The Tony And Sheelagh Williams Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1065474

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £371,230 (Financial Year Ending April 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: Buckinghamshire

Contact Details

Address: 63 Burkes Road, Beaconsfield, HP9 1PW

Phone: 01494 678582

Email: info@tandswilliams.org

Website: www.tandswilliams.org

Overview

The Tony and Sheelagh Williams Charitable Foundation is an independent grant-making charity registered in England & Wales on 4 November 1997 (Charity Number: 1065474). The Foundation makes strategic investments focused on improving the lives of children and young people in or on the edge of care in Buckinghamshire. With an annual expenditure of £371,230 (FY 2024) and income of £205,281, the Foundation operates as a catalyst to harness the power of families and communities to find their own long-term and sustainable solutions. The Foundation is an active member of the Buckinghamshire Strategic Funders Group, collaborating with other local funders on joint initiatives addressing poverty, mental health provision, and representation of minority ethnic groups in the voluntary sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation's primary focus is on place-based, long-term collaborative approaches:

  • Thrive Partnership: The Foundation has partnered with Connection Support to establish Thrive, a new approach to supporting families facing adversity. The initiative aims to contribute to reducing the number of children in care and influence Children's Services so that timely support for families is prioritised. The Thrive program provides Family Liaison Workers who support vulnerable families in Aylesbury and High Wycombe with tailored programs addressing social, emotional, educational and health needs.
  • Care Leavers Support: The Foundation has supported collaborative work with The Clare Foundation, Buckinghamshire Council, and Transitions UK to provide holistic mentoring programmes for up to 30 care leavers.

Priority Areas

  • Children and young people in or on the edge of care in Buckinghamshire
  • Early intervention and family support to prevent children entering care
  • Support services for care leavers transitioning to independence
  • Community-driven solutions with long-term sustainability
  • Collaborative partnerships with other funders and local organisations

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the Foundation's tight geographic focus on Buckinghamshire and specific focus on children in/on the edge of care means they do not fund:

  • Organisations working outside Buckinghamshire
  • Projects not related to children and young people in care or at risk of entering care
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Madeleine Graham Harding (Chair of Trustees): Before taking a career break to raise her family, Madeleine held the post of Group Director of Operations at Williams Lea, where she was responsible for a turnover of just over £100 million with approximately 1,300 staff. She also serves as Chair of Trustees at the Child's i Foundation.
  • Philip Graham Williams: British national born in August 1958, with extensive experience in the Williams Lea Group of companies.
  • Sean Mountford Graham Williams: British national born in June 1963, with business experience across multiple companies.

The Foundation has three trustees, none of whom receive remuneration or payments for their service.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation is not open to unsolicited applications for funding.

All grants are awarded through trustee discretion, collaborative partnerships, and strategic initiatives identified by the Foundation. The Foundation takes a proactive approach to identifying organisations and projects that align with their mission, working closely with partners in the Buckinghamshire area.

The Foundation has stated: “The Foundation is not open to unsolicited applications for funding” but will “consider opportunities to support other organisations” and is open to potential collaborations on funding “as situations arise.”

Getting on Their Radar

Buckinghamshire Strategic Funders Group: The Foundation is an active member of this collaborative group, which meets monthly to support collective place-based focus on communities in Buckinghamshire. Other members include The Rothschild Foundation, Heart of Bucks Community Foundation, The Clare Foundation, Red Kite Housing, Paradigm Housing, Anson Charitable Trust, Link Foundation, Community Impact Bucks, Leap, and Buckinghamshire Council. Organisations working in Buckinghamshire on issues related to poverty, mental health, or support for minority ethnic groups may come to the Foundation's attention through this collaborative network.

Known Partners: The Foundation has established partnerships with Connection Support (Thrive initiative), The Clare Foundation, Buckinghamshire Council, and Transitions UK. These partnerships demonstrate their approach to funding - supporting collaborative, evidence-based initiatives with established organisations working in their priority areas.

Application Success Factors

Since the Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, success in securing funding depends on:

Strategic Alignment: Projects must directly support children and young people in or on the edge of care in Buckinghamshire. The Foundation is particularly interested in early intervention approaches that prevent children entering care.

Collaborative Approach: The Foundation favours partnerships and collaborative funding models, as evidenced by their membership in the Buckinghamshire Strategic Funders Group and their co-funding of initiatives like Thrive.

Community-Driven Solutions: The Foundation aims to “harness the power of families and communities” and help communities find “their own long term and sustainable solutions.” Proposals that empower families and communities rather than creating dependency are likely to align with their values.

Place-Based Focus: The Foundation takes a long-term, place-based approach focused specifically on Buckinghamshire, working with local partners who have deep knowledge of the communities they serve.

Evidence of Impact: While not explicitly stated, the Foundation's support for established programmes like Transitions UK's mentoring model suggests they value evidence-based approaches with proven outcomes.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: Do not submit unsolicited applications - the Foundation identifies and approaches organisations that fit their strategic priorities
  • Buckinghamshire Focus: Only organisations working in Buckinghamshire on issues affecting children in/on the edge of care will be considered
  • Collaborative Funding Model: The Foundation works through partnerships with other funders and organisations, often as part of the Buckinghamshire Strategic Funders Group
  • Long-Term Relationships: The Foundation takes a strategic, long-term approach rather than one-off grants, as evidenced by their multi-year Thrive partnership
  • Community Empowerment: Solutions that empower families and communities to create sustainable change align with the Foundation's philosophy
  • Network Strategically: Building relationships with the Foundation's known partners (Connection Support, The Clare Foundation, Community Impact Bucks) or other members of the Buckinghamshire Strategic Funders Group may be the most effective pathway to their attention
  • Think Collaboration: If your organisation works in Buckinghamshire supporting vulnerable children and families, consider how your work could complement or enhance existing initiatives the Foundation already supports

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