The Thompson Family Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 326801

Annual Expenditure: £7.7M
Throughout England And Wales

Contact Info

Website:None

Phone:01608 676789

Email:roycopus@btconnect.com

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £14,330,000 (year ended 31 January 2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Variable - trustees meet as regularly as necessary
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £7,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales
  • Total Giving Since 1985: Over £103 million

Contact Details

Address: Hillsdown Court, 15 Totteridge Common, London, N20 8LR

Email: roycopus@btconnect.com

Phone: 01608 676789

Contact Person: Roy Copus, Trustee

Website: None

Note: The Trust does not maintain a website or formal application form.

Overview

The Thompson Family Charitable Trust was founded in 1985 by David Thompson CBE and Patricia Thompson CBE, both prominent figures in horseracing through their ownership of Cheveley Park Stud near Newmarket. Patricia Thompson explained the Trust's founding motivation: “We felt that we would like to help others less fortunate than ourselves.” Following David Thompson's death in 2020, the Trust continues under the stewardship of Patricia Thompson, daughter Katie Woodward, and Roy Copus. Since inception, the Trust has distributed over £103 million in grants to UK charities. The Trust operates as a discretionary family-based grant-making charity, awarding grants ranging from £1,000 to multi-million pound commitments. Annual giving has grown significantly, from £8,866,500 in 2022 to £14,330,000 in 2023. David and Patricia Thompson were each awarded CBEs for their philanthropic work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single discretionary grant program with no fixed deadlines or specific funding streams. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £7,500,000
  • Typical Grants: Most grants range from £1,000 to £50,000, with occasional larger grants of £100,000 and £200,000
  • Application Method: Rolling basis - applications accepted at any time in writing

Priority Areas

The Trust regularly supports charities working in:

  • Health and Medical Research: Including major hospital projects and medical research initiatives
  • Children and Young People: Supporting organizations serving vulnerable children
  • Animal Welfare: Reflecting the founders' connection to horseracing
  • Arts and Culture: Supporting cultural institutions and programs
  • Disability: Organizations supporting disabled individuals
  • Food Poverty/Food Banks: Addressing food insecurity
  • Hospices: End-of-life care provision
  • Sport: Particularly sport-related charities including Racing Welfare

What They Don't Fund

The Trust's specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As it accepts applications from “all categories of UK registered charity,” the focus appears to be on the quality and impact of the work rather than strict sectoral limitations.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Patricia Thompson CBE - Co-founder and Trustee. Patricia and her late husband David purchased Cheveley Park Stud in 1975, building it into one of Britain's leading horseracing operations. She remains actively involved in both the stud and the Trust.

Katie Woodward - Trustee. Daughter of David and Patricia Thompson, ensuring continuity of the family's charitable mission.

Roy Copus - Trustee and primary contact for applications.

Leadership Perspective

Patricia Thompson on the Trust's founding: “The Trust was set up in 1985. We felt that we would like to help others less fortunate than ourselves.”

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted in writing to:

  • Roy Copus, Trustee
  • The Thompson Family Charitable Trust
  • Hillsdown Court, 15 Totteridge Common
  • London, N20 8LR
  • Email: roycopus@btconnect.com
  • Phone: 01608 676789

Process:

  • Applications may be made at any time (rolling basis)
  • No formal application form
  • Initial applications should be in writing
  • No website or online portal
  • Applications invited from all categories of UK registered charity

Decision Timeline

The Trustees meet as regularly as necessary to assess grant applications. There is no fixed meeting schedule or deadline cycle, meaning decision timelines are variable and not publicly specified.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. The Trust does not publish data on the number of applications received versus grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Given the rolling application process and discretionary nature of the Trust, unsuccessful applicants should contact the trustees directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Notable Recent Grants

Cambridge Children's Hospital/Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust - £7,500,000 (2023): This single grant represented over half of the Trust's 2023 annual giving, demonstrating capacity for transformational funding of major capital projects in healthcare.

Racing Welfare - Over £1,000,000 cumulative (since 2013): The Trust has supported Racing Welfare since 2013, with donations now exceeding £1 million including a recent £100,000 grant. Patricia Thompson serves as a trustee of Racing Welfare, illustrating how personal connections and understanding of a charity's work can lead to sustained, long-term funding relationships.

Key Success Factors

Personal Connection and Understanding: The Racing Welfare example demonstrates that trustee familiarity with an organization's work can result in sustained multi-year support. The Trust values deep understanding of a charity's operations and impact.

Scale and Ambition: The £7.5 million grant to Cambridge Children's Hospital shows the Trust is willing to make transformational gifts to major capital appeals, not just operational funding.

Alignment with Founders' Values: Given the founders' background in horseracing and expressed desire to “help others less fortunate,” applications demonstrating clear impact on vulnerable populations appear well-positioned.

Range of Giving: With grants from £1,000 to £7.5 million, the Trust supports both small grassroots charities and major institutions. This suggests they evaluate impact relative to scale rather than size alone.

Application Tips

  • Keep it Simple: With no formal application form or website, the Trust values straightforward written applications
  • Be Clear About Impact: Demonstrate how the grant will help those “less fortunate”
  • Build Relationships: Long-term support (like Racing Welfare) suggests relationship-building is valued
  • Consider Timing: Rolling applications mean you can apply when ready rather than waiting for deadlines
  • All Sizes Welcome: Don't self-select out based on grant size needed - the range is exceptionally wide

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Wide Grant Range: The Trust funds from £1,000 to multi-million pound projects, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes seeking different levels of support
  • Relationship-Driven: Long-term funding relationships (Racing Welfare: over £1 million since 2013) suggest building trustee understanding of your work can lead to sustained support
  • Transformational Potential: The £7.5 million Cambridge Children's Hospital grant demonstrates willingness to make game-changing investments in major capital projects
  • Simple Process: No website, online portal, or complex forms - straightforward written applications are preferred
  • Broad Sectoral Interest: Support spans health, children, animals, arts, disability, food poverty, hospices, and sport - demonstrating genuine “general charitable purposes” approach
  • Family Values: Founded with mission to “help others less fortunate” - applications should clearly articulate impact on vulnerable or disadvantaged beneficiaries
  • Variable Timeline: No fixed deadlines or meeting schedule means decision times are unpredictable - apply when ready but be prepared for variable response times

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References

  1. UK Charity Commission Register - The Thompson Family Charitable Trust (Charity Number 326801). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=326801&subid=0 []
  1. PAVO (2015). “The Thompson Family Charitable Trust.” Available at: https://www.pavo.org.uk/news/the-thompson-family-charitable-trust/ []
  1. Third Sector Leaders Kirklees. “The Thompson Family Charitable Trust.” Available at: https://tslkirklees.org.uk/view/view-all-funding-resources/entry/the-thompson-family-charitable-trust-tsl-kirklees-35253/ []
  • Quote: “The Trust was set up in 1985. We felt that we would like to help others less fortunate than ourselves.” - Patricia Thompson
  1. UK Charity Commission - Trustees Register. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/326801/trustees []
  1. Racing Post (2020). “David Thompson, influential Cheveley Park Stud owner-breeder, dies aged 84.” Available at: https://www.racingpost.com/news/cheveley-park-stud-owner-david-thompson-dies-at-the-age-of-84-aDIL11t61nDC/ []
  1. Bath and North East Somerset Council. “The Thompson Family Charitable Trust.” Available at: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/89138 []