The Verdon-smith Family Charitable Settlement

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £30,000 (approximate)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire

Contact Details

Address: Church Farm House, Hawkesbury, Badminton GL9 1BN

Phone: 01454 238668

Website: None

Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Verdon-Smith Family Charitable Settlement is a small family charitable trust registered with the Charity Commission on 22 July 1982 (Charity Number: 284919). The trust operates with modest resources, with total income of £24,970 and expenditure of £29,998 for the year ending 5 April 2024. The charity focuses on making grants to organizations for general charitable purposes, with a specific geographic focus on Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire. The settlement is governed by four volunteer trustees who receive no remuneration, and operates without employees. Organizations known to have received support include Wiltshire Museum and St Werburghs City Farm in Bristol, indicating a focus on heritage, environment, and community projects within their defined region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates as a grant-making trust with no formal, named grant programs. Applications appear to be considered on a rolling or invitation basis rather than through open calls.

Priority Areas

Based on the charity's stated objectives and known recipients:

• Environment, conservation and heritage - Primary focus area
• Support to other charities and voluntary bodies in the Southwest region
• Community projects in Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire
• Cultural heritage (evidenced by support to Wiltshire Museum)
• Urban farms and environmental education (evidenced by support to St Werburghs City Farm)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly stated, but given the charity's:

• Geographic limitation to four counties in Southwest England, projects outside this region are unlikely to be funded
• Focus on organizational grants rather than individuals
• Small scale of operations suggests preference for modest-sized grants

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The charity is governed by four trustees who serve voluntarily without remuneration:

• William George Verdon-Smith (Chair)
• Diana Napier Compton Verdon-Smith
• Elizabeth Jane White
• George Philip James White (appointed 2020)

The family nature of the settlement suggests trustees likely have personal connections to the geographic area and its charitable needs. No public statements or quotes from trustees are available.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The charity does not maintain a website or published application guidelines. Given the nature of small family charitable settlements, applications are likely handled through:

• Written applications sent to the registered address
• Initial telephone contact (01454 238668) to discuss eligibility and funding priorities
• Possible invitation-only or referral-based consideration

Prospective applicants are strongly advised to contact the trustees by phone or letter before submitting a formal application.

Decision Timeline

No public information is available regarding decision timelines, meeting schedules, or notification methods.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The modest annual expenditure of approximately £30,000 suggests the charity makes a limited number of grants each year.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly stated.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information, success factors can only be inferred:

• Geographic alignment is essential - Projects must clearly benefit Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, or Gloucestershire
• Heritage and environmental focus - Known grants suggest preference for conservation, heritage preservation, and environmental education
• Organizational credibility - Known recipients (Wiltshire Museum, St Werburghs City Farm) are established, reputable organizations
• Regional connections - As a family settlement, trustees may favor organizations they have personal knowledge of or connection to
• Modest grant requests - Given annual expenditure of around £30,000, requests should be appropriately scaled

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a small, family-run charitable settlement with limited funds (approximately £30,000 annually distributed)
• Geographic restriction to four Southwest counties is absolute - projects outside this area will not be funded
• No formal application process or guidelines are published; personal contact is essential
• The charity focuses on environment, conservation, heritage, and supporting other voluntary organizations
• Known recipients suggest preference for established, credible organizations rather than new initiatives
• Given the family nature and lack of website/public information, building a relationship through initial contact is crucial
• Grant sizes are likely modest given the charity's scale of operations

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: THE VERDON-SMITH FAMILY CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT, Charity Number 284919. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=284919&subid=0 (Accessed: 31 October 2025)
• Wiltshire Museum, “Thanks to our supporters.” Available at: https://www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk/thanks/ (Accessed: 31 October 2025)
• St Werburghs City Farm, “Our Supporters.” Available at: https://www.swcityfarm.co.uk/about-us/our-supporters/ (Accessed: 31 October 2025)
• Charity Commission financial data for year ending 5 April 2024