West Looe Town Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £170,206 (2023 expenditure)
• Annual Income: £234,414 (2023)
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Varies by program (£1,000 for Queen Elizabeth II Grant)
• Geographic Focus: Looe Town Council area, Cornwall (preference for West Looe residents)
• Established: 1873

Contact Details

Address: West Looe Square, West Looe, Cornwall PL13 2EU

Phone: 01503 263655

Email: wltt2@westlooetowntrust.co.uk

Website: www.westlooetowntrust.co.uk

Overview

West Looe Town Trust is a long-established local charity founded in 1873, with registered charity number 228167. The Trust generates income primarily through property ownership and management, including domestic and commercial properties, rental houses and flats, car parking spaces, garages, and commercial premises in the West Looe area. The surplus income is applied for the public benefit of inhabitants within the Looe Town Council area in Cornwall, with a preference for residents and organisations in West Looe specifically. With total income of £234,414 and expenditure of £170,206 in the 2023 financial year, the Trust actively supports local individuals and community groups through various grant programs focused on education, recreation, health, disability, poverty relief, and general charitable purposes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Education Grants

• Annual grants for students aged 16-21 pursuing further education
• Support towards books, course equipment, or travel expenses
• Must be permanently resident in Looe Town Council area
• Must attend a recognised UK College of Further Education
• Application deadline: 1st July annually
• Application form available for download on website

Queen Elizabeth II Grant

• £1,000 yearly grant for 10 years (2022-2031)
• Subject to review
• Must comply with Trust's Constitution
• Application form available in office or on website

Community Grants

• For community groups or individuals
• Recent examples include: Looe Netball Club, Bond Dance School, Cornwall Blood Bikes volunteer equipment
• Separate application form available for download

Priority Areas

The Trust makes grants across the following areas:

• Education and Training: Further education support for young people aged 16-21
• Health and Wellbeing: Relief of distress and sickness
• Social Welfare: Relief of the aged, impotent and poor
• Recreation and Leisure: Support for facilities and activities improving conditions of life
• Community Projects: Support for local community groups and initiatives
• Arts and Culture: Cultural activities benefiting the local community
• Environment and Conservation: Projects supporting the local environment
• Sport: Sports clubs and activities

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations or individuals outside the Looe Town Council area (though preference is given to West Looe)
• Projects that do not fall within the Trust's charitable framework

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is led by a Board of Trustees comprising local residents with deep connections to the Looe community. Leadership includes:

Colin Crabb - Chair

• Born in Looe and still lives in the town
• Retired construction/project manager
• Operates a small consultancy in Looe
• Active member of Looe Sailing Club and Polperro Fishermen's Choir

Sue Pengelly - Clerk to the Trustees

• Great ambassador for the town having lived there all her life
• Attended Primary School in West Looe (old site) and Looe Comprehensive School in Sunrising
• Serves as the administrative point of contact for the Trust

The Board of Trustees includes professionals from diverse backgrounds including boatbuilding, maritime research, construction, and engineering, with many trustees having 20-40 years of involvement with the local community. This deep local knowledge informs the Trust's grant-making decisions and ensures alignment with genuine community needs.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Education Grants

• Download the School Grants application form from www.westlooetowntrust.co.uk/grants.php/
• Complete and submit by 1st July each year
• Applications reviewed by the Trust for the following academic year

Queen Elizabeth II Grant

• Download the Queen Elizabeth II Grant Application form from the website or request from the office
• Submit completed application to the Trust
• Applications reviewed by trustees

Community Grants

• Download the Community Grant Application Form from www.westlooetowntrust.co.uk/grants.php/
• Complete and submit to the Trust
• No fixed deadline specified - appears to operate on a rolling basis

All applications must demonstrate how they fall within the Trust's charitable framework and benefit inhabitants of the Looe Town Council area.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified. However, given the annual 1st July deadline for education grants, decisions are likely made in time for the start of the academic year in September/October.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Contact the Trust directly for guidance if an initial application is unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's activities and structure, the following factors appear important:

Geographic Focus

• The Trust has a clear preference for West Looe residents and organisations, though the entire Looe Town Council area is eligible
• Applications demonstrating strong local connection and benefit to West Looe community likely to be prioritized

Recent Grant Awards Indicate Preferences

• The Trust supports diverse local initiatives including sports clubs (Looe Netball Club), arts organizations (Bond Dance School), and individual volunteers (Cornwall Blood Bikes equipment)
• Willingness to provide partial grants as well as full funding
• Support for collaborative local projects (e.g., donating towards East Looe Town Trust's tractor purchase)

Alignment with Charitable Objects

• Applications must clearly demonstrate how they fall within one or more of the Trust's five charitable purposes: relief of aged/poor, relief of distress/sickness, recreation/leisure facilities, educational facilities, or other charitable purposes for general benefit

Local Trustees' Knowledge

• With trustees deeply embedded in the local community (many with decades of involvement), applications that reflect genuine understanding of local needs and demonstrate community support likely to be viewed favourably
• The Trust appears to support initiatives that preserve local character and community cohesion

Practical Support Focus

• Education grants specifically target practical costs (books, equipment, travel)
• Community grants have supported equipment and specific project costs
• Applications should clearly specify how funds will be used for tangible benefits

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic eligibility is crucial: You must be in the Looe Town Council area, with West Looe residents/organisations having preference
• Multiple grant streams available: Consider which grant program best fits your need (education, community, or Queen Elizabeth II Grant)
• Education grants have fixed deadline: Submit by 1st July for academic year support
• Local connections matter: Trustees have deep community knowledge and decades of local involvement
• Demonstrate practical benefit: Show how funding will create tangible improvements for local residents
• Partial funding is possible: The Trust has awarded partial grants, so don't be deterred if you need co-funding
• Diverse support range: From individual students to community groups to sports clubs - the Trust supports wide-ranging local initiatives

References

• West Looe Town Trust official website: www.westlooetowntrust.co.uk (accessed 28 December 2024)
• Grants page: www.westlooetowntrust.co.uk/grants.php/ (accessed 28 December 2024)
• Who We Are page: www.westlooetowntrust.co.uk/westlooetowntrust.php (accessed 28 December 2024)
• News page: www.westlooetowntrust.co.uk/news.php (accessed 28 December 2024)
• Charity Commission Register: register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/228167 (accessed 28 December 2024)