The Winstone Charitable Trust
Charity Number: 1129746
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Quick Stats
- Registered Charity Number: 1129746
- Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (evidence of multi-year grants)
- Geographic Focus: Cirencester and Gloucestershire
- Application Process: No public application process
Contact Details
Address: 7 Dollar Street, Cirencester, GL7 2AS
Phone: 01285 650000
Email: scn@sml-law.co.uk
Administrator: Sewell Mullings Logie Solicitors
The trust is administered through Sewell Mullings Logie, a long-established law firm that has served the Cirencester community for over 200 years and manages several local charities.
Overview
The Winstone Charitable Trust (charity number 1129746) is a private grant-making trust based in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The trust operates without a public website or published grant guidelines, making grants through trustee discretion rather than open application processes. Despite limited public information, the trust has demonstrated commitment to supporting heritage, history, and arts organizations in the Cirencester area. The trust's registration with the Charity Commission is current and reporting is up to date. Evidence shows the trust makes substantial multi-year grants to carefully selected beneficiaries, particularly in the fields of local history research and arts provision.
Funding Priorities
Known Beneficiaries
Based on publicly available information, the trust has supported:
- Gloucestershire County History Trust: The K.D. Winstone Charitable Trust pledged substantial sums for each of the first four years of planned work on the Victoria County History volume covering Cirencester and District, representing a long-term commitment to historical research.
- New Brewery Arts: Listed as a recent funder of this arts venue in Cirencester, which has served the community since 1978 offering workshops, courses, artist studios, a shop, and café.
- Cirencester History Festival: The trust sponsors “The Winstone Talk,” an annual signature event held at the historic Cirencester Parish Church featuring prominent historians and authors.
Priority Areas
Based on known grants, the trust appears to support:
- Local heritage and historical research
- Arts and cultural venues
- Community cultural events
- Projects benefiting the Cirencester area
Geographic Focus
The trust's known grants are concentrated in Cirencester and Gloucestershire, suggesting a strong local focus.
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Governance and Leadership
The trust is administered by Sewell Mullings Logie Solicitors, with Richard Mullings having significant experience advising charitable organizations on legal and financial issues including governance and management. He qualified in 1976 and has long-standing connections to the Cirencester charitable sector.
The firm's cross-disciplinary charity team manages a number of local charities and handles day-to-day administration.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
This trust does not have a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded at trustee discretion, likely through pre-existing relationships with beneficiary organizations and knowledge of community needs.
The trust does not maintain a public website, publish grant guidelines, or accept unsolicited applications through an open process.
Organizations seeking support would need to contact the trust administrators directly at:
- Email: scn@sml-law.co.uk
- Phone: 01285 650000
However, there is no indication that the trust actively solicits or encourages such contact.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly disclosed. The trust's support for the Gloucestershire County History Trust involved multi-year pledges, suggesting decisions may involve longer-term commitments rather than annual grant cycles.
Success Rates
Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.
Application Success Factors
Given the private nature of this trust, organizations are unlikely to successfully secure funding through direct application. However, the following factors may be relevant for organizations hoping to come to the trust's attention:
Geographic Connection: All known grants support Cirencester-based organizations or projects directly benefiting the local area.
Heritage and Arts Focus: The trust has demonstrated particular interest in historical research and arts provision that serves the community.
Long-term Impact: The multi-year pledge to the Gloucestershire County History Trust suggests the trust values sustained support for significant projects rather than one-off grants.
Community Benefit: Beneficiaries serve the wider Cirencester community rather than narrow interest groups.
Established Organizations: Known beneficiaries are established organizations with clear charitable purposes and community track records.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No public application process exists – this trust awards grants at trustee discretion
- Strong geographic focus on Cirencester and Gloucestershire – organizations outside this area are unlikely to be considered
- Heritage and arts priorities – demonstrated through support for historical research, arts venues, and cultural events
- Multi-year commitments – the trust has shown willingness to make sustained funding pledges over multiple years
- Local connections matter – administered by a long-established local law firm with deep community ties
- Limited disclosure – the trust maintains a very low public profile with minimal published information
- Relationship-based giving – grants appear to flow from trustees' knowledge of community needs and organizations rather than competitive application processes
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References
- Charity Commission Register of Charities, The Winstone Charitable Trust (charity number 1129746): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/4045482/contact-information
- Institute of Historical Research, “Gloucestershire vol. XVI - Cirencester and District,” Victoria County History: References K.D. Winstone Charitable Trust support for Gloucestershire County History Trust
- New Brewery Arts, “How to Support Us,”: https://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/how-to-support-us - Lists K D Winstone Charitable Trust as a funder
- Cirencester History Festival Programme 2025: References “The Winstone Talk” as annual signature event
- Sewell Mullings Logie Solicitors website, “Charities” section: https://www.sml-law.co.uk/charities - Information about the firm's charitable work and administration