The Wo Street Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 267127

Annual Expenditure: £0.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £436,846 (2023)
  • Annual Expenditure: £596,538 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 3 months (when applying through community foundations)
  • Grant Range: £2,000 - £5,000 (through community foundation funds)
  • Geographic Focus: Lancashire (primary focus), Merseyside, Jersey, and broader UK

Contact Details

Direct Contact:

  • Phone: 01565 748787
  • Email: charities@zedra.com
  • Address: ZEDRA UK Trusts, Booths Hall, Booths Park, 3 Chelford Road, Knutsford WA16 8GS

Through Community Foundations:

  • Lancashire: Community Foundation for Lancashire - lancsfoundation.org.uk
  • Merseyside: Community Foundation for Merseyside - cfmerseyside.org.uk - applications@cflm.email - 0330 440 4900
  • Jersey: Jersey Community Foundation - jerseycommunityfoundation.org

Overview

The WO Street Charitable Foundation was established by William Openshaw Street through a settlement deed dated 5 December 1973. Registered as charity number 267127 with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the foundation is administered by ZEDRA UK Trusts. With an annual income of £436,846 and expenditure of £596,538 (2023), the foundation operates primarily as a grant-making organization supporting education, general welfare, and family and social welfare initiatives. The foundation has a particular commitment to Lancashire, as defined before local government reorganisation, while also supporting broader UK projects and initiatives in Jersey through partnership arrangements. The foundation operates through community foundations in different regions, including partnerships with the Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside and the Jersey Community Foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through several regional funds:

  • WO Street Transformation Fund (Lancashire): Up to £5,000 for projects advancing education
  • WO Street Fund (Merseyside): Up to £2,000 for education and poverty relief projects
  • WO Street Charitable Foundation Jersey Fund: Supports education and poverty relief (amounts vary)

Applications are processed on a rolling basis through the respective community foundations, with decisions typically made within 3 months of submission.

Priority Areas

The foundation supports projects that:

  • Advance education - particularly for children and young people unable to meet educational or living costs
  • Tackle poverty - focusing on those facing financial barriers to education and basic necessities
  • Support older people - especially those unable to afford medical or convalescent care
  • Assist visually impaired people - particularly those with financial challenges accessing care
  • Aid disabled people - especially those who cannot afford necessary medical care
  • General welfare - broader family and social welfare initiatives

Geographic Priorities

Special support is given to:

  • The County of Lancashire (as defined before local government reorganisation) - primary focus area
  • Merseyside region
  • Jersey (Channel Islands)
  • Broader UK registered charities

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly detailed, but grants are only made to:

  • UK registered charities
  • Organisations with charitable status
  • Charitable companies limited by guarantee
  • Community Interest Companies (CIC) limited by guarantee
  • Constituted community organisations
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Governance and Leadership

The foundation has 2 trustees and is administered by ZEDRA UK Trusts, a professional trust administration company based in Knutsford, Cheshire. The Charity Commission notes that one or more trustees receive payments or benefits for trusteeship, which is disclosed in compliance with charity regulations. The foundation operates without employees earning benefits over £60,000 and has no trading subsidiaries, maintaining a focused grant-making structure.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications through two routes:

1. Direct Applications:

Contact ZEDRA UK Trusts directly via:

  • Email: charities@zedra.com
  • Phone: 01565 748787

2. Through Community Foundation Partners (Recommended):

For Lancashire: Apply through the Community Foundation for Lancashire

  • Visit lancsfoundation.org.uk
  • Complete the online application form
  • Attach supporting documents
  • Organizations must have 3+ unrelated trustees/directors/committee members

For Merseyside: Apply through the Community Foundation for Merseyside

  • Visit cfmerseyside.org.uk
  • Contact: applications@cflm.email or 0330 440 4900
  • Complete online application
  • Provide constitutional documents

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must be:

  • Registered charity, OR
  • Charitable company/CIC limited by guarantee, OR
  • Constituted community organisation
  • Have at least 3 unrelated trustees, directors, or management committee members

Decision Timeline

When applying through community foundations:

  • Minimum application processing time: 3 months from submission
  • Feedback timeline: Within 2 weeks of grant panel meeting
  • Applications are reviewed by foundation staff for eligibility
  • Applicants may be contacted for additional information
  • Decision-making panel makes recommendations based on fund criteria and available budget

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The foundation distributed £596,538 in grants during 2023 against an income of £436,846, demonstrating active grant-making activity.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly specified. Applicants should contact the foundation or relevant community foundation directly for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's priorities and operational model:

Key Alignment Factors:

  • Projects that clearly advance education for children and young people facing financial barriers
  • Initiatives tackling poverty and its impacts on vulnerable populations
  • Services for older people, visually impaired, or disabled people unable to afford care
  • Strong connection to Lancashire (for organizations in or serving this region)
  • Clear demonstration of financial need among beneficiaries

Organizational Requirements:

  • Properly constituted with appropriate governance structure (3+ unrelated trustees/directors)
  • UK registered charity status or equivalent charitable structure
  • Evidence of sound financial management and governance

Application Tips:

  • Clearly articulate how the project advances education or tackles poverty
  • Demonstrate specific beneficiary need, particularly financial barriers
  • Show how the grant will make a measurable difference
  • Provide realistic budget information
  • If applying through community foundations, follow their specific guidelines carefully
  • Allow sufficient time (minimum 3 months) for processing
  • Ensure all supporting documents are complete and current

Strategic Considerations:

  • The foundation has partnerships with established community foundations, indicating trust in local grant-making expertise
  • Lancashire organizations may have a particular advantage given the foundation's historic connection to the region
  • Projects supporting multiple priority groups (e.g., education AND poverty) may be particularly strong

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic advantage: Lancashire-based organizations receive special consideration, though the foundation supports broader UK charities
  • Clear priorities: Focus tightly on education advancement and poverty relief - these are the foundation's core interests
  • Vulnerable populations: Projects specifically supporting children/young people, older people, visually impaired, or disabled people align well
  • Partnership approach: The foundation works through established community foundations, suggesting preference for locally-vetted applications
  • Modest grant size: Prepare applications for grants up to £5,000 (Lancashire) or £2,000 (Merseyside) - larger requests should go directly to ZEDRA
  • Time planning: Allow minimum 3 months for decision-making when applying through community foundations
  • Professional administration: ZEDRA's involvement suggests professional, structured grant-making processes and expectations

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