Wheelwrights' Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £75,000 - £88,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 3-6 months (quarterly trustee meetings)
• Grant Range: £100 - £40,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide

Contact Details

Website: www.wheelwrights.org

Phone: 020 8673 4820

Email:

• General enquiries: charity@wheelwrights.org
• Clerk: clerk@wheelwrights.org

Address: 1a, 1-3 Oldridge Road, London SW12 8PQ

Overview

The Wheelwrights' Charity was established in 1983 by the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights, one of the City of London's historic livery companies. With total funds of £815,259 (as of December 2024), the charity distributes approximately £75,000-£88,000 annually in grants. The charity's mission centers on improving wheeled mobility for disabled people, particularly children and young people, supporting access to Paralympic and wheelchair sports, and preserving the ancient craft of wheelwrighting through apprenticeship support. Since 2016, the charity has benefited from a partnership with the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), which donates around £9,000-£10,000 annually. The charity takes a relationship-focused approach, working closely with partner organizations like WheelPower to identify beneficiaries and forge lasting connections rather than simply providing one-off funding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Fund - Supporting organizational grants for disability mobility and access

• Typical range: £3,000 - £15,000 for major projects
• Examples: WheelPower Inter Spinal Unit Games (£12,000-£15,000 annually), specialized wheelchairs for sports clubs

Craft Fund - Supporting wheelwright apprenticeships

• Typical range: £1,000 - £2,000 per apprentice annually
• Covers: Training costs, tools, assessment fees, travel expenses

WheelPower Partnership Fund (since April 2017)

• Individual equipment grants: £100 - £1,000
• Eligibility: Individuals with spinal cord injury within past 5 years (UK residents)
• Covers: Sports wheelchairs, archery/cycling equipment, competition fees

Priority Areas

• Mobility for disabled people (£53,000-£63,000 annually) - specialized wheelchairs, accessibility equipment, wheelchair-accessible facilities
• Access to sport and recreation for disabled people - wheelchair sports, adapted activities, Paralympic training programs
• Educational and recreational activities - special needs theatre, music education for visually impaired, swimming lessons
• Wheelwrighting craft education - apprenticeship schemes, heritage craft training
• Support for disabled ex-service personnel - projects benefiting disabled veterans

What They Don't Fund

The charity explicitly prefers specific projects with which they can be identified, NOT day-to-day running costs. They focus on tangible outcomes and measurable impact, favoring equipment purchases, capital projects, and defined programs over general operational support.

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Governance and Leadership

The charity has 6 trustees, all members of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights. Current Chairman of the Board of Trustees is Stefan Hay (also Renter Warden of the Company), who serves as CEO of AMDEA and Chairman of the Royal Society of St. George. The charity operates under the governance structure of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights, which has held a Royal Charter since 1670.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Wheelwrights' Charity does not have a formal public application process or online portal. The charity operates through:

1. Direct identification of organizations they would like to support
2. Responding to unsolicited requests from charities

To seek funding:

• Contact via email at charity@wheelwrights.org or clerk@wheelwrights.org
• Clearly articulate project alignment with priorities (mobility for disabled people, wheelchair sports, educational access)
• Emphasize specific project outcomes rather than general running costs
• Demonstrate tangible, measurable impact

For individuals with spinal cord injuries: Apply through the WheelPower partnership at www.wheelpower.org.uk/wheelwrights

Decision Timeline

Trustees meet quarterly to consider grants. Typical decision timeline is 3-6 months from initial contact, depending on meeting calendar.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. The charity works with a focused portfolio of beneficiaries rather than processing large volumes of speculative applications.

Reapplication Policy

No specific policy published. Grant lists show some organizations receive multi-year funding, suggesting successful partnerships can lead to ongoing support.

Application Success Factors

Organizations are more likely to succeed if they:

• Align with core mission focus: The trustees' report states “The principal focus of our grant making policy is mobility and access for disabled people”
• Demonstrate specific, tangible outcomes: Prefer "specific projects with which the Wheelwrights' Charity can be identified, rather than funding day to day running costs"
• Show measurable impact: Track outcomes including "measurable impact on recipients' strength, circulation, sensation, mobility and continence"
• Build relationships: Charity emphasizes “forging closer relationships... to enable both financial, social and pastoral relationships”
• Target priority beneficiaries: Children, young people, and ex-service personnel are specifically mentioned in charity objects
• Connect to wheelwrighting heritage: Projects relating to wheeled mobility or tyre industry may have added appeal
• Demonstrate financial need: WheelPower states preference “to help individuals in the final stages of meeting their funding target”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application form exists - make direct contact via email to introduce your organization and project
• Focus on specific projects, not operating costs - the charity wants to fund tangible outcomes they can be identified with
• Mobility for disabled people is the top priority - approximately 60-70% of annual grant funding goes to this area
• Partnership approach is valued - organizations often receive multi-year support; charity seeks relationships not just transactions
• Measurable impact is important - be prepared to demonstrate and report on specific outcomes
• Grant sizes vary enormously - from £100 individual equipment grants to £40,000 capital projects
• Decision-making is quarterly - factor in potential 3-6 month waiting time for decisions

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Tishie Yong Foundation for the Disabled
• MOTABILITY Foundation
• REGAIN - The Trust for Sports Tetraplegics
• Variety, the Children's Charity
• The Alliss Foundation
• THE GEOFF & FIONA SQUIRE FOUNDATION
• Dennis Wise In The Community
• The Percy Bilton Charity
• Barchester Healthcare Foundation
• IAH CHARITY COMPANY LIMITED

References

1. Charity Commission Register - Wheelwrights' Charity (Charity Number 288173)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/288173

1. Wheelwrights' Charity official website

https://wheelwrights.org/charity/

1. Wheelwrights' Charity - Grants 2023

https://wheelwrights.org/charitable-grants-2023/

1. Wheelwrights' Charity - Education & Charity

https://wheelwrights.org/education-charity/

1. WheelPower - Wheelwrights Fund

https://www.wheelpower.org.uk/wheelwrights

1. NTDA - Charity Affiliation with Wheelwrights' Charity

https://ntda.co.uk/home/about-ntda/charity-affiliation/

1. Stefan Hay LinkedIn Profile

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanhay/

1. Wheelwrights' Charity Trustees' Reports and Financial Statements

Via Charity Commission register