The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund

Charity Number: 222860

Annual Expenditure: £0.8M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £800,000 (across two funding rounds)
  • Success Rate: 7-12% (approximately 1 in 8 to 1 in 14 applications)
  • Decision Time: 5 months from application deadline
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £80,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (with particular interest in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales)

Contact Details

Website: www.triangletrust.org.uk

Email: info@triangletrust.org.uk

Phone: 07716378564

Address: Brighton Eco Centre, 39-41 Surrey Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 3PB

Applications: applications@triangletrust.org.uk (for Small Grants Programme)

Overview

The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund was established in 1949 by Sir Harry Jephcott, originally to provide hardship and education grants to individuals associated with the Glaxo pharmaceutical company. The charity has evolved significantly, now focusing exclusively on grant-making to community organisations supporting those in need. In 2023, the Trust made a strategic decision to concentrate its funding solely on young people in contact with the criminal justice system or those highly vulnerable to entering it, with a five-year commitment to spend up to £5 million. The Trust currently has an annual grant-making budget of £1 million, aiming to award approximately £800,000 in grants across two funding rounds plus £200,000 for strategic grants. With a focus on lasting system change through trauma-informed and gender-responsive approaches, the Trust particularly welcomes applications from organisations working in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Main Development Grants (2025 focus on young women and girls):

  • Amount: £30,000 - £80,000 over 12-24 months (maximum £40,000 per year)
  • Application Method: Two fixed rounds per year via online application
  • Eligibility: UK-registered organisations with annual income under £1 million, working specifically with young women and girls aged 11-30 in the criminal justice system
  • 2025 Requirement: Organisations must be “led by and for women and girls” with at least 80% of beneficiaries being women and girls

Small Grants Programme:

  • Amount: £10,000 (12-month duration)
  • Application Method: Rolling basis, processed within one month
  • Eligibility: Grassroots women-led organisations with annual income of £50,000 or less, where beneficiaries are 100% women and girls
  • Opens: September/October annually

Priority Areas

The Trust funds trauma-informed, gender-responsive, and culturally responsive work that specifically aims to:

  • Reduce the likelihood of young women and girls entering the criminal justice system
  • Reduce reoffending rates for young women and girls with criminal convictions
  • Provide peer support from women with lived experience
  • Deliver co-designed programmes developed with young women and girls
  • Support work both inside and outside prison walls

The Trust prioritises organisations demonstrating:

  • Significant expertise working with vulnerable and challenging young women and girls
  • Strong partnerships with youth justice services
  • Approaches rooted in lived experience
  • Track record of working with young people in contact with the criminal justice system or vulnerable hard-to-engage young people

What They Don't Fund

Project Types:

  • General crime prevention initiatives
  • Diversionary activities addressing anti-social behaviour
  • Restorative justice initiatives
  • Academic research
  • International development
  • Emergency funding
  • Capital projects

Organisational Types:

  • Individuals
  • Organisations based outside the UK
  • Patient support groups and organisations supporting the 'cared for' alongside carers
  • Organisations working with broader offender populations (not specifically young women/girls)
  • Organisations with more than one year's unrestricted reserves
  • Faith-based organisations whose services are not accessible to all

Scope Limitations:

  • Projects that simply include young people in the criminal justice system (must be specifically targeted)
  • Organisations working with less than 80% women and girls beneficiaries (for current funding round)
  • Core costs of organisations (though reasonable contributions to running costs as part of project budgets are considered)
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Governance and Leadership

Director

Vic Southwell (joined 2019) - Background in the charity sector since 1994, with previous roles at Comic Relief's grant team and as Director of Magic Bus UK.

Chair

Alison Hope (appointed 2015) - Director of Nisbet Trust and independent fundraising consultant with over 25 years' experience in corporate social responsibility and fundraising.

Trustees

Doreen Foster (Vice-Chair) - Director of Warwick Arts Centre, former deputy director of Black Cultural Archives and Arts Council roles.

Karen Drury (joined 2016) - Background in theatre, PR, and internal communication; qualified executive coach with extensive charitable board experience.

David Loudon (appointed March 2020) - Chartered Fellow of Institute for Securities and Investment, former Chief Executive of Quilter Cheviot Investment Management.

Jim Marshall (appointed April 2020) - Chartered Accountant, retired Senior Vice President of Global Tax at Pearson plc.

Hindpal Singh Bhui OBE (appointed March 2024) - Inspection Team Leader at HM Inspectorate of Prisons and Visiting Law Professor at Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford. Brings extensive expertise in probation services and prison inspection.

Clio Carpenter (appointed March 2024) - Experience working for statutory and third-sector services supporting and safeguarding young people who have offended or are being criminally exploited. Currently works with the Mayor of London's Violence Reduction Unit.

Rhia Canady - Young advisor with community leadership experience and lived experience consultant in the women's justice system.

Lauren Smith - Associate Professor in Psychology at University of Lincoln, specializing in justice system research and evaluation.

Caitlin Tao - Policy expert focusing on children and youth justice at the Children's Commissioner's Office.

Staff

Frances Harding (Grants Administrator, joined 2023) - Background in the charity sector since 2004.

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

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Main Development Grants:

  1. Stage One: Complete online application form via the Trust's website during open application windows
  2. Applications reviewed by grants team and trustees
  3. Stage Two: Shortlisted applicants (usually 6-8 organisations) host an assessment visit or Zoom call with the Director

Pre-visit Requirements (for shortlisted applicants):

Two weeks before the visit, provide:

  • Current Strategic Plan
  • Most recent Annual Accounts
  • Organisation's Budget for current financial year
  • Org Chart showing staffing structure
  • Completed Year One Reporting Form
  • Copy of Safeguarding Policy

Small Grants Programme:

Download application form from website, complete, and email to applications@triangletrust.org.uk

Decision Timeline

Main Development Grants (2025 timeline as example):

Spring Round:

  • Opens: April 15
  • Closes: May 22
  • Shortlisting notification: July 1 (5-7 weeks after deadline)
  • Assessment visits: July-September
  • Final decisions: October 30 (approximately 5 months from deadline)

Autumn Round:

  • Opens: September 16
  • Closes: October 28
  • Shortlisting notification: December 18
  • Assessment visits: January-March
  • Final decisions: March 31

Small Grants Programme: Decisions within one month of receipt

Success Rates

Historical success rates (2017-2019):

2019: 1 in 14 success rate (7%)

  • Carers grants: 5 awards from 36 applications (£253,590 total, average £50,718)
  • Rehabilitation grants: 5 awards from 34 applications (£333,658 total, average £66,734)

2018: 1 in 11-12 success rate (8-9%)

  • Carers grants: 4 awards from 42 applications (£268,934 total, average £67,234)
  • Rehabilitation grants: 4 awards from 49 applications (£270,606 total, average £67,652)

2017: 1 in 8-13 success rate (8-13%)

  • Carers grants: 5 awards from 39 applications (£382,599 total, average £76,520)
  • Rehabilitation grants: 4 awards from 53 applications (£270,606 total, average £67,652)

Note: Success rates include applications that did not fully meet criteria. The Trust does not provide feedback on applications not shortlisted for assessment visits, though feedback for unsuccessful applicants after assessment visits is available on request.

Reapplication Policy

  • Unsuccessful applicants must wait two years before reapplying
  • Cannot reapply with the same project within 12 months
  • Organisations currently receiving a Development Grant cannot apply for further funding until their current grant ends
  • Priority given to applicants who have not previously received a Development Grant

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Looks for in Strong Applications

Demonstrated Expertise:

  • Significant experience working with vulnerable and challenging young women and girls
  • Clear track record of delivering programmes supporting the wellbeing and welfare of women and girls
  • Strong understanding of the criminal justice system

Approach and Methodology:

  • Age, gender, trauma, and culturally responsive approaches
  • Peer support from women with lived experience
  • Co-designed programmes developed by young women and girls
  • Evidence-based interventions with clear outcomes

Strategic Alignment:

  • Focus on lasting system change
  • Clear aims specifically targeting young women and girls in or at risk of entering the criminal justice system
  • Demonstration that the grant will make a tangible difference
  • Reasonable and justified project costs

Organisational Capacity:

  • Necessary track record and experience to deliver the work
  • Strong partnerships with youth justice services
  • Robust safeguarding policies
  • Financial sustainability (organisations with more than one year's unrestricted reserves are ineligible)

Recent Grant Awards

In recent rounds, the Trust has funded projects including:

  • Konnect Communities Merseyside
  • Expanding Horizons
  • Open Lens Media
  • Rochdale AFC Community
  • Plus strategic grants to Cranfield Trust and Kinship

In 2024, the Trust funded 11 projects working across the UK to deliver high-quality trauma-informed support to young women and girls.

Common Characteristics of Unsuccessful Applications

  • Projects that simply include young people in the criminal justice system rather than specifically targeting them
  • Organisations not demonstrating specialist focus on women and girls
  • Applications from organisations not “led by and for women and girls” (for current rounds)
  • Insufficient demonstration of trauma-informed and gender-responsive approaches
  • Lack of evidence of lived experience involvement or co-design
  • Organisations with beneficiaries less than 80% women and girls (for current funding criteria)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Specialist Focus is Critical: Your organisation must be specifically focused on young women and girls (aged 11-30) in the criminal justice system—general youth work or broader offender support won't qualify for current funding rounds.
  • “Led by and for women and girls” is non-negotiable: Demonstrate that at least 80% of your beneficiaries are women and girls, and show women's leadership throughout your organisation.
  • Lived experience and co-design are highly valued: Highlight how women with lived experience of the criminal justice system are involved in designing and delivering your programmes, and include peer support elements.
  • Competition is fierce: With success rates of 7-12%, strong applications must clearly demonstrate expertise, trauma-informed approaches, and evidence of impact. Only 6-8 organisations typically reach the assessment visit stage.
  • Plan for the long application timeline: From application deadline to final decision takes approximately 5 months. Budget your project planning accordingly and ensure you can wait for the outcome.
  • Two-year reapplication restriction: If unsuccessful, you cannot reapply for two years, so invest time in making your first application as strong as possible. Consider seeking pre-application advice or support.
  • Geographic diversity welcomed: The Trust particularly welcomes applications from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—emphasize your regional context if applying from these areas.

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References