Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £85,000+ (based on recent accounts)
• Registered Charity Number: 1156450
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: Parish of Urchfont, Wiltshire
• Application Opens: January annually
• Organisation Type: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
• Trustees: 15
• Volunteers: 150

Contact Details

Website: https://www.urchfontscarecrows.co.uk/

Email: rodgill@aol.com

Phone: 01380 848267

Grant Application Forms Available From:

• Download from: http://www.urchfont-pc.gov.uk
• Contact: Patty Frankel (contact details available via Urchfont Parish Council website)

Registered Address: 19 Manor Farmyard, Urchfont, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 4BA

Overview

The Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity was founded in 1997 when Jean Thomas conceived the idea after learning about a scarecrow festival in North Yorkshire. What began as a small-scale fundraising event for village hall refurbishment has grown into one of the UK's largest scarecrow festivals, attracting thousands of visitors annually. Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 31 March 2014 (charity number 1156450), the charity operates with 15 trustees and approximately 150 volunteers. The annual festival, held over the May Bank Holiday weekend, has raised significant funds over its history for local causes and major charitable organisations. In recent accounts, the charity reported total income of £85,106 and expenditure of £87,671. The charity's primary purpose is to benefit inhabitants of the Parish of Urchfont through grant provision, supporting health preservation, education advancement, religion, arts/culture, and other charitable purposes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Community Grants Programme

• Applications open annually in January
• Available to local societies, clubs, and organisations within Urchfont Parish
• Application via Festival Grant Aid Application Form
• Previous recipients required to submit End of Grant Forms by 31 January each year

Major Beneficiary Partnerships

• Annual four-figure donation to Wiltshire Air Ambulance (£6,663.43 in recent year)
• Partnership with Devizes Opendoors (£2,000 donation, with partnership extended into subsequent years)

Priority Areas

The charity explicitly supports charitable purposes for the benefit of Urchfont Parish inhabitants, including:

• Health: Preservation and protection of good health, advancement of health or saving of lives
• Education: Advancement of education and training
• Religion: Advancement of religion and religious activities
• Arts & Culture: Arts, culture, heritage, and science initiatives
• Amateur Sport: Recreational and amateur sport activities
• Environment: Environmental conservation and heritage preservation

What They Don't Fund

Based on their charitable objects, the charity specifically targets:

• Projects that benefit inhabitants of the Parish of Urchfont only
• Applications must be from local societies, clubs, and organisations (not individuals)
• Projects outside the Parish of Urchfont are not eligible for community grants

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Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Chairman: Steve Osborne (as of 2025)

• Oversees recent editions of the festival
• Actively involved in festival planning, theme selection, and community engagement

Previous Chairman: David Stevens (served during 2021 pandemic period)

Trustees

The charity operates with 15 voluntary trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trustee structure includes annually elected positions:

• Chairperson
• Secretary
• Treasurer

The festival is run by a small committee of trustees who make decisions about the event and grant allocations.

Volunteers

Approximately 150 volunteers support the annual festival, performing various roles including:

• Scarecrow creation
• Baking and catering
• Parking management
• Barbecue and refreshment service
• Event coordination

From Chairman Steve Osborne: “The festival committee decided on the theme in September and villagers worked on their scarecrows from December.” This demonstrates the year-round planning and community engagement approach of the organisation.

How to Apply to Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Charity

How to Apply

Application Method:

• Applications must be submitted on the official Festival Grant Aid Application Form
• Forms can be downloaded from http://www.urchfont-pc.gov.uk
• Forms also available from Patty Frankel (contact via Urchfont Parish Council)
• Applications will ONLY be considered if submitted on the official form

Application Opens: January each year (typically early January)

Application Requirements:

• Must be a local society, club, or organisation within Urchfont Parish
• Must complete the Festival Grant Aid Application Form in full
• The form provides guidance on eligible projects and decision criteria
• Previous grant recipients must submit End of Grant Forms by 31 January before reapplying

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. Based on the annual cycle:

• Applications open: January
• Festival takes place: May Bank Holiday weekend
• Decisions likely made: Between January and spring

Grant recipients are required to submit End of Grant Forms by 31 January following the grant period.

Reapplication Policy

Previous grant recipients can reapply. The charity requires recipients to:

• Submit End of Grant Forms by 31 January following their grant year
• Complete a new application form for subsequent funding requests

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Charitable Objects

Applications that clearly demonstrate benefit to Urchfont Parish inhabitants in the charity's priority areas (health, education, religion, arts/culture, sport, environment) are most likely to succeed.

Community Impact Focus

Given the charity's origins as a village fundraising initiative, projects demonstrating tangible community benefit and engagement are valued. The festival itself exemplifies community participation with around 55 scarecrows created by villagers annually and 150 volunteers supporting operations.

Clear Documentation

Applications must use the official Festival Grant Aid Application Form and follow all specified criteria. The charity operates with transparency requirements as a CIO and expects grant recipients to report on fund usage via End of Grant Forms.

Local Connection

As the charity's purpose is explicitly “for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Urchfont in Wiltshire,” strong local connections and demonstrable parish benefit are essential.

Examples of Funded Work

While detailed lists of all community grant recipients are not publicly available, the charity has established multi-year partnerships with:

• Wiltshire Air Ambulance: Receives annual four-figure donations (£6,663.43 in recent year)
• Devizes Opendoors: Received £2,000 with partnership extended into subsequent years

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Strict Parish Focus: Only organisations serving the Parish of Urchfont are eligible - ensure your organisation and project clearly benefit local inhabitants
• Use Official Form: Applications submitted on any other format will not be considered - download the specific Festival Grant Aid Application Form
• Apply Early in January: Grant applications open each January - prepare your application in December for early submission
• Complete End of Grant Forms: If you've received funding before, submit your End of Grant Form by 31 January or risk future eligibility
• Community Engagement: The festival exemplifies community participation with 150 volunteers - demonstrate how your project engages Urchfont residents
• Aligned Purpose: Clearly articulate how your project advances health, education, religion, arts/culture, sport, or environmental conservation
• Long-term Partnership Potential: The charity has established multi-year relationships with organisations like Devizes Opendoors - successful initial grants may lead to ongoing support

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Ralph And Irma Sperring Charity
• Waterside Community Fund
• Wiltshire And Swindon Community Foundation
• Market Harborough And The Bowdens Charity
• Chippenham Borough Lands Charity
• The William Price Charitable Trust
• The Roper Family Charitable Trust
• The Grimmitt Trust
• The Lionel Abel-smith Trust
• John Bristow And Thomas Mason Trust

References

1. Charity Commission Register - URCHFONT SCARECROW FESTIVAL CHARITY (Charity Number 1156450): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5046584

1. Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Official Website - The Charity section: https://www.urchfontscarecrows.co.uk/charity

1. Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Official Website - Grant Applications page: https://www.urchfontscarecrows.co.uk/grant-applications-now-open-for-2025

1. Urchfont Parish Council - Scarecrow Festival Grants page: https://www.urchfont-pc.gov.uk/News_and_Events/Scarecrow_Festival_Grants.aspx

1. Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Official Website - History section: https://www.urchfontscarecrows.co.uk/history

1. Wikishire - Urchfont article: https://wikishire.co.uk/wiki/Urchfont

1. This Is Wiltshire - “Pictures: Urchfont Scarecrow Festival 2025 in Wiltshire”, May 2025: https://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/25139770.pictures-urchfont-scarecrow-festival-2025-wiltshire/

1. Companies House - URCHFONT SCARECROW FESTIVAL CHARITY (CE001178): https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/CE001178

1. Charity Commission Financial History - URCHFONT SCARECROW FESTIVAL CHARITY: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5046584/financial-history

1. Urchfont Scarecrow Festival - Wiltshire Air Ambulance donation announcement, 2024: https://www.urchfontscarecrows.co.uk/2024-wiltshire-air-ambulance-donation

1. Urchfont Scarecrow Festival - Continuing support of Devizes Opendoors: https://www.urchfontscarecrows.co.uk/continuing-our-support-of-devizes-opendoors