The Trevor Hemmings Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £475,000 (2024 income)
• Total Given to Date: Over £8.6 million since 1999
• Grant Range: £25,000 - £1,000,000
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and Isle of Man (particularly North West England/Lancashire)
• Supported Organizations: Over 200 charities

Contact Details

Address: Dower House, Dawbers Lane, Euxton, Chorley, PR7 6ED

Email: info@trevorhemmingsfoundation.co.uk

Phone: 01257 244720

Website: https://www.trevorhemmingsfoundation.co.uk/

Charity Number: 1077311

Company Number: 03745870

Overview

The Trevor Hemmings Foundation was established in 1999 by Trevor James Hemmings CVO, a Lancashire businessman and philanthropist who rose from humble beginnings as a bricklayer to become one of the UK's most generous private donors. Following Hemmings' death in October 2021, the foundation continues his legacy of supporting charitable organizations working in healthcare, children's services, and social care. The foundation takes a relationship-based approach, developing long-term partnerships with grantees to follow projects from start to finish. Funded from the profits of associated group companies, the foundation has distributed over £8.6 million to hundreds of organizations since its inception. Trevor Hemmings was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours for his service to charity, particularly his work as vice-president of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers (now Carers Trust). He once stated in a rare interview: “I probably give about eight or ten times more to charities in a year than I spend on horses.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates with flexibility rather than fixed grant programs, allowing trustees to direct support across multiple sectors. The foundation has made both large strategic grants (£300,000-£1,000,000) and smaller project-specific awards (£25,000+).

Priority Areas

Healthcare & Medical Research

• Research, treatment and care for long-term conditions including Cancer, Diabetes, Spinal conditions, and Cardiovascular Disease
• Research into early detection, prevention and treatment of degenerative brain disorders including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Dementia and Stroke
• Hospital equipment and facilities

Children & Young People

• Equipment, research and facilities for children's hospitals
• Support for Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools
• Opportunities and experiences for children and young adults
• Adapted vehicles and mobility equipment for schools serving children with disabilities

Support & Care Sector

• Support and respite for unpaid carers
• Equipment, facilities and projects in the care sector
• Hospice services including children's hospices

Neurological Conditions

• Focused research and support programs for conditions affecting quality of life

Other Areas

• Animal welfare (particularly horse and racing-related charities)
• Sports injury rehabilitation (especially Injured Jockeys' Fund)
• Emergency services and community safety organizations

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's exclusions are not explicitly published, but the trustee-led discretionary approach suggests they fund causes with personal significance to the Hemmings family and the Lancashire region.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Kathryn Revitt (Chair) - Former long-term legal advisor to Trevor Hemmings and Group Chief Executive of Hemmings family companies
• Craig Hemmings - Family member, involved in group business operations
• Patrick Hemmings - Family member
• Mark Widders - Trustee
• Mark Tootell - Trustee (actively represents the foundation at grant presentations)

The board comprises family members and trusted advisors who knew Trevor Hemmings personally and understand his philanthropic values. The foundation operates independently of the wider Northern Trust business group but aligns with the same principles and values.

How to Apply to The Trevor Hemmings Foundation

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on a trustee-discretionary basis, identifying and inviting organizations to receive support. Grants are typically awarded based on:

• Pre-existing relationships with the trustees
• Trustee knowledge of organizations working in priority sectors
• Strategic initiatives identified by the board
• Recommendations from the Hemmings family network

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications through a formal portal or application form. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their own research and networks within the charitable sector.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - awards are made at trustee discretion rather than through competitive application rounds.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the key to receiving support is being known to the trustees or operating within their areas of strategic interest. Based on past funding patterns, organizations most likely to receive support share these characteristics:

Geographic Connection

The foundation shows strong preference for organizations based in or serving Lancashire and North West England, reflecting Trevor Hemmings' lifelong connection to the region, particularly Preston and Chorley areas.

Track Record and Relationships

The foundation emphasizes “developing long term relationships with partners to follow projects through from start to finish,” suggesting they prefer supporting organizations they know and can work with over extended periods. Organizations like the Injured Jockeys' Fund, Carers Trust, and specific hospitals have received multiple grants over many years.

Tangible Impact Projects

Funded projects tend to be specific and measurable - equipment purchases, building projects (such as the £300,000 SAFE Centre at Royal Preston Hospital), adapted vehicles, or defined programs with clear outcomes (like Greatwood's 'Get Going' programme for NEETs aged 16-24).

Causes with Personal Significance

The foundation's funding reflects Trevor Hemmings' personal experiences and interests:

• Support for carers (he was instrumental in founding Princess Royal Trust for Carers in 1991)
• Horse racing welfare organizations (reflecting his success as a three-time Grand National winning owner)
• Healthcare facilities in Lancashire
• Children with disabilities and special educational needs

Scale and Ambition

The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make transformational gifts - the £1 million donation to Carers Trust when it faced financial difficulties, £300,000 for the SAFE Centre, £25,000 for Rebecca House hospice running costs - rather than numerous small grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this funder identifies beneficiaries through trustee discretion and existing networks
• Lancashire connection is significant - strong geographic preference for North West England, particularly Preston and Chorley areas
• Family trustees lead decision-making - Craig and Patrick Hemmings, along with Kathryn Revitt (former legal advisor to Trevor Hemmings), maintain his philanthropic legacy
• Relationship-based funding model - the foundation prefers long-term partnerships and following projects from start to finish
• Capital and equipment projects favored over general running costs (though exceptions made for organizations they know well)
• Annual giving is modest (£475k income in 2024) compared to historic giving, suggesting the foundation may now operate primarily as a grantmaking trust drawing on established assets rather than receiving significant new funding
• Strategic, substantial grants rather than many small awards - evidence suggests they prefer fewer, larger, more impactful donations

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity
• The Inman Charity
• The Leslie Smith Foundation
• The Woosnam Foundation
• The Marian Elizabeth Trust
• C A Redfern Charitable Foundation
• The Janet Nash Charitable Settlement
• The Kentown Wizard Foundation
• The Desmond Foundation
• The Macfarlane Family Foundation

References

• The Trevor Hemmings Foundation official website: https://www.trevorhemmingsfoundation.co.uk/
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 1077311: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3963708/full-print
• Northern Trust - The Trevor Hemmings Foundation: https://www.northerntrust.co.uk/the-trevor-hemmings-foundation
• Lancashire Evening Post: "Thanks to 'Mr Preston' Trevor Hemmings - the man who secretly gave millions away to charity": https://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/money/mr-anonymous-trevor-hemmings-secretly-gave-millions-away-to-charity-3416352
• Carers Trust: “Carers Trust pays tribute to Trevor Hemmings – a champion supporter of unpaid carers”: https://carers.org/news-and-media/news/post/149-carers-trust-pays-tribute-to-trevor-hemmings-a-champion-supporter-of-unpaid-carers
• Hospice Isle of Man: “Trevor Hemmings opens playground for children of Rebecca House”: https://www.hospice.org.im/news/trevor-hemmings-opens-playground-for-children-of-rebecca-house/
• Variety, the Children's Charity: “From classrooms to communities...”: https://www.variety.org.uk/news-item/from-classrooms-to-communities/