W F Southall Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £361,213 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 4 months (grants up to £5,000); up to 10 months (grants over £5,000)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000 (typical); higher amounts for returning grantees
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
• Total Endowment: Approximately £12 million

Contact Details

Website: www.southalltrust.org

Phone: 0300 111 1937

Email: Available via website contact form

Application Portal: Online application system accessible after completing the eligibility checker at southalltrust.org/how-to-apply/eligibility/

Overview

The W F Southall Trust is a Quaker-based grant-making family charitable trust established in 1937 by Wilfred Francis Southall, a director of pharmaceutical company Southall Bros. & Barclay. With an endowment of approximately £12 million, the Trust distributes around £350,000-£360,000 annually to UK-registered charities. Founded upon Quaker principles of "love and respect for one's neighbour, recognising that there is something of God in everyone," the Trust is committed to creating a more just, peaceful, and collaborative society. All trustees are relatives of the founder and serve as volunteers, with day-to-day operations managed by a dedicated Trust Secretary. The Trust maintains an ethical investment policy, avoiding arms-related companies and supporting initiatives aligned with its values. In 2023, the Trust made a strategic decision to cease overseas grant-making and now exclusively supports UK-based work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Program: £1,000 - £5,000 (rolling deadlines)

• Average grant: £3,000
• Most grants are one-year awards
• Application deadlines: First Friday in January, May, and September
• Online applications only

Multi-Year Grants: Up to 3 years (for returning grantees)

• Higher amounts (over £5,000) possible for organizations previously funded
• Longer decision timeline (up to 10 months)
• Requires discussion at full trustee meetings

Wilfred Southall Sustainability Awards: Student awards

• Partnership with Bath Spa University
• For students demonstrating exceptional work in sustainability

Priority Areas

The Trust supports grassroots initiatives across four main categories:

Quaker Work & Witness (£74,000 awarded in 2023)

• Quaker meetings and religious work
• Organizations embodying Quaker values and principles
• Larger grants possible due to shared values and long-standing connections

Environmental Action & Sustainability (£59,500 awarded in 2023)

• Emerging as a primary grant category
• Climate change initiatives
• Sustainable development projects
• Environmental activism

Peace & Reconciliation (£26,250 awarded in 2023)

• Conflict resolution
• Disarmament initiatives
• Peace-building organizations

Social Action (£153,751 awarded in 2023 - largest category)

• Organizations that are bold and innovative
• Projects addressing root causes of issues
• Initiatives promoting social justice
• Work challenging structural inequalities
• Community-led and engaged projects

The Trust particularly favors smaller charities “where their help is more meaningful” and especially values applications where a trustee has detailed knowledge of the charity concerned.

What They Don't Fund

The Trust explicitly excludes:

• Organizations with annual income or net assets over £1 million
• Organizations spending less than 80% of annual expenditure on charitable activities
• Retrospective costs
• Statutory funding replacements
• Work or projects delivered outside of the UK
• Emergency appeals
• Private schools
• Medical charities or counseling services
• Animal welfare
• Religious promotion (except Quaker-related work)
• Arms-related organizations
• Purchases related to lotteries/gambling, alcohol, or fossil fuels

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (all volunteers, all relatives of founder Wilfred Southall):

Mark Holtom (Trustee since 1989)

• Background: Former teacher, worked in local authority strategy
• Active Quaker with deep knowledge of the sector
• Interests: Hill walking and music

Hannah Engelkamp (Trustee since 2008)

• Background: Writer, editor, and published author
• Environmental activist
• Interests: Art, yoga, and swimming

Andrew Southall (Trustee since 2017)

• Background: Art and design professional, university lecturer
• Particularly interested in “socially engaged” small-scale projects
• Interests: Photography, music, and sailing

Philip Coventry (Trustee since 2017)

• Background: Worked in financial institutions, PhD in climate change
• Former employee of Community Energy England
• Interests: Climbing, dance, and countryside

Holly Wallis (Trustee since 2021)

• Background: Participatory theatre practitioner at Bristol Old Vic
• Interests: Juggling, open water swimming, and mountain climbing

Tristan Southall (Trustee since November 2025)

• Recently joined the board

Staff:

Wil Berdinner - Trust Secretary (appointed 2017)

• Manages day-to-day operations on behalf of trustees
• Nearly two decades of voluntary sector experience

Joanna Engelkamp - Trust Associate

• Former trustee (1994-2025)
• Background: Nurse, teacher, Alexander Technique instructor
• Active Quaker passionate about climate change and disarmament

How to Apply to W F Southall Trust

How to Apply

The Trust has moved to a fixed deadline system with three application rounds per year:

Application Deadlines:

• First Friday in January
• First Friday in May
• First Friday in September

Application Steps:

1. Research: Thoroughly explore the Trust's website, particularly the “What We Support” section and FAQs
2. Eligibility Check: Complete the online Eligibility Checker at southalltrust.org/how-to-apply/eligibility/
3. Application Form: If eligible, download and complete the full application form
4. Submit: Submit online with required supporting documents (recent accounts must be publicly available and under 18 months old)

Critical Requirements:

• Online applications only (no postal applications accepted)
• Organizations can only submit one application per 12-month period
• Incomplete applications will not be processed
• The Trust warns: “We do not respond to applicants that have bypassed or been dishonest in the Eligibility Checker”
• Accounts must be publicly available and under 18 months old

Supporting Documents:

• Recent financial accounts
• Demonstration of matched funding (preferred)
• Evidence of project sustainability

Closed Period: The Trust will be closed to all applications between 1st September and 1st November 2025.

Decision Timeline

For Grants Up to £5,000:

• Target response time: Within 4 months of deadline
• Assessed by Trust Secretary and selected trustees

For Grants Over £5,000:

• Response time: Up to 10 months
• Requires discussion at full trustee meetings (three meetings per year)

Post-Award:

• Grant recipients must submit a grant report after the funding period

Success Rates

The Trust awarded 90 grants in 2024 (compared to 87 in 2023). However, specific success rates and total application numbers are not publicly disclosed. The Trust states: "Due to the high volume and variety of applications we receive, the Trust cannot give an indication regarding an organisation's chances of success, as it is dependent upon how applications compare to others at the time of assessment."

Reapplication Policy

For Previous Grant Recipients: Must wait at least 12 months from the date the Trust's last grant was awarded before reapplying.

For Unsuccessful Applicants: No specific waiting period is stated. The Trust attempts to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications (though this is not guaranteed given application volumes).

Important Note: Organizations that ignore application guidelines will not receive responses.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Matched Funding:

The Trust explicitly states they “like to see that applicants have sought and secured some matched funding towards their proposal.” This shows sustainability and broader support for your project.

Target the Right Grant Amount:

With an average grant of £3,000 and most grants between £1,000-£5,000, applications should be realistic. First-time applicants should focus on this range; only returning grantees should consider requesting over £5,000.

Emphasize Grassroots and Community Engagement:

The Trust favors smaller organizations working at the grassroots level. Highlight community-led aspects, local engagement, and how your organization embodies the values of collaboration and participation.

Address Root Causes:

The Trust is particularly interested in organizations that are “bold and innovative” and “addressing root causes of issues” rather than just treating symptoms. Frame your work in terms of systemic change and challenging structural inequalities.

Align with Quaker Values:

Even if not applying under the Quaker Work & Witness category, demonstrating alignment with Quaker principles—peace, social justice, equality, community, environmental stewardship—can strengthen applications. The Trust is "founded upon the Quaker principles of love and respect for one's neighbour, recognising that there is something of God in everyone."

Show You're Under the £1M Threshold:

The Trust specifically targets smaller organizations where their funding will be more meaningful. If your annual income or net assets are well under £1 million, make this clear.

Follow Guidelines Precisely:

The Trust explicitly warns they do not respond to applicants who bypass or are dishonest in the Eligibility Checker or ignore application guidelines. Attention to detail and honesty are essential.

Trustee Knowledge Can Help:

The Trust notes they particularly favor situations “where a trustee has detailed knowledge of the charity concerned.” While this suggests relationship-building is valuable, there's no public application process bypass—all must go through the standard application system.

Demonstrate Charitable Spend:

Ensure your organization spends over 80% of annual expenditure on charitable activities, as this is a key eligibility criterion.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small, strategic grants: With an average award of £3,000, this is ideal funding for specific project elements or small-scale initiatives at grassroots organizations
• Quaker alignment matters: Even for non-Quaker organizations, demonstrating values of peace, equality, community, and social justice strengthens applications
• Be patient with decisions: Four months minimum for smaller grants, up to ten months for larger amounts—plan your funding timeline accordingly
• Matched funding is valued: Securing other funding sources demonstrates sustainability and increases competitiveness
• One chance per year: Organizations can only apply once every 12 months, so make your application count and ensure strong alignment before applying
• Growth opportunity for returning grantees: First-time applicants should focus on £1,000-£5,000; successful grantees can request higher amounts and multi-year funding in subsequent applications
• Fixed deadlines: Plan submissions for the first Friday in January, May, or September—no rolling basis anymore

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Charles Hayward Foundation
• The Corton Hill Trust
• Q Charitable Trust
• The Pickwell Foundation
• Volunteer Action

References

1. The Southall Trust Official Website - Homepage. https://southalltrust.org/
2. The Southall Trust - About the Trust. https://southalltrust.org/about/
3. The Southall Trust - How to Apply. https://southalltrust.org/how-to-apply/
4. The Southall Trust - Frequently Asked Questions. https://southalltrust.org/faqs/
5. The Southall Trust - What We Support. https://southalltrust.org/whatwesupport/
6. The Southall Trust - Our Trustees & Staff. https://southalltrust.org/about/theteam/
7. Charity Commission Register of Charities - W F Southall Trust (Charity No. 218371). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=218371&subId=0
8. PAVO News - “The W F Southall Trust”. https://www.pavo.org.uk/news/the-w-f-southall-trust/ and https://www.pavo.org.uk/news/the-w-f-southall-trust-2/