
  • Widen access to performing arts opportunities
  • Create lasting cultural impact on communities
  • Support small-to-medium sized organizations delivering high-quality projects

Recent funded projects include:

  • Community music festivals in rural or underserved areas
  • Youth orchestras and alternative music ensembles
  • Music education programs for disadvantaged children
  • Community brass bands and choral programs
  • Early career musician development initiatives

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Health, therapy, or social welfare projects
  • Capital campaigns or venue repair costs
  • Fundraising events
  • Religious activities
  • Public bodies or schools
  • Projects that have already started
  • Profit-distributing companies
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Chris Arnold (Chair)

Retired lawyer and former partner in major Scottish law firms. Based in Edinburgh, he also serves as trustee of The Scottish Seabird Centre and Vestry Secretary at Christ Church Morningside.

Sophie Fuller

Works in retail management for GS1 UK, brings organizational skills and strong interest in the arts. Based in London.

Sarah Cowper

Retired City lawyer and amateur musician. Trustee of St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust and former primary school governor.

Nick Salisbury

Background in property and project finance with non-executive roles in various organizations. Amateur violinist and choral singer.

Barbara Arnold

Retired lawyer with company law experience. Board member of Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation and former Citizens' Advice Bureau volunteer.

Justin Kitson KC

Barrister practicing in London and amateur pianist. Known for his passion about music's transformative power.

Staff

Hazel Wotherspoon (Trust Administrator)

Over 30 years of experience in the arts sector. Expert in fundraising, grant-making, and governance. Handles day-to-day management of the trust.

Key Philosophy

The trust's mission reflects Tony Wingate's legacy: "Throughout his life, Tony enjoyed a love of the arts, particularly music, and as an inspirational English teacher, his other passion was education. Tony's philanthropic nature led him to support a wide range of arts initiatives during his lifetime and his legacy continues through Scops Arts Trust."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Trustee Review: Trustees review Stage 1 applications and create Stage 2 shortlist
  2. Stage 2 Application (if invited): Complete detailed application form
  3. Assessment: Potential interviews or site visits
  4. Final Decision: Board of Trustees makes final selection

Important: The trust operates one day per week with limited resources. No pre-application guidance available before Stage 1. Clarification questions may be asked if invited to Stage 2.

Decision Timeline

  • Total Process: Approximately 10 weeks from application deadline to decision
  • Board Meetings: Typically held in March, July, and November
  • Notification: Applicants notified of decisions following board meetings

Success Rates

  • The trust receives “many more applications than we have funds to support”
  • Stage 1 application does not guarantee Stage 2 invitation
  • Stage 2 application does not guarantee grant award
  • Rejection sometimes due to funding constraints rather than application quality

Reapplication Policy

  • 12-month waiting period required before reapplying after unsuccessful attempt
  • Previous grantees: Continuation funding possible but not guaranteed; trustees “would need to see a compelling reason for continuation”
  • Limit: Only one grant per organization within any 12-month period

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

On demonstrating impact: “Applications must present a strong case for support, clearly explaining what you will do with the grant, who will benefit, how you know the work will make a difference to beneficiaries and how you will measure this.”

On alignment with mission: "The overarching aim is to give people of all ages opportunities to understand, participate in and enjoy the performing arts, and it's important to bear this in mind at each stage and communicate how your organisation and project will do this."

On lasting impact: The trust is “keen to find projects which widen access and have a lasting cultural impact on the community.”

Examples of Successful Projects

  1. Brockley Max Festival (£3,000 for 3 years) - Community arts festival in South East London with 5,000+ annual audience, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds
  1. Tinderbox Collective (£10,000) - Serves 1,000 children and young musicians annually across Scotland through Alternative Orchestras, Youth Clubs, and Digital Arts hubs
  1. Cathedral Music Trust (£10,000 for 3 years) - 'Small Sounds' project widening music access for families in economically deprived communities
  1. Bristol Ensemble (£3,121) - 'Preludes' project providing music education to disadvantaged children through school partnerships
  1. Thistleton Music Festival (£3,570) - Rural village festival demonstrating church buildings as music venues, bringing arts to underserved community
  1. Irvine & Dreghorn Brass (£1,200 for 2 years) - Community brass band's annual Learning Festival with workshops inspiring new players
  1. Lomond and Clyde Community Orchestra (£1,564) - Making music accessible to all ages through projects like The Lewis Chess Suite

Key Success Themes

  • Community focus: Projects serving underserved, rural, or economically deprived communities
  • Access and inclusion: Programs removing barriers to performing arts participation
  • Quality and commitment: High-quality projects delivered by dedicated organizations
  • Measurable impact: Clear articulation of beneficiaries and outcomes
  • Lasting legacy: Initiatives creating sustainable cultural impact beyond grant period
  • Widening participation: Projects expanding opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds

Language and Terminology

The trust uses language focused on:

  • “Widen access”
  • “Lasting cultural impact”
  • “Understand, participate in, and enjoy”
  • “Performing arts” (music, drama, opera, dance)
  • “High-quality projects”
  • “Committed organizations”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Align with focused rounds: Each grant round targets a specific area within performing arts - ensure your project precisely matches the current round's focus (local music festivals, early career musicians, or children's music education).
  1. Emphasize access and community impact: The trust prioritizes projects that widen access to performing arts, particularly in underserved, rural, or economically deprived communities. Demonstrate how your project removes barriers and creates lasting cultural change.
  1. Be clear and specific about impact: Articulate exactly who will benefit, how they will benefit, and how you will measure success. The trust emphasizes that applications must explain “how you know the work will make a difference to beneficiaries.”
  1. Target the right grant amount: While grants up to £30,000 are available, most awards are under £10,000, with many in the £1,000-£5,000 range. Request a realistic amount that matches typical grant sizes.
  1. Understand the competitive process: With many more applications than available funds, even strong Stage 2 applications may not receive funding. The two-stage process means only shortlisted applicants proceed to detailed applications.
  1. Plan for the timeline: The 10-week decision process and three fixed annual rounds require advance planning. Projects cannot have started before application, so timing is critical.
  1. Focus on small-to-medium organizations: The trust explicitly prioritizes smaller organizations. If you're a larger organization, demonstrate why this project needs support despite your size.

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