The Shoe Zone Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £357,418 (2024)
• Annual Income: £588,649 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Leicestershire and Rutland; also Philippines and other international locations

Contact Details

Registered Office:

The Shoe Zone Trust

Shoe Zone, Haramead Business Centre

Humberstone Road

Leicester

LE1 2LH

Phone: 0116 222 3000

Charity Number: 1112972

Overview

The Shoe Zone Trust was established by Declaration of Trust on 1 November 2005 by the Smith family, founders of the Shoe Zone retail business. The Trust operates as a private grant-making charity with annual giving of £357,418 (2024) from an annual income of £588,649. The Trust's mission focuses on relieving financial hardship and poverty and advancing education, primarily for children and young people under 18 years of age. While the Trust's primary geographic focus is Leicestershire and Rutland, it also supports selected charities in the Philippines and other countries. The Trust is managed by two trustees from the Smith family and has no employees. Since its founding, fundraising efforts through store collections and corporate activities have raised over £2.3 million (as of May 2022).

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The Trust makes grants and donations to other charities with the following objectives:

• Relief of financial hardship and poverty - Supporting charities that help those in financial need
• Advancement of education - Funding educational initiatives and opportunities
• Children and young persons under 18 - Primary beneficiary group for all funding activities
• Community activities - Supporting initiatives likely to have an impact on local communities

Geographic Focus

• Primary: Leicestershire and Rutland
• Secondary: Philippines and other international locations (selective basis)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Trust's focus on children and young people under 18 in specific geographic areas suggests limited support for:

• Projects outside Leicestershire/Rutland (unless international work in Philippines or selected countries)
• Initiatives not focused on children and young people
• Areas outside education and poverty relief

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (2 trustees)

• Mr John Charles Pennington Smith - Co-Founder and Trustee; Executive Chairman & Chief Operating Officer at Shoe Zone PLC
• Mr Anthony Edward Pennington Smith - Co-Founder and Trustee; Chief Executive Officer at Shoefayre Ltd.; Chairman at Uppingham School Foundation

The Trust is managed by members of the Smith family, who founded the Shoe Zone retail business. The family acquired controlling shares in Bensonshoe (founded by their grandfather) in 1980 and have built it into the national Shoe Zone chain. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust has no employees and operates with minimal administrative overhead, maximizing the proportion of income distributed as grants.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Shoe Zone Trust operates as a private family trust without published application guidelines, forms, or deadlines. Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their knowledge of charitable needs in their focus areas, connections through the Shoe Zone business network, and fundraising activities conducted through Shoe Zone stores.

The Trust raises funds through:

• Store-based fundraising collections across Shoe Zone retail locations
• Corporate fundraising activities at head office
• Staff-led fundraising initiatives

Beneficiary organizations appear to be identified through:

• The trustees' awareness of local charitable needs in Leicestershire and Rutland
• Relationships built through the Shoe Zone business presence
• Connections to the retail stores and head office community
• The family's personal philanthropic interests

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this trust, success in receiving funding would likely depend on:

1. Geographic alignment - Organizations operating in Leicestershire and Rutland have the highest likelihood, given this is where the Shoe Zone head office and distribution center are based

1. Focus on children and young people - The Trust's charitable objects explicitly prioritize children and young persons under 18, particularly in education and poverty relief

1. Existing relationship with Shoe Zone - The Trust has supported organizations like Leicester Charity Link (£4,000 raised in 2009-2010 through staff fundraising), suggesting preference for charities known to the company and its employees

1. Local presence and community impact - Organizations with visible community impact in areas where Shoe Zone has retail stores or operations

1. Complementary to business values - Charities aligned with the family business's community engagement approach

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process - This is a private family trust that does not accept unsolicited applications
• Geographic focus is critical - Strong preference for Leicestershire and Rutland, with selective international work in Philippines
• Children and youth oriented - All funding must benefit children and young people under 18
• Connection matters - Funding appears driven by trustees' knowledge and business relationships rather than competitive application processes
• Education and poverty relief - These are the two primary charitable objectives; projects should clearly address one or both
• Store fundraising model - Much of the Trust's funding comes from in-store collections, suggesting preference for charities that can engage with staff and customers
• Modest administrative costs - As a small, family-run trust with no employees, they can direct nearly all income to charitable activities

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE A AND R WOOLF CHARITABLE TRUST
• Brian and Jill Moss Charitable Trust
• The Guyll-Leng Charitable Trust
• Montier Charitable Trust
• The John Freeman Charitable Trust
• The Derek Raphael Charitable Trust
• The Ian & Natalie Livingstone Charitable Trust
• The Shanley Charitable Trust
• The Rest-Harrow Trust
• THE J AND H ORLANDER TRUST

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - The Shoe Zone Trust (Charity Number 1112972)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1112972

Accessed: December 2024

1. Charity Commission Financial Data - The Shoe Zone Trust

Financial year ending 31 December 2024: Income £588,649; Expenditure £357,418

Accessed: December 2024

1. Shoe Zone - Our Charities

https://www.shoezone.com/OurCharities

Accessed: December 2024

1. Shoe Zone - Local Charities

https://www.shoezone.com/LocalCharities

Accessed: December 2024

1. Charity Link - "Shoe Zone and Stead & Simpson raise £4,000 for Leicester Charity Link"

https://charity-link.org/shoe-zone-and-stead-simpson-raise-4000-for-leicester-charity-link-which-is-no-meen-feat/

Example of Trust's fundraising partnership (2009-2010)

Accessed: December 2024

1. OpenCharities - The Shoe Zone Trust

http://opencharities.org/charities/1112972

Accessed: December 2024