The Worshipful Company Of Turners Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 267372
• Annual Income: £80,391 (year ending May 2024)
• Annual Giving: Approximately £60,000-£93,000
• Grant Range: £500 - £12,000 (bursaries)
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Application Method: Annual bursary cycle with fixed deadline
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks from deadline to award

Contact Details

Address:

The Clerk

The Worshipful Company of Turners

Saddlers' House

44 Gutter Lane

London EC2V 6BR

Phone: +44 (0)20 7236 3605

Email: clerk@turnersco.com

Website: www.turnersco.com

Overview

The Worshipful Company of Turners Charitable Trust was registered in 1974 and operates with two principal aims: to support the craft of turning (woodturning) and to promote charities related to the City of London and the Company. With an annual income of over £80,000 and charitable expenditure of approximately £93,000 (2024), the trust plays a leading role in the renaissance of woodturning craft in the UK. The charity's funding comes from annual donations from the Company itself, the charity's own investment portfolio, donations from Company members, and occasional bequests. The trust provides approximately 20 lathes on loan to training establishments across the UK and supports a wide range of educational, training, and professional activities. In 2023, the charity established a new partnership with Blackhorse Workshop in Walthamstow, East London, making it an accredited centre for delivering the Company's Certificate in Turning. The charity maintains five trustees and benefits from 30 volunteers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Bursaries for Turners

£500 - £12,000 (total pool of £12,000 available annually)

Annual bursary awards for woodturners to fund training, research, equipment purchase, and business development. Applications open with deadline of 28th February each year. Successful applicants are selected following interviews held in London.

Cockpit Arts Award

Up to £4,500 (match funded place)

Provides one year of studio space at Cockpit Deptford, business support services including one-to-one coaching, and selling and promotional opportunities. Recipient contributes £1,000 over 12 months.

QEST Scholarships

Sponsored places through Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust partnership

The charity sponsors aspiring turners through QEST, with recipients benefiting from training, raised profile, and networking opportunities. Recent example: 2023 QEST Turners' Company Emerging Maker award for wood turning.

Yeoman Programme Support

Over £5,000 annually

Long-term support for the Yeoman scheme, funded by an anonymous benefactor.

Equipment and Infrastructure Grants

Amounts vary

The charity provides equipment funding to training centres, including donations for Cockpit Arts' 'wood hub' and wood hub manager position. Maintains approximately 20 lathes on loan to UK training establishments.

Priority Areas

• Craft Excellence: Supporting professional and amateur turners to develop skills and raise the profile of woodturning
• Education and Training: Bursaries for further education, research, training courses, seminars, and business knowledge development
• Professional Development: Support for turners wanting to establish careers or advance their practice
• Equipment Access: Provision of specialist equipment including lathes to training establishments
• Partnerships: Working with organizations including Register of Professional Turners, Association of Woodturners of Great Britain, Society of Ornamental Turners, Max Carey Woodturning Trust, Cockpit Arts, and Blackhorse Workshop
• Civic and Armed Forces Charities: Regular contributions to Lord Mayor's charities, armed forces events (Lord Mayor's Big Curry Lunch, Red Cross Fair)
• Environmental Conservation: Support for organizations like Woodland Heritage Trust

What They Don't Fund

• Premises or business set-up costs (bursaries not normally awarded for these)
• Applications from individuals not resident in the UK
• Projects unrelated to woodturning or the charity's civic connections
• Equipment purchases that are not part of a broader skills development plan

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Governance and Leadership

Current Master (2024-2025): Christopher Scott

Structure:

The charity is governed by 5 trustees who receive no remuneration. The governing body of the Company is the Court, comprising the Master, two Wardens, and 18 Assistants. The office is managed by a Clerk, Assistant Clerk, and part-time Beadle.

Key Quote:

From the charity's guidance to applicants: “Applicants need to present a clear plan of how the award will advance their work and raise the profile of the craft.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Bursary Applications:

Applications open annually with a deadline of 28th February.

Required Materials:

• The Turners' Company
• Register of Professional Turners
• Association of Woodturners of Great Britain
• Society of Ornamental Turners
• Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Green Woodworkers

How to Submit:

Contact clerk@turnersco.com for application forms and rules document, or download from www.turnersco.com

Cockpit Arts Award:

Apply through Cockpit Arts' award programme. Contact Cockpit Arts directly for application details.

QEST Scholarships:

Apply through the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust application process, noting the Turners' Company sponsorship option.

Decision Timeline

Bursary Awards Timeline (based on recent cycles):

• Late February: Application deadline
• 2-3 weeks later: Shortlisted candidates notified and invited for interview
• Early-to-mid June: Interviews held in London
• Late June: Awards announced

Total timeline: 6-8 weeks from application deadline to final decision

Selection Process:

All submissions are carefully read and appraised by the Bursary Awards Committee. Shortlisted applicants are invited to attend an interview in London. Following an exceptional standard of entries, candidates go through a rigorous round of interviews. The decision of the Bursary Committee is final.

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, recent years have seen multiple awards made from the £12,000 annual bursary pool, with recipients receiving both full and partial funding awards. The 2024 cycle awarded bursaries to at least 5 individuals, indicating a competitive but achievable selection process.

Reapplication Policy

Previous bursary recipients are welcome to reapply. The application guidance states: "All turners can apply, including those who've received previous awards from the Turners' Company." This indicates a supportive approach to ongoing development of talented turners.

Application Success Factors

What the Committee Looks For:

1. Clear Development Plan: "Well thought out proposals which will develop the applicant's skill and contribute to the excellence of the craft“ with ”a clear explanation of how your skills will be enhanced and what you expect to achieve as a result."

• Commitment to helping introduce others to turning
• Passion to establish a career as a full-time turner
• Demonstrable career progression and community involvement

1. Specific Training Goals: Identify specific mentors, courses, or training opportunities. Several 2024 winners included plans to train with named expert turners (Martin Saban-Smith, Les Thorne, Emma Cook, Clunie Fretton, Joey Richardson).

1. Raising the Craft's Profile: Applications should demonstrate how the bursary will not only advance individual skills but also contribute to promoting woodturning more broadly.

1. Realistic, Costed Plans: The application must include a detailed, costed plan showing exactly how funds will be used. Equipment purchases are acceptable but must be part of a broader skills development strategy.

1. Quality of Work: Photographs of turned items are a critical component - they demonstrate your current skill level and help the committee understand your development trajectory.

1. Strong References: Referees from recognized turning organizations carry weight. These should be individuals who can speak knowledgeably about your work and potential.

Recent Successful Recipients (2024) Include:

• Self-taught turners who had invested in training with recognized experts
• Professional craftspeople transitioning to or expanding into woodturning
• Recent graduates wanting to incorporate turning into their practice
• Those running woodworking social enterprises
• Individuals accepted onto recognized apprenticeship schemes

What Makes Funding Suitable:

• Further training courses and seminars
• Research into turning techniques
• Business and marketing knowledge development
• Specialist equipment purchase (when part of broader development)
• Training with recognized expert turners

What Is Not Suitable:

• Premises costs
• General business set-up costs not directly related to turning skills
• Equipment without accompanying skills development plan

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Application timing is critical: The single annual deadline of 28th February means missing it requires waiting a full year. Plan well in advance.

• Demonstrate craft commitment AND community benefit: The charity values individual development that also raises the profile of woodturning as a craft. Show how your success will benefit others.

• Identify specific training opportunities: Don't just say you want to “improve your skills” - name the courses, mentors, and specific techniques you want to learn.

• Invest in quality photographs: Your turned work samples are as important as your written application. These demonstrate your current ability and potential.

• Choose referees strategically: Referees must be from recognized turning organizations. If you're not already connected to these networks, join them before applying.

• Previous recipients can reapply: If you've received a bursary before, you can apply again for further development. This suggests the charity values ongoing relationships with talented turners.

• Prepare for interview: If shortlisted, you'll need to travel to London for an interview. This face-to-face component is a significant part of the selection process, so be prepared to articulate your passion and plans in person.

• Broader charitable connections matter: While bursaries are competitive and merit-based, the charity also supports organizations and initiatives. If you're part of a training centre, workshop, or educational program, institutional support may also be available.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Worshipful Company of Needlemakers Charitable Fund
• The Innholders' Charitable Foundation
• Norton Folgate Trust
• THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE BENEVOLENT FUND
• Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust
• The Horners Charity Fund
• The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust
• Chartered Accountants' Livery Charity
• The Idlewild Trust
• Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust

References

1. Charity Commission Register - The Worshipful Company of Turners Charitable Trust (267372): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=267372

1. The Worshipful Company of Turners - Charity Aims: https://turnersco.com/charity-aims/

1. The Worshipful Company of Turners - Bursary Awards: https://turnersco.com/craft/bursary-awards/

1. The Worshipful Company of Turners - Contact Information: https://turnersco.com/contact/

1. The Woodworker Magazine - "The Worshipful Company of Turners' Bursaries 2022": https://www.thewoodworkermag.com/worshipful-company-turners-bursaries-2022

1. The Worshipful Company of Turners - Cockpit Arts Awards: https://turnersco.com/turning/cockpit-arts-awards/

1. The Worshipful Company of Turners - QEST Scholarships: https://turnersco.com/craft/qest-scholarships/

1. Cockpit Arts - Turners' Award at Cockpit: https://cockpitstudios.org/awards/turners-award-at-cockpit/

1. The Register of Professional Turners - Emerging Turners Programme: https://www.registerofprofessionalturners.co.uk/the-emerging-turners-programme

1. Wikipedia - Worshipful Company of Turners: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Turners