Wooden Spoon Society

Charity Number: 326691

Annual Expenditure: £1.2M
Geographic Focus: Isle Of Man, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales, Guernsey, Jersey

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,177,281 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2-4 months (multi-stage process)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £41,000+ (no official maximum)
  • Geographic Focus: UK and Ireland (over 40 regional committees)

Contact Details

Website: www.woodenspoon.org.uk

Email: charity@woodenspoon.org.uk

Project queries: projects@woodenspoon.org.uk

Phone: 01252 773720

Address: Wooden Spoon, Fleet, Hampshire

Overview

Founded in 1983, Wooden Spoon is the children's charity of rugby, supporting disadvantaged and disabled children and young people across the UK and Ireland. Over 41 years, the charity has committed over £32 million to 1,626 projects, helping more than two million children. With fundraising income of £3.4 million in 2024 (13% increase from 2023), Wooden Spoon approved £1.2 million across 89 projects supporting 38,940 children in one year. The charity operates through 40+ regional volunteer committees and over 10,000 members, ensuring funds raised locally are spent locally. Led by CEO Sarah Webb and chaired by Quentin Smith, Wooden Spoon has set a strategic goal “to help the next 1 million children over the coming 5 years.” The charity is unique in combining national infrastructure with local delivery, maintaining strong connections with the rugby community while serving all disadvantaged children.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Wooden Spoon operates a single rolling grants programme with no fixed deadlines. Applications are accepted year-round through an initial Expression of Wish form, followed by full application for eligible projects.

2024 Funding Breakdown by Project Type:

  • Specialist Equipment & Facilities: £355,000 (25 projects) - e.g., therapeutic equipment, accessibility modifications
  • Sensory Rooms & Gardens: £342,000 (25 projects) - e.g., multisensory spaces, calming environments
  • Playgrounds & Outdoor Spaces: £273,000 (17 projects) - e.g., inclusive play areas, outdoor learning spaces
  • Health & Wellbeing: £139,000 (18 projects) - e.g., therapeutic facilities, mental health support spaces
  • Education: £67,000 (4 projects) - e.g., outdoor PE classrooms, sports facilities

Grant Amounts: No minimum or maximum stated, though projects under £5,000 are unlikely to qualify due to insufficient scale. Recent grants range from £7,500 to £41,000+.

Priority Areas

Core Focus: Capital projects benefiting children and young people (under 25) who are disadvantaged physically, mentally, or socially.

What They Fund:

  • Sensory rooms and gardens (over 100 funded in past decade, totaling £4.6 million)
  • Inclusive playgrounds and outdoor learning spaces
  • Specialist equipment for disabled children
  • Therapeutic facilities and treatment centres
  • Accessible sports facilities
  • Community programmes with permanent infrastructure
  • Educational facilities with sporting elements (preferably rugby)

Project Requirements:

  • Minimum 5-year lifespan
  • Permanent and non-transferable
  • Direct benefit to groups of children (not individuals)
  • UK or Ireland location

What They Don't Fund

  • Salaries, administration costs, or professional fees
  • Ongoing operational overheads
  • Revenue costs
  • Grants to individuals
  • Projects outside UK and Ireland
  • Transferable or temporary projects
  • Projects with less than 5-year lifespan
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Governance and Leadership

Senior Leadership Team

  • Sarah Webb - CEO: Leads day-to-day operations. Quote: “Together, we are making a profound impact on the lives of children and young people through the power of rugby.”
  • Barry Monahan - Director of Projects & Systems
  • Ben Waterhouse - Chief Operating Officer
  • Matthew Mallinder - Director of Fundraising and Marketing
  • Matt Mitchell - National Rugby & Communities Manager
  • Andy Jones - Head of Corporate Partnerships

Board of Trustees (Chaired by Quentin Smith)

  • Nigel Timson - President (original founder member, 1983)
  • Adrian Alli - Trustee
  • Brett Bader - Trustee
  • Christine Braithwaite - Trustee
  • Jo Coombs - Trustee
  • John Gibson - Trustee
  • Ali Gilbert - Trustee (health and care public sector experience)
  • Rufus Hack - Trustee (CEO of Sony Sports): “I am incredibly proud and energised by the opportunity to serve as a trustee and help apply my strategic background.”
  • Jane Harwood - Trustee
  • Mark McCafferty - Trustee
  • Victoria Sparkes - Trustee (Learning Disability and Mental Health care experience)
  • Sarah Wight - Trustee (25+ years in charitable and social care sectors)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Expression of Wish (Initial Assessment)

  • Complete online Expression of Wish form on website
  • Response expected within 6 weeks
  • Eligible organisations invited to full application

Step 2: Full Application

  • Download application form from website
  • Submit via email or post to charity@woodenspoon.org.uk
  • Include detailed project brief with:
  • Project need and objectives
  • Stakeholder information
  • Participant details and numbers
  • Recruitment plan
  • Project activity and budget
  • Legacy planning
  • Monitoring and evaluation methods
  • Reporting plan

Step 3: Regional Committee Review

  • Application forwarded to relevant regional committee
  • Regional committee assesses local fit and priority

Step 4: Site Visit

  • If regionally approved, inspector conducts site visit
  • Inspector reports to national Projects Committee

Step 5: Projects Committee

  • Meets monthly to review inspector reports
  • Recommends projects to Council

Step 6: Quarterly Council Decision

  • Successful applications presented to Council
  • Meets quarterly for final approval
  • Formal grant letter issued if approved

Decision Timeline

Total Timeline: 2-4 months from submission to decision

  • Initial EOW response: 6 weeks
  • Regional review: 2-4 weeks
  • Site visit scheduling: 2-4 weeks
  • Projects Committee review: Monthly meetings
  • Council approval: Quarterly meetings
  • Notification: Via formal grant letter

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the charity funds approximately 70-90 projects annually from available funds. The multi-stage process (Expression of Wish → Full Application → Regional Approval → Site Visit → Projects Committee → Council) suggests competitive selection.

2024 Performance: 89 projects funded from £1.2 million available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy not publicly stated. Contact projects@woodenspoon.org.uk for guidance on unsuccessful applications.

Application Success Factors

What Makes a Strong Application

1. Capital Focus with Lasting Impact

All funded projects are capital (physical/equipment), not revenue. Projects must demonstrate:

  • Minimum 5-year lifespan
  • Permanent nature (non-transferable)
  • Clear physical deliverables

2. Clear Disadvantage or Disability Focus

Successful projects clearly articulate how they serve children who are “disadvantaged physically, mentally, or socially.” Recent examples:

  • Ellen Tinkham School, Devon (£41,000): Early years playground for pupils with special educational needs
  • St. Clare's Catholic Primary School, Merseyside (£14,000): Sensory room for children with sensory processing needs
  • Dogs for Good (£35,000): Community dog project for therapeutic support
  • Wyvern School, Kent (£20,000): New play area for students with learning disabilities

3. Local Fundraising Contribution

Wooden Spoon encourages applicants to contribute a percentage of funds required. This demonstrates:

  • Community commitment
  • Sustainability planning
  • Shared investment in success

4. Rugby Connection (especially for educational/sports projects)

While not mandatory for all projects, educational, health/wellbeing, or disability sports projects must have “a key sporting element – preferably rugby – to engage children and young people.” This aligns with the charity's identity as "the children's charity of rugby."

5. Regional Relevance

With 40+ regional committees, projects resonate when they:

  • Address locally identified needs
  • Have regional committee support
  • Demonstrate local impact
  • Align with regional fundraising efforts

6. Comprehensive Project Planning

Successful applications include:

  • Detailed budget breakdown
  • Stakeholder engagement plan
  • Recruitment strategy
  • Legacy and sustainability planning
  • Monitoring and evaluation framework
  • Reporting commitments

Language and Terminology

Wooden Spoon uses specific terminology consistently:

  • “Disadvantaged physically, mentally, or socially”
  • “Life-changing projects”
  • “Making a profound impact”
  • “Enhance and support the lives of children”
  • “Permanent nature”
  • “Capital projects”

Mirror this language in applications to demonstrate alignment.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Capital Only: This is exclusively a capital grants programme. Do not apply for staffing, running costs, or revenue funding. Focus applications entirely on physical infrastructure, equipment, or facilities.
  1. Local + National Model: Funds are raised and spent locally through regional committees. Research and engage with your local Wooden Spoon region early. Regional support is essential for progression to national approval.
  1. Timeline Requires Patience: Multi-stage process (Expression of Wish → Regional → Site Visit → Monthly Committee → Quarterly Council) typically takes 2-4 months. Plan project timelines accordingly and don't expect rapid turnaround.
  1. Show Co-Investment: While they can fund entire projects, demonstrating your own fundraising contribution strengthens applications and shows community commitment to the project's success.
  1. Permanent Impact Required: Projects must last minimum 5 years and be permanent/non-transferable. Emphasize long-term sustainability, ongoing benefit, and how the project will continue serving children beyond the 5-year threshold.
  1. Rugby Connection Helps: Not mandatory for all projects, but educational/sports projects require sporting elements (preferably rugby). Consider how to authentically integrate rugby or sport into your project to strengthen fit.
  1. Start with Expression of Wish: Don't submit a full application first. The two-stage process allows Wooden Spoon to guide eligible applicants. Use the EOW to test fit before investing time in full application.

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