Wokingham United Charities

Charity Number: 1107171

Geographic Focus: Wokingham

Stay updated on changes from Wokingham United Charities and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Information not publicly available
  • Success Rate: Not published
  • Decision Time: 2 weeks (10 working days)
  • Grant Range: Variable - from individual essential items to £10,000+ for organizations
  • Geographic Focus: Wokingham Borough only

Contact Details

Overview

Wokingham United Charities, founded in 1451, is one of England's oldest charities, born from John Westende's gift of 8 cottages for “poor and needy people.” Today, it represents an amalgamation of 21 local Wokingham charities and operates with registered charity number 1107171. The charity has two main functions: providing almshouse accommodation at Westende and operating a Relief in Need fund for individuals and organizations across Wokingham Borough. For the financial year ending March 2024, the charity received £943,990 from government grants. The charity is led by Chair Jane Hartley and managed day-to-day by Charity Manager Amy Garstang. Their strategic approach emphasizes preventative, innovative, and sustainable solutions to poverty, focusing particularly on breaking cycles of financial hardship through employment support, money management, and mental health services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Relief in Need Grants for Organizations (amounts variable, online rolling applications)

Supports charities and community groups providing services in Wokingham Borough. Recent examples include £10,000-£20,000 grants to organizations like Berkshire Women's Aid and Young People with Dementia. Funds running costs, salaries, projects, and small capital expenditure.

Charity Champions Grant (£10,000 per year for two years)

Multi-year flexible funding for core costs. Recipients have included Home-Start Wokingham and The Cowshed. Not project-restricted, allowing organizations to use funds for any operational needs.

Thrive Grant Fund (£5,000 - £10,000)

Project-based funding for initiatives boosting wellbeing, tackling financial hardship, and delivering lasting impact. Available to registered charities, schools, and community groups. Projects must complete within 12 months and cannot be for core costs.

Essential Item Grants for Individuals (amounts vary)

Available to individuals and families in financial hardship through professional referrers. Covers white goods, mobility aids, counselling, school trips, debt-related fees, transport costs, and other essential items reviewed on individual merit.

Additional Programs: Bright Futures Fund, Household Support Fund, School Trip Grants, Christmas Cheer program (hamper grants up to £2,000)

Priority Areas

The charity particularly supports:

  • Projects that break cycles of poverty with preventative approaches
  • Employment access and training opportunities
  • Money management and debt advice services
  • Mental health and wellbeing support
  • Relief of financial hardship for Wokingham Borough residents
  • Innovative and sustainable community solutions
  • Services for older people, children, adults, and young people in need

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects supporting only single political, religious, or ethnic persuasion
  • Replacement of statutory funding
  • Sponsorship of fundraising events
  • Retrospective expenditure
  • Development of financial reserves
  • Flooring upgrades or luxury options (except exceptional circumstances with health needs)
  • Services outside Wokingham Borough
  • Previous year's grantees are not a priority (but may still be considered)
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for Wokingham United Charities?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Board Chair: Jane Hartley (also Chair of Grants Committee)

Former Chair: David Auger (April 2024 - April 2025)

Committee Chairs:

  • Janet Rogers - Finance Committee Chair
  • Kathy Hadfield - Westende Committee Chair

Trustees: Debs Morrison, Gordon Veitch, Rebecca Margetts, Anne King, Graeme Hobbs, Jonathan Pallas, Harry Cannon

Senior Staff:

  • Amy Garstang - Charity Manager (oversees all organizational activity and day-to-day operations)
  • Lynda Rowe - Westende Manager
  • Susanna Jennings - Office & Grants Administrator
  • Michelle McCane-Whitney - Household Support Grant Administrator

Quote from Amy Garstang on Charity Champions: "It is clear that there is a necessity for flexible and sustainable funding of charities. It's not just about providing financial assistance; it's about giving them stability and longevity. Charity Champions offers the opportunity for multi-year funding for two years, of up to £10,000 per year. We aim to provide a solid foundation for the amazing charities driving change in our Borough."

On Essential Item Grants: Amy explained the grants aren't limited to white goods and may help with transport costs, debt-related fees, school trips, counselling and other essential items or services, with each application reviewed on its own merits.

On Supporting Core Costs: “We are pleased to provide core funding via our Charity Champions grant fund to support the vital work of The Cowshed... By covering their core costs we are helping to ensure they can continue delivering services effectively and sustainably, reaching those who need it most.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organizations:

  • Apply online through https://wucgrants.grantplatform.com/
  • Must provide up-to-date accounts
  • Must have an organizational bank account
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis (no fixed deadlines for most programs)
  • Thrive Grant Fund has periodic application windows

For Individuals:

  • Must apply through a professional referrer (Housing Officer, Family Worker, Support Worker, etc.)
  • Referrer submits online application on behalf of individual
  • Cannot self-refer

Eligibility for Organizations:

  • UK registered charity, not-for-profit, voluntary/community group, social enterprise, or community interest company
  • Provide services predominantly in Wokingham Borough

Eligibility for Individuals:

  • Must live in Wokingham Borough
  • UK citizen or indefinite leave to remain
  • Cannot have received essential item grant in last 12 months

Decision Timeline

  • Aims for decisions within 10 working days (2 weeks) for individual grants
  • Timeline may extend if further enquiries needed
  • Organizational grant timelines vary by program

Success Rates

Success rate data not published publicly.

In 2023-2024, the charity awarded 14 grants to 13 different local organizations.

Reapplication Policy

For Individuals: Cannot reapply for essential item grants within 12 months of previous award.

For Organizations: Previous year's grantees are “not a priority” but may still be considered. The charity does award multi-year funding (Charity Champions), suggesting ongoing relationships are valued.

Application Success Factors

Emphasis on Prevention and Innovation: The charity explicitly seeks “innovative, sustainable and preventative solutions” to poverty. Applications should clearly articulate how projects prevent future hardship rather than just addressing immediate needs.

Breaking Cycles of Poverty: Amy Garstang emphasizes the charity's focus on “breaking the cycle of poverty.” Demonstrate how your project creates lasting change through employment, training, financial literacy, or other capacity-building approaches.

Wokingham Borough Focus: All services must predominantly benefit Wokingham Borough residents. Geographic specificity is essential.

Flexibility Valued for Core Costs: Unlike many funders, WUC explicitly offers unrestricted funding through Charity Champions, recognizing that “there is a necessity for flexible and sustainable funding.” If seeking core costs, emphasize organizational stability and long-term community impact.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

  • Home-Start Wokingham: Multi-year core funding support
  • The Cowshed: Core costs for essential items and clothing distribution
  • Citizens Advice Wokingham: Advice at Home project for community outreach
  • Berkshire Vision: Activities for sight loss including sports and cultural experiences
  • PACT: Bounce Back 4 Kids domestic abuse recovery programme
  • 4Es: Employability programme with 1-2-1 support
  • Eyes On Our Future: Employability support for visually impaired people
  • Community gardens with training for custodians

Individual Applications Through Referrers: The requirement for professional referrers ensures applications are well-supported with context about individual circumstances. Each case is “reviewed on its own merits,” suggesting a holistic assessment approach.

Account Presentation: Organizations must provide up-to-date accounts, indicating financial transparency is valued.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Emphasize prevention over crisis response - Frame projects as breaking cycles of poverty rather than just providing relief
  • Highlight innovation and sustainability - Show how your approach is novel or creates lasting community change
  • Geographic specificity is non-negotiable - Services must predominantly benefit Wokingham Borough residents
  • Consider multi-year funding - Charity Champions offers two-year grants; build relationships for ongoing support
  • Don't overlook core costs - Unlike many funders, WUC explicitly supports operational expenses through specific programs
  • Quick turnaround available - With 10 working day decisions for some grants, WUC can respond to urgent needs
  • Build relationships with staff - Amy Garstang and the team are accessible (phone and email provided); pre-application contact appears welcomed
  • Demonstrate alignment with four core values - Community focus, proactive opportunity-seeking, respect, and integrity

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References