William A Cadbury Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,055,615 (2023/24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 6 weeks (typical response time); May and November meetings for large grants
• Grant Range: £250 - £50,000 (typical large grants £10,000-£25,000)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily West Midlands (Birmingham and surrounding region), with additional support for Quaker/Friends projects UK-wide, Ireland (peace/reconciliation), and International Development (West Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, South America)

Contact Details

Address: Woodbrooke, 1046 Bristol Road, Birmingham, B29 6LJ

Phone: 0121 472 1464 (Tuesdays only, 10:00am - 2:00pm)

Email: info@wa-cadbury.org.uk

Website: https://wa-cadbury.org.uk

Trust Administrator: Ruth Payn

Pre-application Support: Contact via email for general inquiries; phone support limited to Tuesday mornings/early afternoons

Overview

The William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust was founded in 1923 by William Adlington Cadbury (1867-1957), a Quaker businessman and grandson of Cadbury's founder John Cadbury. William established the trust following his tenure as Lord Mayor of Birmingham (1919-1921), reflecting his lifelong Quaker commitment to social welfare advancement. Today, the trust remains a Birmingham-based grant-making charity with total income of £1.52 million and charitable expenditure of £1.06 million (year ending March 2024). The trust operates as an endowment fund, generating substantially all income from investments (£1.42 million annually). With one staff member and nine unpaid trustees, the trust awards approximately 60 grants annually across two main meetings plus monthly small grant distributions. Trustees are guided by William Cadbury's original concerns: the welfare of Birmingham and West Midlands inhabitants, support for the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and ongoing commitment to penal reform.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme (Monthly Awards)

• Amount: £250 - £2,000
• Application Method: Rolling basis, reviewed monthly
• Submission: Postal applications accepted; online form preferred

Large Grants Programme (Biannual Awards)

• Amount: £5,000 - £50,000 (average £25,000 for main awards; £5,000 for secondary tier)
• Volume: Approximately 20 grants at £25,000 average, plus 10 grants at £5,000 average per meeting
• Meeting Schedule: May and November annually
• Application Method: Online form required (mandatory for large grants)

Priority Areas

Birmingham and the West Midlands

• Community Action: Community-based and organized schemes aimed at solving local problems
• Vulnerable Groups: Elderly, children, youth, disabled persons, asylum seekers
• Advice, Mediation & Counselling: Requires documented staff training and monitoring systems
• Education & Training: Skills development for employment re-entry
• Environment & Conservation: Climate change initiatives and historic preservation
• Medical & Healthcare: Hospices, self-help groups, regional medical research
• The Arts: Music, drama, visual arts, museums, and art galleries
• Penal Affairs: Restorative justice, prison-based projects, ex-offender rehabilitation (West Midlands only)

Religious Society of Friends (UK-wide)

• Projects with clear Quaker connections
• Support for Friends' work throughout the United Kingdom

Ireland

• Peace and reconciliation initiatives

International Development

• Geographic Focus: West Africa (primary), Asia, Eastern Europe, South America
• Priorities: Sustainable poverty reduction in rural and urban communities; schemes helping children access education

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Travel, adventure, sports, or recreation projects
• Non-UK based organizations (except for international development projects through UK registered charities)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: Nine unpaid trustees meet biannually to make funding decisions

Staff: Ruth Payn, Trust Administrator (sole employee)

Governance Structure: The trust operates with conservative spending practices aligned with long-term charitable objectives, maintaining substantial investment assets to ensure perpetual grant-making capability.

The trust's decision-making reflects the founding Quaker values of William Adlington Cadbury, who established the trust following his civic leadership in Birmingham. Trustees continue to honor his concern for social welfare, support of Quaker initiatives, and belief in penal reform.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Small Grants (under £5,000)

• Online application form (preferred) or postal submission
• Reviewed monthly
• No specific deadline

Large Grants (£5,000+)

• Online application form (mandatory)
• Submit ahead of May or November trustee meetings
• Applications close approximately one month before meetings (e.g., October deadline for November meeting)
• Email submissions not accepted

Application Format: The trust emphasizes applications should be “brief, concise and to the point”

Decision Timeline

• Initial Response: Typically within 6 weeks of submission
• Shortlisting: Applicants shortlisted for large grants may be asked to provide additional information
• Notification: Successful applicants notified approximately one month before the scheduled trustee meeting
• Large Grant Cycle: May and November meetings determine biannual awards

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, the trust awards approximately:

• 40 large grants annually (20 per meeting at two tiers)
• 12 small grants monthly (approximately 144 annually)
• Total: Around 184 grants per year from charitable expenditure of £1.06 million

Reapplication Policy

• Repeat applications are not usually considered within two years of receiving an award
• Organizations must wait minimum 2 years before reapplying after successful grant

Application Success Factors

Key Advice from the Funder

Application Quality: “Applications should be brief, concise and to the point” - this direct guidance from the trust emphasizes clarity over length

Geographic Alignment: Strong preference for West Midlands organizations, particularly Birmingham-based projects aligned with community welfare

Quaker Connection: Projects demonstrating clear links to Quaker values or the Religious Society of Friends receive favorable consideration

Core vs. Project Funding: The trust explicitly considers both core costs and development/project funding, making them flexible funders

Recent Funded Projects

• Sandwell Advocacy: £20,000 for community-based advocacy projects (2024/25)
• Concern Universal: £90,000 (international development)
• Youth Hostel Association - Wilderhope Manor: £50,000
• Birmingham Royal Ballet Trust: £24,000
• Sampad Arts Champion Project in Northfield

Language and Terminology

The trust uses traditional charitable sector terminology rooted in Quaker values:

• “Welfare and well-being of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities”
• “Sustainable basis” for international development
• “Restorative justice” for penal affairs
• “Community-based and organized schemes”

Standing Out

1. Demonstrate local impact: West Midlands organizations solving specific community problems align with founder's original vision
2. Show sustainability: Particularly for international development, demonstrate long-term sustainable outcomes
3. Evidence monitoring systems: Advice/counselling projects must document staff training and monitoring
4. Quaker values alignment: Even without formal Quaker affiliation, projects reflecting Quaker principles (social justice, peace, equality) resonate
5. Clear documentation: Staff training records, monitoring systems, and measurable outcomes strengthen applications

Common Considerations

• Organizations must be UK registered charities or Community Interest Companies limited by guarantee
• Unregistered West Midlands groups may qualify if they have: proper constitution, elected committee, bank account with dual signatory control
• Grant recipients must provide payment receipts; large grant recipients must also provide project outcome reports

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic targeting is critical: West Midlands organizations have clear advantage; ensure your location and regional impact are prominent if you're Birmingham-based
• Brevity wins: The trust explicitly values concise applications - focus on impact over elaborate descriptions
• Core funding available: Unlike many trusts, they fund running costs as well as projects - don't hesitate to request core funding if needed
• Two-year waiting period: Plan your funding pipeline accordingly; if awarded, you cannot reapply for 24 months
• Choose your grant tier wisely: Small grants (under £5K) are reviewed monthly with faster turnaround; large grants (£5K+) require longer cycle but offer substantially more funding
• Quaker alignment matters: Even without formal connection, demonstrate how your work reflects Quaker values of social justice, community welfare, and equality
• May/November cycle requires planning: For large grants, applications must be submitted weeks before meetings - October deadline for November decisions means early planning essential

References

• William A Cadbury Charitable Trust official website: https://wa-cadbury.org.uk
• Grant Programmes page: https://wa-cadbury.org.uk/grant-programmes/
• Grants Policy page: https://wa-cadbury.org.uk/grants-policy/
• Grant Applications page: https://wa-cadbury.org.uk/grant-applications/
• Contact page: https://wa-cadbury.org.uk/contact/
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 213629: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/213629
• Sandwell Advocacy grant announcement: https://sandwelladvocacy.org/latest-news/20000-grant-awarded-by-the-william-a-cadbury-charitable-trust/
• GetGrants directory entry: https://www.getgrants.org.uk/william-cadbury-charitable-trust/