The Woodward Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £402,926 (year ending April 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Up to £10,000 per year (general grants); £500-£2,000 (Summer Playschemes)
• Geographic Focus: Throughout England and Wales

Contact Details

• Website: www.woodwardcharitabletrust.org.uk
• Phone: 020 7410 0330
• Email: contact@woodwardcharitabletrust.org.uk
• Address: The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trust, The Peak, 5 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1AP

Overview

The Woodward Charitable Trust is a UK-based grant-making charity (registered charity number 299963) that has been operating since at least 1988. The Trust is one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. With annual expenditure of approximately £400,000, the Trust supports charitable organisations throughout England and Wales. The Trust operates primarily through grant-making to other organisations and maintains a consistent giving pattern that exceeds its annual income, suggesting it draws from accumulated reserves to support its charitable activities.

In May 2025, the Trust updated its funding guidelines to focus specifically on supporting disadvantaged families with young children and organisations working directly with children aged 0-11 years.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Following the May 2025 guidelines update, the Trust now provides grants exclusively to:

• Organisations supporting disadvantaged families with young children up to age 11
• Organisations that work directly with children aged 0-11 years

At least 75% of an organisation's work must align with this focus on children aged 0-11 to be eligible.

The Trust also operates a separate Summer Playschemes programme supporting small local UK organisations running summer play schemes for children.

Target Beneficiaries

• Children and young people (aged 0-11)
• Disadvantaged families with young children
• Other charities and voluntary organisations (with annual income up to £200,000)

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations whose primary focus is not on children aged 0-11 years
• Organisations with annual turnover over £100,000 (Summer Playschemes programme)
• Organisations with annual income over £200,000 (general grants)

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by five trustees who control the work, management and administration of the charity:

• Mrs Camilla Woodward - Trustee
• Mr Shaun Woodward - Trustee
• Mr Tom Hunniwood - Trustee
• Miss Olivia Woodward - Trustee
• Miss Kate Woodward - Trustee

The Trust operates with no paid employees and trustees receive no remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

How to Apply to The Woodward Charitable Trust

How to Apply

The Trust operates an online application portal system. Applications are accepted when grant rounds are open, with specific deadlines announced on their website. Prospective applicants should:

1. Check the website for current application round opening dates
2. Review the detailed application guidelines and FAQs available on the website
3. Submit proposals through the online application portal when rounds are open
4. Contact the administrator Vanessa Lye at contact@woodwardcharitabletrust.org.uk for assistance

Grant Amounts

General Grants: Up to £10,000 per year for core costs, available for organisations with an annual income of up to £200,000, for a maximum of three consecutive years.

Summer Playschemes: Grants of £500-£2,000 are available to small local UK organisations running summer play schemes for children. Organisations with annual turnover over £100,000 are ineligible.

Funding Period Restrictions

The Trust will only fund organisations for a maximum of three consecutive years, or for three years in a five-year period, before a two-year break will apply.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified.

Success Rates

Application success rates are not publicly available. However, during the year ending April 2024, the trustees approved 198 grants totalling £270,154.

Reapplication Policy

Organisations can be funded for up to three consecutive years or three years within a five-year period, after which a two-year break is required before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

To maximise chances of success, prospective applicants should:

• Ensure at least 75% of the organisation's work focuses on children aged 0-11 years or disadvantaged families with young children in this age group
• Have an annual income under £200,000 (for general grants)
• Demonstrate clear impact for disadvantaged families or children aged 0-11
• Apply during open application rounds
• Review the detailed guidelines and FAQs on the Trust's website before applying
• Focus on programmes benefiting children within England and Wales

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Trust significantly updated its focus in May 2025 to concentrate specifically on children aged 0-11 and disadvantaged families with young children
• They are an active grant-maker, approving 198 grants in the most recent financial year
• Grants of up to £10,000 per year are available for eligible organisations with income under £200,000
• A separate Summer Playschemes programme offers smaller grants of £500-£2,000
• The Trust will fund organisations for a maximum of three consecutive years before requiring a two-year break
• Applications must be submitted through an online portal when grant rounds are open
• At least 75% of an applicant organisation's work must align with the Trust's focus on children aged 0-11
• The Trust is part of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts
• With expenditure exceeding income, the Trust appears to be drawing from reserves to maintain its grant-making activities

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• National Lottery
• Bbc Children In Need
• Essex Community Foundation
• The Beatrice Laing Trust
• The Hobson Charity Limited
• Richer Sounds Foundation
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• Awards For All

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - Register of Charities: The Woodward Charitable Trust (Charity Number 299963).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/299963
• The Woodward Charitable Trust official website.. www.woodwardcharitabletrust.org.uk
• The Woodward Charitable Trust General Application Guidelines.. https://woodwardcharitabletrust.org.uk/general_applications/
• The Woodward Charitable Trust Application FAQs.. https://woodwardcharitabletrust.org.uk/general-application-faqs/
• Charity Commission Financial History data for The Woodward Charitable Trust..
• Charity Commission Trustees listing for The Woodward Charitable Trust..