W W Spooner Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £18,191 - £110,000+ (varies by year)
• Success Rate: Not available
• Decision Time: Not specified
• Grant Range: Not specified
• Geographic Focus: West and North Ridings of Yorkshire

Contact Details

Address: Old Sleningford Hall, North Stainley, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3JD

Alternative Address: 2 Elliot Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 4DF

Phone: 01923 237231

Email: Not available

Website: None

Overview

The W W Spooner Charitable Trust was established in 1961 by William Wycliffe Spooner (1882-1967), an industrialist who founded Spooner Industries Ltd., a company specializing in industrial drying technology. The trust became operational in 1962 and continues to operate as an active grant-making charity with registered charity number 313653. With total funds of approximately £2 million and annual giving ranging from £18,000 to over £110,000 depending on the year, the trust supports various charitable causes with a particular focus on Yorkshire. The trust operates through unanimous trustee decisions and maintains connections to its founder's industrial legacy, including support for former employees of Spooner Industries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate specific named grant programs but makes discretionary grants in line with its charitable objects, which include:

• Building fund support for New Hall, Cambridge
• Clubs or homes for boys
• Support for former employees of Spooner Industries Ltd. or their dependants in need
• Scholarships for young employees
• Purchase of works of art for public benefit
• General charitable purposes at trustees' discretion

Priority Areas

• Advancement of health or saving of lives
• Arts, culture, heritage, and science
• Environment, conservation, and heritage
• Support for children and young people
• Support for elderly people
• Support for people with disabilities
• Support for other charities and voluntary bodies

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the trust's focus on Yorkshire and specific charitable objects suggests limited support for:

• Projects outside the West and North Ridings of Yorkshire
• Individual applications not connected to Spooner Industries (unless meeting other criteria)
• Projects falling outside their stated charitable purposes

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Governance and Leadership

The trust operates with 4 trustees (previously 6) who make grant decisions through unanimous agreement. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the trust. The trust has no employees and operates entirely through voluntary trustee governance. Specific trustee names are not publicly available, but the trust maintains registered addresses in both North Yorkshire and Hertfordshire.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications should be made in writing to one of the trust's registered addresses:

• Old Sleningford Hall, North Stainley, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3JD
• 2 Elliot Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 4DF

There is no online application portal or downloadable application form. The trust appears to operate on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified. All grant decisions require unanimous agreement from the trustees.

Success Rates

Application numbers and success rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No information is available regarding reapplication policies or waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's traditional approach and specific charitable objects, successful applications likely:

• Demonstrate clear alignment with one or more of the trust's stated charitable purposes
• Show strong connections to Yorkshire, particularly the West and North Ridings
• Present projects that benefit the specific groups identified (children, elderly, disabled individuals)
• For organizations with connections to Spooner Industries or its former employees, highlight these links
• Provide clear, concise written proposals given the traditional application method

The requirement for unanimous trustee agreement suggests the importance of crafting applications that appeal to all decision-makers rather than taking risks with controversial or divisive proposals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a traditional, Yorkshire-focused trust with modest but consistent grant-making activity
• Written applications only - no digital submission options available
• Geographic focus on West and North Ridings of Yorkshire is likely a key criterion
• The trust maintains specific interest in supporting former Spooner Industries employees and their dependants
• With annual giving varying significantly year to year (£18,000 to £110,000+), timing of applications may matter
• The unanimous trustee decision requirement suggests conservative, consensus-driven grant-making
• Limited public information means direct contact may be necessary to understand current priorities and typical grant sizes

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Stadium Charitable Trust
• THE CHERIDAN RAITHBY CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Ken and Edna Morrison Charitable Trust
• The Rasche Family Charitable Trust
• Normanby Charitable Trust
• The Wyfold Charitable Trust
• The Doouss Charitable Trust
• John Jacob Astor Charitable Trust
• The Balney Charitable Trust
• Bathgate Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - W W Spooner Charitable Trust (Charity Number 313653)
• Charity Commission financial data for years ending April 2024 and April 2025
• Historical records of William Wycliffe Spooner and Spooner Industries Ltd.
• Charity Commission trustee and governance reports