The Town Lands

Charity Number: 210714

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M
Geographic Focus: Suffolk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £80,000+
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Up to 6 weeks (bi-monthly meetings)
  • Grant Range: £2,800 - £17,000 (recent awards)
  • Geographic Focus: Beccles Town Boundary only (postcode NR34 9)

Contact Details

Address:

Leman House

Ballygate

Beccles

Suffolk

NR34 9ND

Website: www.becclestownlandscharity.org.uk

Email: secretary@becclestownlandscharity.org.uk

Phone: 07584 322845

Overview

Founded in 1544, the Beccles Townlands Charity (also known as Beccles Feoffees) is one of England's oldest charitable institutions, originating from the medieval Guild of the Holy Ghost. With total unrestricted funds of £9.5 million as of October 2023, the charity exists “purely for the good of the people of Beccles.” The charity awarded over £80,000 in grants across 15 donations during the 2023 financial year. Governed by up to 13 Feoffees (Trustees) selected from established Beccles families, the charity owns significant property including Leman House (a Grade 1 listed building housing their headquarters and the Beccles Museum), almshouses, agricultural land, and river frontage plots. The charity's mission remains focused on supporting education, youth activities, community infrastructure, and individuals in need within the strictly defined Beccles town boundary.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity makes grants to both individuals and organizations on a rolling basis through bi-monthly Trustee meetings. Applications are accepted year-round with decisions made at scheduled meetings held in February, April, June, August, October, and December.

Recent Grant Awards (2023-2024):

  • £17,000 to Sir John Leman High School for theatre curtains and equipment
  • £14,000 to support parishioners with food
  • £10,000 towards refurbishing gates at Beccles Common
  • £6,000 to Fox and Hounds Social Club for activities
  • £2,800 youth grant to school pupil for weightlifting world championships
  • Contribution to St Luke's Church minibus (£17,000 total project)
  • New kitchen installation at Beccles Lido (part of £50,000 cumulative support)

Priority Areas

The charity supports a diverse range of local causes including:

Education:

  • School equipment and infrastructure (theatre equipment, furniture, educational projects)
  • Support for individual students (youth sports participation, educational needs)

Youth & Sports:

  • Youth clubs and activities (Beccles Bombers Basketball Club, Beccles Amateur Sailing Club, Beccles Disability Football, Beccles Caxton Football Club, Beccles Forest School courses)
  • Sports facilities (skate park floodlights)

Community Infrastructure:

  • Public facilities (libraries, community centers, social clubs)
  • Religious buildings and organizations (parking spaces for Salvation Army, church equipment)
  • Memorial projects (RAF Pilot memorial)

Welfare & Social Support:

  • Food support programs
  • Individual hardship cases
  • Arts and culture (Beccles Society of Artists)

The charity also provides annual support to Beccles Citizens Advice Bureau for debt-related counseling.

What They Don't Fund

  • Personal debt problems (applicants are directed to Citizens Advice Bureau)
  • Organizations or individuals outside the Beccles Town Boundary (postcode NR34 9)
  • Projects without clear benefit to Beccles residents
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Governance and Leadership

Current Collector (Chairman): Mr R J Seppings

The role of Collector rotates annually among Trustees in alphabetical order.

Trustees (11 of maximum 13):

  • Mrs F L Baldry
  • Mr J B Cook
  • Mr K Gregory
  • Mr M Jermey
  • Mrs J I Langeskov
  • Mr K J Leggett
  • Dr T J Morton
  • Mr J M Hartley
  • Mr N A Hickman
  • Mr R J Seppings

Supporting Staff:

  • Land Agent: Mr G N Durrant
  • Secretary: Mr S J Lamb

The charity appointed its first female Trustee in 1994 and currently has three female Trustees. When vacancies arise, “names are suggested, generally from established Beccles families, and considered by the current Trustees.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The charity accepts applications through online forms on their website (becclestownlandscharity.org.uk) with separate forms for individuals and organizations.

Individual Applicants must provide:

  • Full name, date of birth, contact details, and full address
  • Amount requested
  • Details of other funds raised or pledged
  • Detailed reason for the request
  • Optional additional information

Important Note: For goods or furnishings, the charity typically arranges for these to be provided by a local firm and settles the invoice directly rather than providing cash grants.

Organization Applications require similar detailed information about the project, funding needs, and benefit to Beccles residents.

Decision Timeline

  • Trustee Meetings: Six times per year (February, April, June, August, October, December)
  • Application Deadline: Third week of the month preceding the meeting
  • Investigation Period: The Collector may delegate Trustees to investigate applications further or contact applicants for additional information
  • Typical Timeline: 4-6 weeks from submission to decision, depending on the meeting cycle

Success Rates

The charity does not publicly disclose application success rates. In the year ending October 2023, they made 15 donations totaling over £80,000, averaging approximately £5,300 per grant, though individual amounts varied significantly from £2,800 to £17,000 based on project needs.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are publicly documented. The charity accepts applications on a rolling basis.

Application Success Factors

Strict Geographic Requirement:

All grants are exclusively for residents or projects within the Beccles Town Boundary (postcode NR34 9). This is a non-negotiable criterion rooted in the charity's 480-year mission to serve Beccles specifically.

Demonstrated Local Benefit:

Successful applications clearly articulate how the grant will benefit Beccles residents. Recent awards show preference for projects with broad community impact (school equipment benefiting many students, public facilities, youth clubs) as well as individual hardship cases.

Complementary Funding:

The charity asks about “other funds raised/pledged,” suggesting they value seeing applicants have sought multiple funding sources and aren't relying solely on the Townlands Charity.

Practical Solutions:

The charity's approach of directly purchasing goods and settling invoices (rather than providing cash) indicates they favor tangible, well-defined needs over general operating costs.

Diverse Portfolio:

With only 15 grants awarded annually from diverse categories (education, sports, welfare, infrastructure, arts), the charity appears to seek a balanced distribution across community needs rather than concentrating funding in one area.

Long-term Community Relationships:

The charity has provided cumulative support to organizations like Beccles Lido (£50,000 over time), suggesting that building a relationship and demonstrating responsible use of previous grants can lead to continued support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic eligibility is absolute: Do not apply unless you are genuinely within the Beccles Town Boundary (NR34 9). This is the charity's fundamental mandate.
  • Plan ahead for meeting cycles: With only six meetings per year, strategic timing of your application is important. Submit by the third week of the preceding month.
  • Be specific about tangible needs: Applications for specific equipment, infrastructure, or goods appear more successful than general operating costs, particularly given the charity's preference for direct purchasing.
  • Demonstrate community benefit: With limited grants available (approximately 15 per year), clearly articulate how your project serves Beccles residents broadly.
  • Show matched funding efforts: The application asks about other funds raised or pledged, indicating the charity values collaborative funding approaches.
  • Consider the full range: Recent grants span from £2,800 to £17,000, so don't assume small or large requests are inappropriate—match your ask to genuine project needs.
  • Build relationships over time: Organizations like Beccles Lido have received sustained support, suggesting successful grant recipients can develop ongoing relationships with the charity.

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