W G Edwards Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 293312

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

Geographic Focus: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Newcastle Upon Tyne City

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £135,758
Decision Time: Quarterly meetings (typically 2-4 months from submission to payment)
Grant Range: £1,000 - £3,000
Average Grant: £1,500
Geographic Focus: UK-wide

Contact Details

Website: www.wgedwardscharitablefoundation.org.uk

Email: wgedwardscharity@icloud.com

Phone: 0191 2843612

Overview

The W G Edwards Charitable Foundation was established in 1985 following the death of William George Edwards (1908-1984), a chartered surveyor who built up a property investment company. With annual expenditure of approximately £136,000, this small independent grant-making charity focuses exclusively on improving the wellbeing of people over 65 in the UK. The foundation takes a practical approach, funding both capital projects (refurbishment and equipment) and innovative schemes that help older people live active lives. Priority is given to charities working in areas of deprivation and those with a focus on arts and wellbeing. The foundation is governed by volunteer trustees who meet quarterly to review applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Program: £1,000 - £3,000 (average £1,500)
Quarterly application deadlines: 10 March, 10 June, 10 September, 10 December
Decisions at trustee meetings: January, April, July, October
Payment within 6-8 weeks of meeting

Priority Areas

Health and Welfare:

Refurbishment of care housing and building projects
Equipment and furniture for care facilities
Memory care initiatives

Community and Innovation:

Exercise classes and fitness initiatives for over-65s
Lunch clubs and social activities
Horticultural therapy and gardening projects
Arts projects including musical therapy and theatre groups
Technology projects to reduce isolation
Day trips and crafternoon sessions

Priority Given To:

Charities in areas of deprivation
Arts and wellbeing focused projects
Innovative schemes for active aging

What They Don't Fund

Running costs or staff salaries
Non-registered charities
Previous grant recipients (5-year exclusion)
Projects where less than 80% of beneficiaries are over 65
Charities with annual turnover over £100,000
Charities registered for less than 2 years

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by volunteer trustees who meet quarterly. Trustees serve without remuneration and all funding decisions are made at trustee discretion.

How to Apply to W G Edwards Charitable Foundation

How to Apply

Submit applications via email to wgedwardscharity@icloud.com during application windows.

Requirements:

Maximum 4 pages (Word or PDF)
Include: charity objectives, project details, beneficiary information, exact budget, bank details
Must demonstrate 80% of beneficiaries are over 65

Decision Timeline

Submit by quarterly deadline (10 March/June/September/December)
Trustees review at quarterly meeting (4-8 weeks after deadline)
Notification following meeting
Payment within 6-8 weeks if successful

Total timeline: 2-4 months from submission to payment

Success Rates

Approximately 70 organisations receive grants annually. Total application numbers not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants: Can reapply in future quarters
Successful recipients: 5-year waiting period before reapplying
No feedback provided on unsuccessful applications

Application Success Factors

Key success factors based on foundation priorities:

Clearly specify number of beneficiaries over 65
Align with deprivation or arts/wellbeing priorities
Focus on capital or innovative projects (not running costs)
Keep within typical £1,000-£3,000 range
Maximum 4 pages with all required information
Established charity (2+ years registration)
Examples of previously funded: Shapeshifter Productions (participatory music), Crafternoons project (creative activities)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Focus on deprivation and arts/wellbeing - Explicitly stated priorities
Be specific about numbers - Exact beneficiary counts and costs required
Capital or innovation only - No salary/running costs
Keep it concise - 4-page maximum strictly enforced
No feedback available - Ensure comprehensive first submission
Strategic timing - Only 4 annual deadlines with approximately 70 successful applications
Five-year rule - Make requests substantial enough to justify long exclusion period