The Troutsdale Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1165224
• Annual Income: £207,182 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £205,101 (2024)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England, with focus on North Yorkshire/Scarborough region
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed

Contact Details

Address: 12-13 Alma Square, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1JU

Phone: 01723 360361

Website: No dedicated website

Charity Commission: View on Register of Charities

Overview

The Troutsdale Charitable Trust was registered as a charity in 2015 and became active in 2016. The trust is a private family foundation established by the Guthrie family of Scarborough, led by property tycoon John Guthrie OBE, chairman of Broadland Properties. The trust makes grants to individuals or organisations to support children, young people, other charities, and voluntary bodies for general charitable purposes including education, training, arts, culture, amateur sports, and conservation. The trust operates primarily in England with a particular focus on the North Yorkshire region. All four trustees serve without remuneration, and the trust operates through subsidiary entities for some of its activities.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The trust supports:

• Children and young people: Including those with disabilities, additional needs, or illness
• Education and training: Supporting educational initiatives and skill development
• Arts and culture: Funding cultural organizations and activities
• Amateur sports: Supporting community sports initiatives
• Conservation: Environmental and heritage conservation projects
• General charitable purposes: Support for charities and voluntary organizations

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the trust's focus is clearly on projects benefiting children, young people, and community organizations in their priority areas.

Ready to write a winning application for The Troutsdale Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by four trustees, all members of the Guthrie family:

• John Guthrie (Chair): OBE for charity work, chairman of Broadland Properties, chartered surveyor, and noted philanthropist in Scarborough. He has supported numerous local organizations including Saint Catherine's Hospice, Scarborough Museums Trust, Stephen Joseph Theatre, The Rainbow Centre, Ryedale Festival, Scarborough Symphony Orchestra, and Wykeham Parochial Church Concerts. Now in his 80s, John Guthrie features on The Sunday Times Rich List and purchased Hever Castle through his property group in 1983.

• Leslie Faith Guthrie: Trustee (appointed 2015)

• Peter John Guthrie: Trustee (appointed 2015)

• Richard Guthrie: Trustee (appointed 2015)

All trustees serve without any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Troutsdale Charitable Trust operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees. There is no online portal, application form, or published application guidelines.

Grants appear to be made to organizations and causes known to the trustees, often in the Scarborough and North Yorkshire area where the Guthrie family has deep community ties.

Getting on Their Radar

The Troutsdale Charitable Trust identifies beneficiaries through the trustees' existing networks and community involvement. John Guthrie's extensive philanthropic history in Scarborough demonstrates the family's commitment to local causes. Organizations that align with the trust's priorities and operate in North Yorkshire, particularly those serving children and young people or supporting arts, culture, and community development, may be considered if they come to the trustees' attention through their community connections.

The trust can be contacted by phone at 01723 360361 to make initial inquiries, though there is no guarantee of response or consideration without an existing connection to the trustees.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private trust operating at trustee discretion, grants may be awarded on a rolling basis as opportunities arise and trustees meet.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. This is a private trust making grants by invitation or trustee selection rather than through competitive application processes.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since The Troutsdale Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, the most important success factor is connection to the trustees and their networks. Based on their documented grant-making:

• Local connection is key: The trust has supported organizations in Scarborough and the wider North Yorkshire region, reflecting the Guthrie family's deep roots in the area
• Focus on children and young people: Their documented grant to Ryedale Special Families for a £2.2 million center for disabled young people demonstrates commitment to this priority
• Community impact: Projects that deliver tangible benefits to the local community, particularly vulnerable groups
• Alignment with trustee interests: Given John Guthrie's personal support for arts organizations (Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough Symphony Orchestra, Ryedale Festival), conservation (Wykeham Parochial Church), healthcare (Saint Catherine's Hospice), and community facilities (Rainbow Centre, Scarborough Rugby Union Club), organizations in these areas may be more likely to receive consideration

The trust appears to favor substantial, transformational grants to established organizations rather than numerous small grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this is a private family foundation making grants at trustee discretion
• Local focus: Strong preference for North Yorkshire organizations, particularly in the Scarborough area
• Children and young people are a priority: Documented support for Ryedale Special Families demonstrates commitment to this cause area
• Substantial grants: The trust appears to make significant grants to major projects rather than many small awards
• Trustee connections matter: Organizations known to the Guthrie family or within their extensive philanthropic network are most likely to benefit
• Arts, culture, and heritage: John Guthrie's personal philanthropy in these areas suggests the trust may prioritize similar causes
• Patient approach required: Without an application process, organizations must build relationships over time or be introduced through mutual connections

References

• The Troutsdale Charitable Trust - Charity Commission Register
• The Troutsdale Charitable Trust - Find That Charity
• Ryedale Special Families opens new centre - The Scarborough News
• Ryedale Special Families opens state-of-the-art base - Gazette & Herald
• Scarborough businessman John Guthrie on The Sunday Times Rich List - The Scarborough News
• The Troutsdale Charitable Trust - NGO Explorer

Accessed: December 27, 2025