The William Leech Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £500,000+
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Fast decisions emphasized (specific timeline not published)
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £15,000 (typical range based on 2017/18 data)
• Geographic Focus: North East England (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham)

Contact Details

Website: http://www.williamleechcharity.org.uk

Email: enquiries@williamleechcharity.org.uk

Phone: 0191 281 8191

Application Method: Online only via charity website

Overview

The William Leech Charity was established by Sir William Leech in 1972 as The William Leech Property Trust, becoming known as The William Leech Charity in 1988. The Trust awards over £500,000 annually in charitable grants and loans to registered UK charities. Founded by a Newcastle housebuilder and philanthropist who built his business from £50 in 1932, the charity maintains his vision of supporting volunteers and charitable projects in the North East that positively impact local communities. The charity has assets exceeding £18 million and has committed to granting one-third of its annual income to medical research. The trustees emphasize being prepared to make fast decisions and support initiatives where other funders may hesitate, particularly where small amounts of money combined with volunteering can produce significant impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Fund (Rolling basis, online applications)

• Grants and zero-interest loans for registered charities in North East England
• Typical grants: £5,000 - £15,000
• Average grant in 2017/18: £7,728
• 80 grants awarded in 2017/18
• Unrestricted fund open to applications on a rolling basis
• Trustees particularly interested in applications where grants will have appreciable impact
• Support available for innovative and effective charitable activities
• Fast decisions prioritized
• Zero-interest loans available for organizations facing unexpected crises, particularly to avoid inflation costs during building work

Lady Leech Fund (Rolling basis, online applications)

• Supports registered UK charities with North East connections
• Focus on projects benefiting children, especially in developing countries
• Requires personal connection with Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, or County Durham
• Ideally someone from the North East working on an overseas project
• “Developing World” defined as areas where substantial populations lack access to basic minimum standards of life

Medical Research Commitment

• One-third of annual income dedicated to medical research
• Notable beneficiary: Newcastle University Institute of Genetic Medicine at The Centre for Life
• Over £7.5 million in endowed funds at Newcastle University supporting research in Biomedical Science, Renal Transplantation, Aging, Neuroscience, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Immunology, Primary Care, and Bioengineering

Priority Areas

• Local community projects with volunteer involvement
• Ground-breaking focused research
• Projects where support will make a significant difference
• Organizations facing unexpected crises (via zero-interest loans)
• Innovative and effective charitable activities across the North East
• Children's welfare, particularly in developing countries (Lady Leech Fund)
• Medical research at Newcastle University

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Gap year projects
• Personal travel that could be considered holiday
• Organizations that have received funding within the previous 12 months (unless previously agreed)
• Applications made by post (online only)
• Non-registered charities (except Community Interest Companies may be considered)
• Projects without a North Eastern connection

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees:

• A C Gifford
• D A Stabler
• B Wallace
• Rev. D. Wilkinson
• Janine Leech

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

Founder Legacy:

Sir William Leech (1900-1990) was a Tyneside housebuilder educated at Westgate Road Council School, Newcastle. After losing his engineering job at Swan Hunter Shipyards during the 1920s depression, he joined his father's window cleaning business before founding his building company in 1932 with just £50 capital. He lived simply and unostentatiously throughout his life and was posthumously knighted in the 1990 New Year's honours list.

Trustee Philosophy:

The trustees “wish to encourage and support innovative and effective charitable activities across the North East, looking for opportunities where their support will make a big difference.” They emphasize supporting “local community-spirited people who create and sustain interest in the voluntary sector,” with the belief that “a small amount of money combined with volunteering can produce a big impact.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Register for an account on the online application portal at williamleechcharity.org.uk
2. Update your details in account information
3. Create an application and submit online
4. Applications are no longer accepted by post - online only

Required Information

Applications must include:

• Description of the project the charity is undertaking
• Who the project hopes to help
• Evidence supporting the need for this particular project
• Total project costs (capital and revenue breakdown)
• Amount raised so far and where balance will be found
• Type of support sought (small grant, multiple grant, loan)
• Annual running costs of the organization
• Revenue spent on salaries and employees
• Revenue sources
• Number of paid workers and volunteers

Additional Requirements for Large/Multiple Grants

• As much supporting information as possible
• Trustees may wish to interview the applicant in rare cases

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed at the next board meeting. The trustees emphasize being “prepared to make fast decisions,” though specific meeting dates and timelines are not published on the website.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. In 2017/18, 80 grants were awarded totaling £618,216.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have received funding cannot reapply within 12 months unless previously agreed with the trustees. Policy for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated on the website.

Application Success Factors

Key Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a registered UK charity (or Community Interest Company in some cases)
• Must have a North Eastern connection (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham)
• Connection allows trustees to ensure grants are used for intended purposes

What Trustees Look For

• Appreciable Impact: Applications where the grant will make a significant difference
• Volunteer Involvement: Projects that combine funding with volunteering
• Innovation: Ground-breaking and focused charitable activities
• Risk-Taking: Trustees will support where other funders may hesitate
• Community Spirit: Local people creating and sustaining interest in the voluntary sector
• Efficiency: Small amounts of money producing big impact through volunteer efforts

Recent Grant Examples (2017/18)

• The People's Kitchen, Newcastle: £15,000
• Oasis Aquila Housing: £7,000
• Durham Association of Boys and Girls Clubs: £5,000
• Newcastle University Institute of Genetic Medicine: Ongoing support as major beneficiary

Strategic Considerations

• Emphasize volunteer involvement and community impact
• Demonstrate how a relatively small grant will produce significant outcomes
• Show innovation or willingness to address needs other funders overlook
• Provide clear evidence of need with supporting documentation
• Highlight any ground-breaking or focused approach to your work
• For Lady Leech Fund, clearly articulate North East connection to overseas work
• Consider zero-interest loans for crisis situations or building projects to avoid inflation costs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Local roots matter: Emphasize your North East England connection and how trustees can verify grant usage through this connection
• Volunteer leverage: Highlight how volunteers multiply the impact of funding - this resonates strongly with the founder's vision
• Be bold: Don't self-reject; trustees actively seek opportunities where others hesitate and value innovation
• Think small for big impact: Average grants around £7,700 suggest focused, high-impact projects perform well rather than large-scale initiatives
• Medical research advantage: One-third of income dedicated to medical research creates significant opportunity for health-related applications
• Consider loans: Zero-interest loans available for crises or building work - an underutilized option that could solve cash flow challenges
• Online readiness: Ensure you can complete a comprehensive online application with financial details readily available
• 12-month rule: Successful applicants must wait 12 months before reapplying, so ensure your request is comprehensive

References

• The William Leech Charity official website: http://www.williamleechcharity.org.uk (Accessed: January 2025)
• Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 265491 and 1186957: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/ (Accessed: January 2025)
• Philanthropy North East, William Leech Charity profile: https://www.philanthropynortheast.com/organisations/william-leech-charity (Accessed: January 2025)
• Philanthropy North East, Sir William Leech biography: https://www.philanthropynortheast.com/the-philanthropists/leech-sir-william (Accessed: January 2025)
• Financial data from 2017/18 annual accounts via Charity Commission filings
• Grant examples and trustee philosophy quoted from charity website and Charity Commission records