The Visionary Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1192652
• Annual Income: £424,344 (FY ending October 2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £107,923
• Structure: Private Family Foundation
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom (England & Wales), with operations in Asia (India)
• Application Process: No public application process (trustee discretion)
• Trustees: 4

Contact Details

Address: 25 Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 4QR, England

Email: finance@pitalia.com

Phone: 01204 928 830

Note: No official website available. The charity does not have a public application portal.

Overview

The Visionary Charitable Trust was established in 2020 (trust deed dated September 17, 2019, amended October 8, 2020) as a private family foundation by Anil Kumar Pitalia, founder and ex-CEO of SpaMedica. The trust operates with total assets generating annual income of over £400,000, with expenditure on charitable activities of approximately £108,000 annually. The foundation's mission centers on advancing health, saving lives, and relieving those in need through grant-making. The trust takes a broad approach to philanthropy, with trustees having discretion to support charitable purposes they deem fit, with particular focus on healthcare, disability support, and humanitarian causes. The foundation operates primarily in the UK but also extends its reach to Asia, particularly India, reflecting the founders' commitment to international health equity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Visionary Charitable Trust does not operate formal, named grant programs. Instead, trustees exercise discretion in awarding grants to registered, excepted, and exempt charities that align with their funding priorities. Grants are made on a case-by-case basis as opportunities are identified by the trustees.

Priority Areas

The trust gives grants in the following areas:

• Healthcare and Medical Services: Advancement of health and saving lives, including prevention and relief of sickness and disease
• Disability Support: Supporting people with disabilities and those experiencing ill health
• Humanitarian and Disaster Relief: Relief of human suffering and support for those in need
• Poverty Alleviation: Support for those in financial hardship or other disadvantages
• Culture and Art: Supporting cultural and artistic initiatives
• Environment and Nature Protection: Environmental charitable causes
• Age-Related Support: Relief of those in need due to youth or age

Known Beneficiary: The trust supports Bright Sight Mission (BSM), a UK-based charity that provides free cataract operations and eye care treatments to visually impaired people in Ghana, West Africa.

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. As a private trust, funding decisions are made at trustee discretion based on alignment with their charitable objects.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The charity is governed by four trustees:

1. Anil Kumar Pitalia - President and founder of the trust; founder and former CEO of SpaMedica
2. Asha Pitalia
3. Rebecca Jane Grisewood - Solicitor
4. Nichola Louise Halverson

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust operates without employees or trading subsidiaries.

Leadership Philosophy

Anil Pitalia has demonstrated commitment to international healthcare equity through the trust's support of eye care initiatives in developing countries. In response to a 2023 equipment donation from Haag-Streit UK, Pitalia expressed gratitude for support that enables the trust's beneficiaries to provide essential healthcare services to underserved populations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Visionary Charitable Trust operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees. There is no open application process, online portal, or publicly advertised grant programs. Funding decisions are made by the four trustees based on charitable purposes they identify as priorities.

The trust's governing documents specify that grants are made to “registered, excepted and exempt charities” as trustees see fit from time to time, with particular focus on health advancement, saving lives, and relief of those in need.

Getting on Their Radar

Healthcare and Ophthalmic Focus: Given the trust's support for Bright Sight Mission's eye care work in Ghana and founder Anil Pitalia's background as founder and ex-CEO of SpaMedica (an ophthalmology clinic group), organizations working in eye care, ophthalmology, and vision-related healthcare may be of particular interest to the trustees.

International Healthcare in Underserved Areas: The trust has demonstrated interest in supporting healthcare delivery in deprived communities, particularly in developing countries. Organizations working in Ghana, India, or other parts of Asia where the trust has indicated operational interest may align with trustee priorities.

Connection to Bolton: The trust is based in Bolton, England, and may have interest in local charitable initiatives, though this is not confirmed through public records.

Professional Networks: Given that trustee Rebecca Jane Grisewood is a solicitor, connections through legal and professional service networks in the Northwest England region may be relevant.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process. Grant decisions are made by trustees on an ongoing basis as opportunities are identified.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. As a private trust without open applications, success rate data is not applicable.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

As The Visionary Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking to understand the trust's priorities can consider:

Alignment with Healthcare Mission: The trust has demonstrated clear commitment to health advancement and saving lives. Organizations with projects focused on preventing or relieving sickness, disease, and human suffering are most likely to align with trustee priorities.

Focus on Underserved Populations: The trust's support for Bright Sight Mission demonstrates interest in serving people in “extreme deprivation” and those who “cannot afford the cost of operation and other treatment.” Projects addressing health inequity and serving financially disadvantaged populations align with stated objectives.

Ophthalmology and Vision Care: The founder's background in ophthalmology through SpaMedica, combined with support for eye care missions, suggests vision-related healthcare may be a priority area.

International Development: The trust has indicated operations in Asia (India) and supports work in Ghana, suggesting receptiveness to international healthcare projects in developing regions.

Established Charitable Organizations: The trust specifies it makes grants to “registered, excepted and exempt charities,” indicating preference for legally established charitable organizations rather than informal groups or individuals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Private Family Foundation: This is not a grantmaker with open applications; it operates on trustee discretion with no public application process
• Healthcare Focus: Strong emphasis on health advancement, particularly eye care and ophthalmology given founder's professional background
• International Reach: While UK-based, the trust supports work in developing countries including Ghana and India
• Moderate Grant Budget: With annual expenditure around £108,000, this is a modest family foundation rather than a major institutional funder
• Relationship-Driven: As with most private trusts, funding decisions likely stem from trustee relationships, professional networks, and personal connections
• No Website or Public Presence: Limited online footprint suggests a private, family-focused approach to philanthropy rather than seeking public engagement
• Multiple Beneficiaries: The trust makes grants to multiple organizations (plural “charities” in their materials), not just a single beneficiary

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE J P JACOBS CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Mosselson Charitable Trust
• The Weldon UK Charitable Trust
• The Scotshill Trust
• Ann Jane Green's Trust
• The Watson Family Charitable Trust
• INVESTREAM CHARITABLE TRUST
• ENFIELD LIONS CLUB (CIO)
• N AND R KARNANI TRUST
• The David and Frances Turner Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Visionary Charitable Trust (Charity Number 1192652), Register of Charities: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1192652&subid=0

• Fundraiso, “The Visionary Charitable Trust,” Organisation Profile: https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/the-visionary-charitable-trust

• Haag-Streit UK, “HS-UK donate ophthalmic equipment to Visionary Charitable Trust,” News and Events, August 8, 2023

• Charity Commission Official Records showing financial year ending 05 October 2024: Total Income £424,344, Total Expenditure £107,923