The Thamesfield Youth Association

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Not publicly available
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: £20,000 - £50,000
• Geographic Focus: Henley-on-Thames and surrounding neighbourhood

Contact Details

Phone: 07973253328

Registered Address: 10 Jarvis Drive, Twyford, Reading, RG10 9EW

Charity Number: 304315

The charity does not maintain a public website or email contact.

Overview

The Thamesfield Youth Association was founded in 1943 to manage a trust established with funds bequeathed by Viscount Hambleden for young people in the Henley area. Initially operating the Henley Youth Centre, the charity underwent a strategic transformation in July 2015 when it sold the youth centre building and shifted to a grant-making model. The trustees now invest the sale proceeds and distribute investment income to fund youth work within Henley through grants to charities and projects.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The charity operates a discretionary grant-making programme funded by investment income from the sale of the former Henley Youth Centre. There is no formal public application process - grants appear to be awarded at the trustees' discretion.

Known Grant Awards:

• Nomad Youth & Community Project: Largest single beneficiary from £200,000 total distributed to local causes; receives substantial annual donations from the charity
• Eyot Boat Centre: £35,000 for waterfront development
• Henley Skate Park Project: £20,000 for facility development at Makins recreation ground

Application Method: Invitation only/trustee discretion - no public application process documented

Priority Areas

The charity's objective, as stated in its governing documents, is “the promotion of the social, moral, and physical well-being of boys and girls whether resident permanently or temporarily in the neighbourhood by the provision of facilities for social and physical training and recreation.”

Focus areas include:

• Youth work services
• Social and physical training facilities for young people
• Community development for children and young people
• Recreation facilities
• Amateur sport
• Education and training for youth

Geographic Focus: Henley-on-Thames and the immediate surrounding neighbourhood

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the charity's focus is strictly limited to youth work within the Henley-on-Thames area. Organisations outside this geographic area or those not serving children and young people would be outside the charity's remit.

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Governance and Leadership

Chair of Trustees: Clive Wilkinson

Trustees: Trustees include Clive Wilkinson (Chair) and Gill Dodds. No trustees receive remuneration or benefits from the charity.

Clive Wilkinson has spoken publicly about the charity's grant-making approach, noting regarding Nomad: "They get real, tangible results and do make a difference to young people's lives." This suggests the trustees value demonstrable impact and outcomes in their funding decisions.

How to Apply to The Thamesfield Youth Association

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Thamesfield Youth Association operates as a discretionary grant-maker with funding decisions made by the board of trustees. There is no application portal, published application guidelines, or documented deadline structure.

Based on available evidence, grants appear to be awarded through:

• Trustee knowledge of local youth organisations
• Established relationships with beneficiaries (such as the ongoing annual donations to Nomad)
• Trustee-initiated outreach to projects aligned with the charity's objectives

Getting on Their Radar

Trustee Connection: Clive Wilkinson chairs the trustees and has been publicly identified as a key decision-maker. Gill Dodds, also a trustee, has been involved in local Henley community work, suggesting trustees have strong connections to the Henley area.

The Eyot Centre Connection: The Thamesfield Youth Association continues to hold the lease for the Eyot Centre from Oxfordshire County Council, suggesting ongoing involvement with this specific facility. Organisations working with or through the Eyot Centre may have increased visibility to the trustees.

Established Beneficiary Pattern: The charity makes large annual donations to Nomad Youth & Community Project, indicating a preference for sustained support to organisations demonstrating consistent impact rather than one-off project funding.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. Given the lack of formal application cycles, the timing of funding decisions appears to be at the trustees' discretion.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since there is no public application process, success in securing funding from The Thamesfield Youth Association depends on factors distinct from traditional grant applications:

Demonstrated Impact: Chair Clive Wilkinson's comment about Nomad getting “real, tangible results” indicates the trustees prioritise measurable outcomes and evidence of making a genuine difference to young people's lives in Henley.

Geographic Specificity: All known grant recipients operate within Henley-on-Thames. The charity's objectives explicitly reference “the neighbourhood,” suggesting a tight geographic focus rather than broader Oxfordshire-wide funding.

Sustained Relationships: The pattern of making “a large donation to Nomad every year” (Wilkinson's words) indicates the charity values ongoing partnerships with proven organisations rather than supporting new applicants each year.

Youth Facility Provision: Funded projects include infrastructure for youth activities (waterfront development, skate park), aligning with the charity's original purpose of “provision of facilities for social and physical training and recreation.”

Organisations Funded:

• Nomad Youth & Community Project (mentoring, bike maintenance workshops, life-skills programmes, 1:1 parent support)
• Eyot Centre (water sports and outdoor activities for young people)
• Henley Skate Park (recreational facility)

All beneficiaries provide direct facilities or activities for young people rather than advocacy or research work.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: This funder does not accept unsolicited grant applications - funding is distributed at trustee discretion to organisations they identify
• Hyper-Local Focus: All funding stays within Henley-on-Thames; organisations outside this area should not expect consideration
• Relationship-Based: Successful beneficiaries have ongoing relationships with the charity, with Nomad receiving annual donations as the primary beneficiary
• Results-Driven: Trustees value “real, tangible results” and demonstrable impact on young people's lives
• Facility-Oriented: Recent grants have supported physical infrastructure and facilities for youth activities, consistent with the charity's historic role operating the youth centre
• Connection Through Community: Trustees have strong Henley community connections; local visibility and reputation matter more than formal applications
• Limited Total Giving: With Nomad receiving the majority of funding as the largest beneficiary from grants distributed to local causes, limited funding is available for other organisations

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Henley Educational Trust
• The Helen Roll Charity
• Old Charity Of Thomas Dawson (2024)
• The Shanly Foundation
• The Greaves & Withey Foundation
• Oxfordshire Community Foundation
• The Stanton Ballard Charitable Trust
• Doris Field Charitable Trust
• House Project Centre
• The Davidge Usher Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities. “The Thamesfield Youth Association - 304315.” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/304315
• Henley Herald. “Nomad Continues to Build on Services for Young People and Families in Need.” November 16, 2018. https://www.henleyherald.com/2018/11/16/nomad-continues-to-build-on-services-for-young-people-and-families-in-need/
• Henley Herald. "Eyot Boat Centre Celebrates 75 Years & Plans to Build New Waterfront." August 7, 2018. https://www.henleyherald.com/2018/08/07/eyot-boat-centre-celebrates-75-years-plans-to-build-new-waterfront/
• Henley Standard. “Charity helping disadvantaged young people to discover hope.” https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/clubs-and-associations/132958/charity-helping-disadvantaged-young-people-to-discover-hope.html
• Henley Standard. “New £290,000 skate park should be ready by summer.” https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/highmoor/104450/new-290-000-skate-park-should-be-ready-by-summer.html
• Eyot Centre. “About the Eyot Centre.” https://eyotcentre.wordpress.com/about/ (Accessed from web search)