Walter Bigg Foundation For Wallingford School

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £115,822 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £352,583 (2024)
• Grant Range: £100 - £1,500
• Geographic Focus: Wallingford, Oxfordshire
• Eligibility: Organizations, charities, and individuals supporting education for young people aged 11-25 in Wallingford

Contact Details

Website: https://walterbiggfoundation.co.uk/

Email: jhindle@merchant-taylors.co.uk (Jane Hindle, Administrator)

Phone: 020 7562 2321

Address: c/o Jane Hindle, Merchant Taylors Hall, 30 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8JB

Overview

The Walter Bigg Foundation was established in 1998 to administer funds from the legacy of Walter Bigg, who was born in Wallingford in 1605 and left money to support the young people of the town. Registered with the Charity Commission on 22 August 1991 (charity number 309241), the foundation fulfills its benefactor's wishes by providing grants to Wallingford School and to support educational activities for young people in Wallingford. The charity is now managed operationally by Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Management, a professional charity administration service. Recent significant projects include funding a new minibus for Wallingford School, supporting a car park development in St George's Road, and establishing the Pat Granados biodiversity garden as an educational resource. The foundation operates three separate funds and has consistently maintained up-to-date reporting with the Charity Commission.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Walter Bigg Fund

• Primary focus: providing items, services, and facilities for Wallingford School
• Secondary focus: promoting education for young people (aged 11-25) residing in Wallingford
• Grant range: £100 - £1,500 per project
• Application method: email inquiry to administrator

Hedges Chemical Science Fund

• Provides income to award prizes in natural sciences to pupils attending Wallingford School
• Grant range: not specified

Walter Bigg Foundation Property Fund

• Holds proceeds from property sales
• Revenue income is paid into the Walter Bigg Fund

Priority Areas

• Educational projects and activities benefiting young people living in Wallingford
• Items, services, and facilities for Wallingford School (primary priority)
• Projects by 11-25 year olds demonstrating clear benefit to others
• Infrastructure and capital projects supporting education
• Science education (through the Hedges Chemical Science Fund)
• Environmental education and biodiversity initiatives

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals outside Wallingford
• Individuals over 25 years of age
• Organizations from outside Wallingford
• Projects not advancing education
• Projects undertaken by individuals that do not benefit the wider public
• Charities or organizations whose main method of operation is making grants or loans to individuals

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by seven trustees:

• Neil Thomas Carberry (Trustee, appointed 23 September 2024)
• Claire Elizabeth Holford (Trustee, appointed 30 June 2023)
• Jeremy St John Cuthbert (Trustee, appointed 02 November 2022)
• Dr John Henry Sylvester Sichel (Trustee, appointed 21 July 2020)
• Conor O'Callaghan (Trustee, appointed 09 December 2015)
• Nigel Erskine Hughes (Trustee, also associated with The Wallingford Sports Trust)
• John Peel (Trustee, also associated with Katiefest)

The trustees are responsible for controlling the work, management, and administration of the charity on behalf of its beneficiaries. Day-to-day administration is handled by Jane Hindle at Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Management.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted by email to Jane Hindle at jhindle@merchant-taylors.co.uk. While the foundation's website provides information about its funds and priorities, there is no formal online application portal. Prospective applicants should contact the administrator directly to discuss their project and inquire about the application requirements.

The foundation's website notes that funds are given to Wallingford School as a first priority, though trustees will also consider applications from organizations, charities, and individuals living in Wallingford.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. Applicants should inquire about meeting schedules and decision timeframes when making initial contact with the administrator.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. However, given the specific geographic focus (Wallingford only) and the requirement that projects must advance education for young people aged 11-25, the pool of eligible applicants is relatively limited.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented on the foundation's website or public materials. Applicants should inquire about reapplication procedures if their initial application is unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and recent funding examples, successful applications should:

• Demonstrate clear educational benefit: The foundation's principal object is educational, so projects must clearly advance education for young people aged 11-25 in Wallingford

• Show benefit to others: For projects undertaken by young people, the foundation specifically looks for “clear benefit to others” beyond the individual applicant

• Be realistic in scope: Most grants range from £100-£1,500, so proposals should be scaled appropriately or clearly identify how the foundation's contribution fits into larger funding plans

• Align with geographic restrictions: Only projects benefiting Wallingford residents or Wallingford School are eligible

• Consider capital/infrastructure projects: Recent successful projects include a minibus, car park, and biodiversity garden, suggesting the foundation is open to infrastructure improvements that support education

• Demonstrate sustainability: Given the foundation's long-term commitment to Wallingford (established from a 1605 bequest), projects with lasting impact may be particularly attractive

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Primary beneficiary is Wallingford School: The foundation's first priority is supporting Wallingford School directly; other applications are considered secondarily
• Strict geographic limitation: Only projects in Wallingford benefiting young people aged 11-25 are eligible—do not apply if you don't meet this criterion
• Small grant amounts: Most grants range from £100-£1,500, so this is best suited for smaller projects or as part of larger funding packages
• Capital projects welcomed: Recent examples show the foundation supports infrastructure and equipment (minibus, car park, biodiversity area)
• Direct contact required: There is no formal online application portal; email the administrator directly to discuss your project
• Professional administration: The foundation is managed by Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Management, a professional charity administration service, suggesting applications should be professional and well-organized
• Long-term commitment: With roots dating back to 1605, the foundation values projects that honor its historical mission of supporting Wallingford's young people

References

1. Walter Bigg Foundation official website - https://walterbiggfoundation.co.uk/
2. Walter Bigg Foundation “Funds” page - https://walterbiggfoundation.co.uk/funds/
3. Charity Commission Register - Walter Bigg Foundation for Wallingford School (309241) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/309241
4. Charity Commission Trustees List - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/309241/trustees
5. Wallingford School Headteacher's Message (5 March 2021) - https://wallingfordschool.com/index.php/news-categories/601-headteacher-s-message-friday-5th-march
6. Merchant Taylors' Charity Management - https://www.merchant-taylors.co.uk/philanthropy/charity-management