The Sunninghill Trust (fuel Allotment)

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 240061
• Annual Income: £247,996 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £117,549 (2024)
• Decision Time: Maximum 12 weeks from acknowledgement (urgent cases expedited)
• Grant Range: Varies - from cost-of-living support to £11,000+ for specialist equipment
• Geographic Focus: Sunninghill, Ascot, and South Ascot (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire)

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 4712, Ascot, SL5 9AA

Phone: 01344 206320

Email: help@thesunninghilltrust.org

Website: www.thesunninghilltrust.org

Overview

The Sunninghill Trust, officially registered as FUEL ALLOTMENT (Charity Number 240061), is a local grant-giving charity with deep historical roots in the community. Founded in 1817 following an inclosure award made under the Windsor Forest Inclosure Act 1813, the Trust was originally established to provide winter fuel and ground for allotments for the poor and needy of the Parish. The Trust received 112 acres of land in Sunninghill Bog (South Ascot) specifically granted to the poor in lieu of their right to cut fuel from common or waste lands.

Today, the Trust continues its charitable mission with an annual income of £247,996 and expenditure of £117,549 (2024 financial year). The Trust operates as an unincorporated charity managed by five trustees with no employed staff. Beyond grant-making, the Trust manages community land including 45 allotment plots across three sites, parks, sports fields, woodlands, and grazing paddocks. The Trust believes “everyone deserves to live with dignity, comfort and peace” and provides impactful support in the local area to both individuals and organisations.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas (in order)

1. Relief of Poverty - Primary objective to relieve poverty among inhabitants of the Parish of Sunninghill and South Ascot
2. Relief of Age or Sickness - Assistance to the sick and elderly in the community
3. Supporting Recreational Facilities - Support for facilities that improve social welfare and quality of life
4. Supporting Educational Facilities - Educational support and facilities for local residents

Who They Fund

• Individuals: People in the local area experiencing hardship, sickness, disability, or old age
• Groups and Organizations: Local schools, charities, community organizations, and voluntary bodies serving the area
• Beneficiary Categories: Children and young people, elderly people, people with disabilities, other charities/voluntary bodies

Examples of Recent Grants

• £11,000 to Martha McCarthy for specialist equipment (Innowalk) for mobility support
• Multi-year funding to Charters School for “Strategies for Success Day” - motivational study skills workshops for Year 11 GCSE students, including staffing costs to support vulnerable students
• Cost-of-living support for individuals facing financial hardship
• Community events and programs through allotments and recreational facilities

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals or groups that would otherwise be the responsibility of central or local government, health trusts or health authorities
• Substantially government-funded organizations or projects
• Retrospective funding - needs that have already been addressed
• Organizations or individuals outside the Sunninghill, Ascot, and South Ascot geographic area

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Governance and Leadership

Board Structure

The Trust has five Trustees with clearly defined appointment mechanisms:

• 1 Ex-officio Trustee: The Vicar of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Michael and All Angels, Sunninghill
• 2 Nominative Trustees: Appointed by Sunninghill & Ascot Parish Council, with four-year terms
• 2 Co-optative Trustees: Appointed by the existing Trustee body and drawn from the local community, with five-year terms

Current Trustees (as of 2024)

1. William Dalton, ACA - Chair
2. Rebecca Jane Priscilla Munro Seear
3. Rev Tansley Jordan (Ex-officio)
4. Matthew Barnard
5. Mr W Phelan

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust seeks value-driven individuals with close connections to the parish who want to make a difference in the local community.

Governance Approach

The trustees take an active role in their grant-making, and may research the area of need, request help from specialist advisors, and make visits to bring forward suitable proposals. They also conduct follow-up visits to assess what is being achieved and any lessons resulting from the grants.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted at any time on a rolling basis. The Clerk is available to review requests and deal with correspondence regularly. Applications or enquiries can be made via:

• Email: help@thesunninghilltrust.org
• Post: PO Box 4712, Ascot, SL5 9AA
• Phone: 01344 206320 (to discuss eligibility)

Applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposal fits the Trust's specific areas of interest, particularly:

• How it addresses poverty, sickness/age, recreational needs, or educational needs
• The connection to Sunninghill, Ascot, or South Ascot
• Why the need cannot be met through statutory funding sources

All applications and enquiries of eligibility will be treated in total confidence.

Decision Timeline

1. Acknowledgement: All applications receive a standard acknowledgement letter or email
2. Review Period: The Trustees hold formal meetings quarterly for standard applications
3. Maximum Decision Time: If your proposal is a candidate for support, you will hear within a maximum of 12 weeks of the acknowledgement
4. Urgent Cases: Urgent applications will be expedited at the discretion of the Trust

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the Trust is actively seeking suitable beneficiaries and states they are “always pleased to learn of new suitable beneficiaries,” suggesting they welcome appropriate applications.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly specified. Contact the Trust directly to discuss reapplication opportunities.

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Values

1. Geographic Connection: Strong connection to Sunninghill, Ascot, and South Ascot is essential
2. Clear Fit with Priorities: Proposals must “demonstrably and closely fit” their specific areas of interest
3. Genuine Need: Focus on needs that cannot be met through statutory funding sources
4. Impact Potential: The Trust actively researches areas of need and evaluates outcomes through follow-up visits

The Active Trustee Approach

Unlike many funders, the Sunninghill Trust's trustees take a hands-on approach. They:

• Research the area of need independently
• Request help from specialist advisors
• Make site visits to identify and assess proposals
• Conduct follow-up visits to evaluate impact

This means strong applications should:

• Welcome trustee engagement and site visits
• Be prepared to provide detailed information about needs and impact
• Demonstrate sustainability and measurable outcomes
• Show connection to the local community

Evidence from Funded Projects

The Trust has demonstrated commitment to:

• Multi-year support: Funded Charters School's Strategies for Success Day for consecutive years after seeing results (students achieved 1/3 of a grade higher on average than predicted)
• Substantial individual grants: £11,000 for specialist equipment shows willingness to fund significant needs
• Beyond one-off grants: Provides staffing costs and ongoing support, not just equipment
• Cost-of-living support: Responsive to current community needs

Language and Approach

The Trust uses language focused on dignity, comfort, and peace. Successful applications should:

• Demonstrate how support will improve quality of life
• Show understanding of local community needs
• Avoid jargon - use clear, accessible language
• Focus on people and impact, not just programs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Geographic eligibility is strict - Only applications benefiting residents of Sunninghill, Ascot, and South Ascot will be considered; demonstrate clear local connection

1. Priority matters - The Trust has a clear hierarchy: poverty relief comes first, followed by age/sickness support, then recreational and educational facilities

1. Government substitution is prohibited - Never position your request as something statutory bodies should fund; demonstrate the gap you're filling

1. No retrospective funding - Only apply for future needs; already-incurred costs are not eligible

1. Be ready for trustee engagement - The trustees take an active role including site visits and follow-up; this is a relationship-based funder

1. Demonstrate impact - The Charters School example shows they value measurable outcomes and will continue funding successful initiatives

1. Rolling basis with quarterly meetings - Apply when ready, but understand standard applications are reviewed quarterly (urgent cases can be expedited)

1. Confidentiality is assured - The Trust emphasizes that all applications are treated in confidence, helpful for sensitive individual cases

1. They want to hear from you - The Trust actively states they are “always pleased to learn of new suitable beneficiaries,” suggesting an open and welcoming approach

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Wokingham United Charities
• The Shanly Foundation
• The David Brownlow Charitable Foundation
• The Prince Philip Trust Fund
• The Earley Charity
• Waterside Community Fund
• The Eight Foundation
• Berkshire Community Foundation
• GREENHAM TRUST LTD
• Baldwin's Bridge Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: FUEL ALLOTMENT - Charity Number 240061. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/240061/full-print

• The Sunninghill Trust Official Website. Available at: https://thesunninghilltrust.org/

• The Sunninghill Trust Grant Requests & How to Apply page. Available at: https://thesunninghilltrust.org/index.php/grant-requests-how-to-apply-2/

• Charters School News: “The Sunninghill Trust Sponsor Strategies For Success Day.” Available at: https://www.chartersschool.org.uk/66/news/post/381/the-sunninghill-trust-sponsor-strategies-for-success-day

• British History Online: Parishes: Sunninghill. Available at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol3/pp134-136

• The Sunninghill Trust LinkedIn Profile. Available at: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/the-sunninghill-trust

• BK This and That: “A Potted History of Sunninghill and Ascot.” Available at: https://bkthisandthat.org.uk/potted-history-of-sunninghill-and-ascot/