The South Street Green Room Foundation

Charity Number: 1120522

Annual Expenditure: £2.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,998,428 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Variable - trustees meet at least twice a year
  • Grant Range: Up to £100,000 (small, medium, and large grants)
  • Geographic Focus: UK and India (with some work in Kenya)

Contact Details

Address: Morley House, 36 Acreman Street, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3NX

Phone: 01935 817577

Email: Not available

Website: The foundation does not maintain a website

Note: Applications may be made at any time in writing to the address above.

Overview

THE SOUTH STREET GREEN ROOM FOUNDATION was registered as a charity in England & Wales on 9 August 2007 (Charity Number: 1120522). The foundation is a private grant-making charity with substantial assets, distributing approximately £2 million annually through its grant programs. Operating under the broad charitable purpose statement “for such charitable purposes as the trustees in their absolute discretion think fit,” the foundation has considerable flexibility in its funding decisions. However, it has demonstrated a clear preference for supporting health and education initiatives in the UK and India, with additional work in Kenya. The foundation's governance structure includes three trustees who meet at least twice a year to review grant proposals and make funding decisions. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers a flexible grant program with three funding tiers:

  • Small Grants: Under £10,000
  • Medium Grants: £10,000 - £50,000
  • Large Grants: £50,000 - £100,000

Applications may be made at any time on a rolling basis. Applications should be submitted in writing to the foundation's address.

Priority Areas

The foundation has a stated preference for supporting organisations working in:

  • Health and advancement of health or saving of lives
  • Education and training

Additional areas of activity include:

  • Prevention or relief of poverty
  • Economic/community development and employment
  • Arts, culture, heritage, and science
  • Environment, conservation, and heritage
  • Disability support
  • Overseas aid and famine relief
  • General charitable purposes

Geographic Focus

  • United Kingdom (primary)
  • India (primary)
  • Kenya (secondary)

Beneficiaries

The foundation supports:

  • Children and young people
  • Elderly people
  • People with disabilities
  • Other charities or voluntary bodies
  • The general public

Eligible Applicants

  • Registered charities
  • Community groups
  • Institutions
  • Occasionally, individuals

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly stated. Given the broad discretionary purpose, applicants should contact the foundation directly to confirm eligibility.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Dr Simon Singh (Trustee)

  • Renowned British popular science author and theoretical physicist
  • Author of bestselling books including "Fermat's Last Theorem,“ ”The Code Book,“ and ”Big Bang"
  • Founder of the Good Thinking Society (2012), a pro-science and anti-pseudoscience charity
  • Trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry
  • Patron of Humanists UK
  • MBE recipient
  • Background in BBC science documentary production (Tomorrow's World, Horizon)

Deborah Fisher (Trustee, appointed 1 December 2014)

  • Experienced charity trustee serving on multiple foundation boards including:
  • The Queen Anne's Gate Foundation
  • Broadwall Foundation
  • The Leslie Smith Foundation
  • The River Farm Foundation
  • Prospero World
  • Sloane Robinson Foundation
  • The Carnelian Trust

Sarah Cook (Trustee, appointed 29 December 2015)

  • Also serves as trustee of The Pakhar Foundation

All trustees serve without remuneration, and the foundation operates no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications may be made at any time in writing to:

THE SOUTH STREET GREEN ROOM FOUNDATION

Morley House

36 Acreman Street

Sherborne

Dorset, DT9 3NX

The foundation operates on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines. Applications are reviewed by the administrative team and forwarded to the trustees for consideration. Notably, trustees themselves also proactively identify and propose grants for consideration.

Decision Timeline

The trustees meet at least twice a year to discuss grant proposals and administrative matters. Given this meeting frequency, applicants should anticipate:

  • Minimum wait time: Up to 6 months (if application arrives just after a trustee meeting)
  • Potential for faster decisions if application timing aligns with scheduled meetings
  • No specific notification methods are publicly stated

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available. With annual expenditure of approximately £2 million and grants ranging up to £100,000, the foundation makes a substantial number of awards annually, though specific statistics are not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Prospective applicants should inquire directly when submitting applications.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Trustee Expertise

Given Dr Simon Singh's prominence as a science communicator, educator, and advocate for rational thinking, applications that demonstrate:

  • Strong evidence-based approaches
  • Educational value, particularly in STEM fields
  • Clear, logical presentation of project goals and outcomes
  • Measurable impact metrics

are likely to resonate with the foundation's decision-makers.

Geographic Focus

Priority appears to be given to projects in:

  • The UK (particularly for health and education initiatives)
  • India (the foundation's stated primary international focus)
  • Kenya (secondary international focus)

Health and Education Preference

The foundation has explicitly stated its preference for health and education projects. Applications in these areas should:

  • Clearly articulate the health or educational outcomes
  • Demonstrate long-term sustainability
  • Show how the project addresses specific community needs

Flexibility Advantage

The foundation's broad discretionary purpose statement provides significant flexibility. This means:

  • Creative or innovative projects may be considered even if they fall outside traditional categories
  • Multi-faceted projects addressing several charitable purposes may be well-received
  • Trustees can respond to emerging needs or opportunities

Proactive Grant-Making

The foundation notes that “the Trustees themselves make proposals for grants which are then considered,” indicating they actively identify funding opportunities rather than solely responding to applications. This suggests:

  • Building relationships with the foundation could be valuable
  • Strong organizational reputation may lead to proactive funding offers
  • Trustees are engaged and knowledgeable about the sectors they fund

Writing Your Application

  • Ensure clarity and conciseness in your written application
  • Provide specific financial details including the amount requested and budget breakdown
  • Explain alignment with health and/or education priorities where applicable
  • Demonstrate organizational credibility and track record
  • Include measurable outcomes and evaluation plans
  • Be prepared for a potentially lengthy decision timeline

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Broad Discretion: The foundation's wide-ranging charitable purpose allows for flexibility, but stated preferences are health and education initiatives.
  • Rolling Applications: No deadlines create flexibility in timing, but decisions occur only when trustees meet (at least twice yearly), potentially requiring 3-6 months' wait time.
  • Substantial Grants Available: With grants up to £100,000 and annual expenditure around £2 million, the foundation makes significant awards across three funding tiers.
  • International Scope: Geographic focus spans UK, India, and Kenya, providing opportunities for both domestic and international development projects.
  • Science and Evidence Focus: With Dr Simon Singh as a trustee, applications demonstrating evidence-based approaches, educational value, and measurable outcomes may have particular appeal.
  • Relationship-Driven: Trustees proactively identify funding opportunities, suggesting that building awareness of your organization with the foundation could lead to unsolicited support.
  • Limited Public Information: The foundation does not maintain a website, making direct written communication essential for clarifying eligibility and discussing project fit before formal application.

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