The Vinehill Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £29,100,939 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not published
• Decision Time: 3 months
• Grant Range: £10,000 - £100,000 (exceptionally up to £100,000 per annum for 3 years)
• Geographic Focus: UK national

Contact Details

Website: https://vinehilltrust.uk/

Email: info@vinehilltrust.uk

Phone: 020 7680 8100

Address: c/o Dixon Wilson, 22 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LS

Charity Number: 1185978

Overview

The Vinehill Trust was established in January 2024 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, following a name change from the Hamish Ogston Foundation. With total charitable expenditure of £29,100,939 in 2023, the Trust operates under the chairmanship of Paul Finch OBE. The organization describes itself as “lean and focused, applying maximum resources to charitable purposes” and maintains a commitment to funding specific initiatives and projects rather than providing unrestricted funding. The Trust underwent significant governance changes in 2023 but continues to honor existing commitments while establishing new funding priorities across music, heritage, and health sectors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Heritage Grants: £10,000 - £100,000 (rolling applications)
• Music Grants: £10,000 - £100,000 (rolling applications)
• Health Grants: Currently paused while guidelines are revised
• Multi-year funding: Exceptionally up to £100,000 per annum for maximum 3 years

Priority Areas

Heritage: Historic building restoration projects providing employment and training in traditional building crafts including stonework, joinery, ornamental plasterwork, and specialized techniques such as carving, marbling, graining, stucco and scagliola work, mural and fresco work, leadwork, thatching, gilding, stained glass conservation, and encaustic tiling. Particularly interested in projects in less affluent areas that act as catalysts for socio-economic improvement.

Music: Projects involving children and young people that further choral and/or organ traditions, including the National Schools Singing Programme.

Health: Overlooked/underfunded health areas and projects using music, nature conservation, and traditional building crafts to enhance physical and mental health (currently under review).

What They Don't Fund

• Retrospective funding
• Statutory organisations
• Capital appeals for construction projects
• Core running costs
• Endowments
• Individuals
• Organisations based outside the UK
• Movable heritage
• Privately owned buildings without public access
• New buildings or extensions
• Routine repair and maintenance
• Campaigning/lobbying activities

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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Paul Finch OBE leads the Trust following significant governance restructuring in 2023-2024.

The Trust emphasizes strong governance expectations: “We want to see that funded organisations are well governed and managed, that they have good finance and risk management systems and that they have the necessary skills and expertise to deliver their objectives.” They assess grant sizes relative to applicants' overall turnover and available resources.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Rolling applications accepted at any time
• Online application forms available for each priority area on their website
• Heritage applications require restoration methodology details and evidence of necessary permissions (planning, listed building consents)
• Described as “Simple to apply”

Decision Timeline

• Typical timeframe: 3 months from submission to decision
• Notification methods: Not specified

Success Rates

In 2023, the Trust awarded 12 grants totaling £28,758,140, categorized as:

• Health: £1,748,972
• Heritage: £25,984,763
• Music: £1,024,505

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have been rejected cannot reapply for 12 months.

Application Success Factors

Key organizational qualities they seek:

• Lean and focused operations
• Strong governance and management
• Robust financial and risk management systems
• Necessary skills and expertise to deliver objectives

Heritage-specific advice: The Trust is “particularly interested in projects in less affluent areas that can act as a catalyst for socio-economic improvement.” They require detailed restoration methodology and proof of necessary permissions before confirming funding.

Project examples: Major funded programmes include the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme and the National Schools Singing Programme.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Match their lean philosophy: Demonstrate efficient operations and maximum impact per pound spent
• Focus on skills development: Heritage and music applications should emphasize training and skills transfer elements
• Geographic considerations: Projects in less affluent areas receive particular attention for heritage funding
• Avoid exclusions carefully: They have clear restrictions on retrospective funding, statutory organizations, and capital construction
• Plan for longer commitments: While most grants are one-off, exceptional multi-year funding is available for strong projects
• Governance is crucial: Strong financial management and risk systems are essential prerequisites
• Be patient with health funding: Wait for revised guidelines before applying in this area

References

• The Vinehill Trust official website: https://vinehilltrust.uk/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5147385
• Heritage funding guidelines: https://vinehilltrust.uk/heritage/
• Health funding page: https://vinehilltrust.uk/health/
• Heritage Funding Directory UK: https://www.heritagefundingdirectoryuk.org/directory/vinehill-trust/
• Civil Society article on name change: https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/grantmaker-changes-name-after-founder-accused-of-human-trafficking.html