The Steel Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 272384

Annual Expenditure: £1.2M
Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website:www.steelcharitabletrust.org.uk

Phone:01582 240601

Email:info@steelcharitabletrust.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,193,541 (year ended 31 January 2024)
  • Total Assets: Approximately £32 million
  • Success Rate: Approximately 5% (highly competitive)
  • Decision Time: 8-12 weeks (quarterly review cycle)
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £50,000 (depending on fund)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (separate streams for Luton and rest of UK)

Contact Details

Overview

The Steel Charitable Trust is a family trust founded in February 1976 with an initial endowment of £100. Over the past 40+ years, it has grown into a significant grant-maker with assets of approximately £32 million, awarding around £1.2-1.5 million annually to UK charities. Following a strategic review in August 2024, the Trust implemented a major restructure of its grant-making programmes for 2025-2030. The Trust now focuses exclusively on two funding streams: the Luton Matters Fund (supporting projects within Luton) and the United Kingdom Under-26 Fund (supporting youth work across the UK, excluding Luton). This strategic shift reflects the Trust's commitment to creating educational and access opportunities for those facing economic challenges, social marginalisation, or poor outcomes in later life. The Trust is notable for its transparency about highly competitive success rates (approximately 5%) and its commitment to both project and core costs funding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Luton Matters Fund

  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £50,000
  • Focus: Projects wholly or mainly delivered within Luton town boundary for the benefit of residents
  • Application Method: Open applications via online portal
  • Review Cycle: Quarterly meetings in mid-June, mid-September, and mid-December
  • Application Period: 10 March 2025 to 30 September 2025
  • Grant Types: One-off grants, typically as single payments

2. United Kingdom Under-26 Fund

  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £25,000
  • Focus: Charities working with young people up to age 25 anywhere in the UK except Luton
  • Priority: Creating educational and/or access opportunities for those facing economic challenges, social marginalisation, or poor outcomes
  • Application Method: Online form via BenefactorCloud system
  • Review Cycle: Quarterly (mid-March, mid-June, mid-September, mid-December)
  • Important Note: Open applications close 15 July 2025; from 2026, this becomes an invitation-only fund

Priority Areas (Historical Context)

Prior to 2025, the Trust funded across five categories:

  • Arts and Heritage: Cultural projects and heritage preservation
  • Education: Educational programmes and access
  • Environment: Environmental regeneration and conservation
  • Health: Mental health support (all demographics) and healthcare for older people
  • Social or Economic Disadvantage: Work with disadvantaged children, housing, and homelessness

Applicants may apply for capital projects, specific projects, research programmes, and/or core costs.

What They Don't Fund

  • Explicitly religious purposes (though religious organisations can apply for secular charitable work such as food banks or historic building maintenance)
  • Work delivered outside the UK
  • For UK Under-26 Fund: Work delivered in Luton (use Luton Matters Fund instead)
  • Organisations with annual income below £50,000
  • Projects requiring less than £10,000 (minimum grant size)
  • Organisations without at least one full year of accounts

Governance and Leadership

The Trust is registered as an unincorporated charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 272384).

Current Trustees

  • Dr M. Natalie P. Briggs - Chair (appointed 25 November 2008)
  • Mrs Wendy E. Bailey - Trustee (appointed 25 November 2008)
  • Mr Peter Day - Trustee (appointed 8 December 2020)
  • Mr Philip C. Lawford - Trustee (appointed 25 November 2008)
  • Mr Nicholas E.W. Wright - Trustee (appointed 15 September 1976, founding trustee)

The Trust was created by Mr and Mrs Steel alongside Nicholas Wright, who remains a trustee nearly 50 years later, providing remarkable continuity of vision and values.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Registration Required: Create an account on the Trust's BenefactorCloud portal at https://tsct.benefactorcloud.co.uk/
  2. Online Application Only: Applications must be submitted via the online form; hard copy applications are not accepted
  3. Partial Completion Allowed: Applications can be saved and returned to later; you do not need to complete in one sitting
  4. Preview Available: Applicants may preview application questions before beginning
  5. Supporting Documents: Upload supporting materials including grant funding plan with budget via the application form

Eligibility Check

Before applying, carefully review the Trust's grant-making policy (available on their website) even if you have applied before, as criteria may change.

Decision Timeline

UK Under-26 Fund (2025 cycle):

  • Applications received 18 Nov - 10 Jan (noon): Reviewed mid-March, decision by end of March
  • Applications received 10 Mar - 15 Apr: Reviewed mid-June, decision by end of June
  • Applications received 16 Apr - 15 Jul: Reviewed mid-September, decision by end of September
  • Applications received 16 Jul - 15 Oct: Reviewed mid-December, decision by end of December

Luton Matters Fund:

  • Applications received 10 March - 30 September 2025
  • Quarterly review meetings in mid-June, mid-September, and mid-December
  • Decisions communicated shortly after each meeting

Typical timeframe: 8-12 weeks from submission to decision

Success Rates

The Trust is transparent about its highly competitive nature:

  • Historical success rate: No more than 5% in recent years
  • The Trust has been receiving far more applications than funds available for many years
  • In 2022-23: 100 grants awarded from significantly more applications received
  • The Trust states the success rate has recently shown signs of decreasing

The Trust notes: “It is too early to state what the likely success rate is for the new structure, but this will be monitored and the fund criteria reviewed as necessary, with meaningful data about success rates to be published when it becomes available.”

Reapplication Policy

  • Unsuccessful applicants: May re-apply from 12 months after the date of their most recent application
  • One application per 18 months rule: Groups may only make one application within any 18-month period (from the month of application), whether successful or not (unless specifically invited)
  • No individual feedback: Due to the high volume of applications, the Trust cannot provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants

Application Success Factors

Strategic Advice from the Trust

Submit Early: “Applicants are encouraged to submit applications early in the application period to allow more time for their review.”

Complete Preparation: Before applying, thoroughly review eligibility criteria and the grant-making policy. Ensure your organisation meets all requirements including the £50,000 minimum annual income threshold.

Budget Planning: Submit a grant funding plan with a detailed budget showing how funds will be used.

Recently Funded Projects (Examples of Success)

Luton-Based:

  • Azalea: Support for women trafficked for sex work; grant funded an Anti-Sex Trafficking worker operating from a mobile safe space
  • Culture Trust Luton (March 2023, Arts & Heritage): Public art commissions and public engagement activity
  • Dallow Primary School: Full-time teacher for targeted interventions in English and Maths, closing learning gaps from Covid-19
  • Groundwork East (March 2022, Environment): River Lea regeneration project in Luton

National:

  • End Violence Against Women Coalition (2022): Core costs supporting work on sexual harassment and abuse in schools, widely used by local authorities

Key Themes in Successful Applications

  • Clear demonstration of impact on beneficiaries facing economic challenges or social marginalisation
  • Focus on educational and access opportunities for disadvantaged groups
  • Core costs and project costs both considered (don't assume core costs won't be funded)
  • Strong financial management demonstrated through accounts
  • Geographic specificity - ensure correct fund (Luton vs UK Under-26)
  • Age appropriateness - UK Under-26 Fund requires work with people up to age 25

Understanding the Competition

With only 5% success rate, applications must be exceptional. The Trust awards around 100 grants annually but receives many times that number in applications. Quality and strategic alignment are crucial.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Highly competitive - With a 5% success rate, only apply if you are a strong strategic fit; ensure your application is exceptionally well-prepared and clearly demonstrates alignment with Trust priorities.
  1. Strategic timing - The UK Under-26 Fund will become invitation-only from 2026. If you're eligible, apply before the 15 July 2025 deadline for open applications.
  1. Choose the right fund - Luton organisations should apply to Luton Matters Fund (higher grants up to £50,000 possible); youth work outside Luton should apply to UK Under-26 Fund (£10,000-£25,000).
  1. Focus on disadvantaged groups - Emphasise how your work creates educational and access opportunities for those facing economic challenges, social marginalisation, or poor life outcomes.
  1. Core costs are fundable - Don't hesitate to apply for core costs; the Trust explicitly welcomes applications for core funding, not just project costs.
  1. Manage reapplication expectations - If unsuccessful, you must wait 12 months to reapply. Make your first application count by ensuring full eligibility and strong strategic alignment.
  1. Prepare financially - Meet the £50,000 minimum income threshold and ensure you have at least one full year of accounts ready to submit.

Similar Funders

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References

  1. The Steel Charitable Trust official website - www.steelcharitabletrust.org.uk
  2. The Steel Charitable Trust - Grants page: https://steelcharitabletrust.org.uk/grants/
  3. The Steel Charitable Trust - UK Under-26 Fund: https://steelcharitabletrust.org.uk/uk-under-26-fund/
  4. The Steel Charitable Trust - Luton Matters Fund: https://steelcharitabletrust.org.uk/grants/luton-matters/
  5. The Steel Charitable Trust - Application Process: https://steelcharitabletrust.org.uk/uk-under-26-fund/united-kingdom-under-26-fund-application-process/
  6. The Steel Charitable Trust - Governance and Administration: https://steelcharitabletrust.org.uk/about-us-2/administration/
  7. Charity Commission Register - The Steel Charitable Trust (272384): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/272384
  8. Supporting Communities - “Steel Charitable Trust Reopens for 2025 with New Funding Strategy”: https://supportingcommunities.org/funding-news-1/2024/11/27/steel-charitable-trust-reopens-for-2025-with-new-funding-strategy
  9. The Steel Charitable Trust - Recently Supported Projects: https://steelcharitabletrust.org.uk/showcase/recently-supported-projects-current/
  10. Funding Scotland - The Steel Charitable Trust: https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000003hmmYEAQ/the-steel-charitable-trust