The William Allen Young Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £515,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £30,000 (most grants around £2,000)
• Geographic Focus: UK (occasionally overseas)

Contact Details

Address: Young & Co Brewery PLC, Copper House, 5 Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, London, SW18 4AQ

Email: sue.mitchell@waycharity.org

Phone: 020 8875 7000

Website: No website (information available via Charity Commission register)

Overview

The William Allen Young Charitable Trust was registered on 17 September 1981 (Charity Number 283102) and is named after one of the founders of Young & Co's Brewery. The trust is an investment-funded grant-making charity with total income of £697,947 in the financial year ending April 2024. The trust is a discretionary grant-making charity that makes donations to as wide a range of causes as possible, particularly for humanitarian activities in the UK and, occasionally, overseas. With annual charitable expenditure of approximately £515,000, the trust distributes around £500,000 in grants annually. While the trust aims to support previously funded organizations on an ongoing basis, it also makes a significant number of new, one-off donations. The trustees have absolute discretion in determining which charitable bodies receive support, with no geographic restrictions on the areas they can support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Grants: £2,000 - £30,000 (most grants around £2,000, with typical grants up to £5,000)
• Application Method: Rolling basis - applications may be made at any time in writing
• No Application Form: Written applications only (no online portal or website)

Priority Areas

The trust provides grants for a wide range of charitable purposes, with particular emphasis on:

• Relief of Suffering and Humanitarian Activities (primary focus)
• Medical causes
• Community development
• Educational initiatives
• Cultural projects
• Human rights
• Animal welfare
• Alleviating poverty

The trust exercises broad discretion and supports charitable work both in the UK and occasionally overseas.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, but the trust only accepts applications from UK registered charities.

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Governance and Leadership

Structure: The trust has 3 trustees who oversee grant-making decisions.

Governance: According to the trust deed, grants are made “FOR SUCH CHARITABLE PURPOSES AND SUCH CHARITABLE BODIES ASSOCIATIONS OR INSTITUTIONS AS THE TRUSTEES SHALL FROM TIME TO TIME IN THEIR ABSOLUTE DISCRETION DETERMINE.”

Remuneration: No trustees receive remuneration or payments from the charity.

Decision-Making: The trustees exercise absolute discretion in determining which charitable bodies receive support, with no restrictions on the kinds of projects or geographical areas they can support.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Method: Applications may be made at any time in writing to the trust's address
• No Application Form: The trust does not have a website or online application portal
• Written Applications Only: Submit a written application by post to the trust address

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As applications are accepted on a rolling basis, applicants should expect decisions to be made as trustees meet to review applications.

Success Rates

Success rates and application numbers are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not specified, though the trust indicates it aims to support previously funded organizations on an ongoing basis, suggesting that unsuccessful applicants may be welcome to reapply.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Relief of Suffering: The trust particularly emphasizes “the relief of suffering” in its stated priorities. Applications that clearly demonstrate how they address suffering or provide humanitarian support may be better positioned.

Broad Charitable Impact: The trustees have discretion to support a wide range of causes. Applications should articulate clear charitable benefit across medical, community, educational, cultural, human rights, animal welfare, or poverty alleviation work.

Previous Funding Relationship: The trust states it aims to support previously funded organizations on an ongoing basis, suggesting that building a relationship with the trust through an initial grant may lead to continued support.

Example Funded Projects: The trust has supported:

• Beam (helping homeless people get into work)
• CPU London (community organization)
• Various humanitarian and relief of suffering initiatives

Realistic Grant Requests: Most grants are around £2,000, with the typical maximum being £5,000. While grants up to £30,000 are occasionally made, applicants should be realistic about the grant amount requested based on the trust's typical giving patterns.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Simple Application Process: No complex forms or online systems - a well-written letter application is all that's required
• Rolling Deadlines: Apply at any time throughout the year, making this an accessible funding source when other trusts have closed deadlines
• Relief of Suffering Focus: Emphasize how your project addresses suffering or provides humanitarian support to align with the trust's primary stated interest
• Modest Grant Expectations: Budget for £2,000-£5,000 grants for most applications, with awareness that larger grants up to £30,000 are occasionally made
• Relationship Building: The trust values ongoing relationships with grantees, so a first grant may lead to continued support
• Broad Eligibility: The wide range of supported causes means most UK registered charities working on genuine charitable purposes have a chance
• No Website Complexity: The lack of a website means fewer application barriers, but also means less detailed public guidance - a clear, compelling written case is essential

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• THE BARBOUR FOUNDATION
• THE SIR JAMES KNOTT TRUST
• THE EVESON TRUST
• THE LINBURY TRUST
• THE HEALTH FOUNDATION
• Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• MOONDANCE FOUNDATION
• The Gosling Foundation Limited
• THE ZOCHONIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust
• Devon Community Foundation
• THE ERNEST KLEINWORT CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE BASIL SAMUEL CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Grace Trust
• Young Charitable Trust
• The Medicash Foundation
• THE BIG GIVE TRUST
• STELIOS PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION
• THE STONE FAMILY FOUNDATION

References

• Charity Commission Register - THE WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG CHARITABLE TRUST (Charity Number 283102): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=283102&subId=0
• Bath and North East Somerset Council Funding Finder - The William Allen Young Charitable Trust: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/funding-finder/william-allen-young-charitable-trust
• Giving is Great - THE WILLIAM ALLEN YOUNG CHARITABLE TRUST Charity Factsheet: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=283102
• Beam - William Allen Young Charitable Trust's Impact: https://beam.org/54K7i9c
• Charity Choice - The William Allen Young Charitable Trust: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-william-allen-young-charitable-trust-153348
• Wandsworth Heritage Service - Young and Co.'s Brewery Historical Archive: https://wandswortharchives.wordpress.com/category/young-and-co-s-brewery-p-l-c/