The Scotshill Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £352,027 (2024)
• Total Income: £287,088 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Funding Status: Currently fully committed

Contact Details

Email: charity@castlegarth.com

Phone: 01937 585558

Address: Castlegarth, Scott Lane, Wetherby, LS22 6LH

Overview

The Scotshill Trust is a private grant-making trust registered with the Charity Commission in 2006 (charity number 1113071). The trust operates with a modest but significant annual distribution of approximately £352,000, supporting other registered charities at the discretion of its three trustees. The trust focuses on a broad range of charitable causes including education in the arts, animal welfare, poverty relief, environmental conservation, and health advancement. As a discretionary trust, it maintains a selective approach to grant-making, and none of its trustees receive remuneration. The trust's reserves cover approximately 19.9 months of spending, indicating financial stability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single discretionary grant program with funding decisions made by trustees. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed. Applications are accepted in writing on a rolling basis, though funds are currently fully committed.

Priority Areas

The trust's charitable objects encompass:

• Education in the Arts: Particularly for those disadvantaged by poverty, disability, ill health, youth or age, and students attending performing arts colleges
• Animal Welfare: Education of the public on matters pertaining to animal welfare and the prevention of cruelty among animals
• Education and Poverty Relief: For those disadvantaged by youth, age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
• Environmental Conservation: Promotion of conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment
• Health and Saving Lives: Advancement of health for the saving of lives

The trust specifically supports organizations working across:

• Arts, culture, heritage, and science
• Animals (rescue, centres, and welfare)
• Disability services
• Education and training
• Environment, conservation, and heritage
• Overseas aid and famine relief
• Prevention or relief of poverty
• Advancement of health or saving of lives

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, though the trust only supports registered charities, not individuals.

Ready to write a winning application for The Scotshill Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

The Scotshill Trust is governed by three trustees who serve without remuneration or benefits. The names of individual trustees are not prominently published in publicly available sources. The trust operates with no employees earning over £60,000 and has no trading subsidiaries. All funds are held as unrestricted reserves (100% of total funds), providing trustees with maximum flexibility in their grant-making decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Scotshill Trust does not have a formal public application process or online portal. Applications must be submitted in writing to:

The Scotshill Trust

Castlegarth

Scott Lane

Wetherby

LS22 6LH

Or via email: charity@castlegarth.com

Important Note: The trust's funds are currently fully committed. While written applications are accepted, unsuccessful appeals may not be acknowledged. This suggests a highly selective, trustee-driven approach to grant-making.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the discretionary nature of the trust and that funds are currently committed, applicants should expect that decisions may take considerable time or that new applications may not be considered until current commitments conclude.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The fact that funds are fully committed suggests high demand relative to available resources and likely very low success rates for unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. The trust notes that unsuccessful appeals may not be acknowledged, suggesting that feedback or encouragement to reapply may not be provided.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about the trust's grant-making decisions, the following factors are likely important:

• Registered Charity Status: Only registered charities are eligible for support
• Alignment with Charitable Objects: Applications that clearly align with one or more of the trust's five charitable objects will be essential
• Trustee Discretion: All decisions rest with the three-person trustee board, suggesting that applications demonstrating clear charitable impact and efficient use of funds will be favored
• Timing: With funds currently fully committed, applications may need to wait for future funding cycles or until current commitments are fulfilled
• Clear Written Applications: Since applications must be in writing and there is no formal application form, clarity, conciseness, and professional presentation will be important

The trust's statement that unsuccessful appeals may not be acknowledged suggests applicants should be prepared for limited feedback and should only apply if there is strong alignment with the trust's objects.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Currently Closed: Funds are fully committed at present; be prepared for potential delays or rejection due to lack of available funds
• Discretionary Grant-Making: Success depends entirely on trustee discretion with no published criteria or guidelines
• Broad Charitable Remit: The trust supports a wide range of causes from arts education to animal welfare to environmental conservation
• Registered Charities Only: Only registered charitable organizations are eligible; individuals cannot apply
• Limited Communication: Unsuccessful applications may not receive acknowledgement or feedback
• Written Applications Required: No online application system; professional written applications to the postal or email address are required
• Financial Stability: The trust maintains strong reserves and consistent annual giving, suggesting it will continue as a funding source once current commitments are fulfilled

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Toby and Regina Wyles Charitable Trust
• The John Hemingway Charitable Trust
• The Weldon UK Charitable Trust
• E B M Charitable Trust
• INVESTREAM CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Mosselson Charitable Trust
• The Dischma Charitable Trust
• The Doouss Charitable Trust
• The Musk-Burton Family Trust
• Coral Samuel Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, The Scotshill Trust (1113071), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1113071&subId=0
• Giving is Great, The Scotshill Trust Charity Factsheet, https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1113071
• Charity Choice, The Scotshill Trust, https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-scotshill-trust-44890