Marsh Charitable Trust

Our Grants Programme

The Trust focuses on providing funding which could help small organisations pay for various running costs, such as volunteer expenses, training days, equipment maintenance and other core outgoings.

Our funding strategy is to provide long-term core funding for such costs, as we understand that many of the organisations we support depend on unrestricted income in order to meet their operating needs.

Grants are unrestricted and range from £300-£2,000. Successful new applicants can expect to receive a grant at the lower end of this scale.

Applications are considered on the basis of the organisation’s financial position, performance against charitable aims and objectives and the ratio of voluntary income against fundraising expenses

The Trust aims to build long-standing relationships with successful applicants and, subject to an annual review, continue its support over time.

Applicants must be a registered charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. This does not include Community Interest Companies (CICs).

Charities must have been established for more than one financial year and able to provide a full set of their most recent Annual Report and Accounts, or the equivalent financial information if their annual income is under £25,000.

Arts and heritage

Education and training

Environmental causes and animal welfare

Healthcare

Social welfare

Individuals

Individual Churches

Hospices or Hospitals

Start-up costs

Project costs

There is no standard application form.

Applications must include:

– cover letter (one to two sides)

– full set of the most recent Annual Report and Accounts

Applicants should demonstrate that they have understood the type of funding which the Trust provides and illustrate how this would benefit their charity on a long-term basis.

All applications should be made in writing and sent by post to the Marsh Charitable Trust, 4 Matthew Parker Street, London, SW1H 9NP.

There is no deadline for applications.

Applications are processed on an on-going basis and a response is usually sent within two months of receipt. However, due to the high volume of applications, occasionally responses to new appeals may take longer.

Upon receipt, applications are divided into two groups, new appeals and renewals, and are given to a monthly grants committee for consideration.

Each application is considered on the basis of the organisation’s financial position, performance against charitable aims and objectives, the ratio of voluntary income against fundraising expenses, and the suitability of the application to the type of funding we provide.

A response is made to every appeal whether it is successful or not.

North of England Zoological Society

The North of England Zoological Society operates Chester Zoo, one of the UK’s largest zoos and the most visited paid-for attraction outside London. Chester Zoo is known for its amazing conservation work with species that are endangered and are wholly committed to their mission of preventing extinction. They use scientific evidence within the zoo and out in the field to help identify and address many of the challenges in our natural world. The zoo is used to educate the public and provide a genuine connection to wildlife; increasing awareness of threatened and critically endangered animals and nurturing behaviour change so we can all make a positive impact to the future of our planet.

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Listening Books

Listening Books provides access to online downloads and streaming services and a postal cassette library service to any child or adult who suffers from any illness or disability which makes it hard to hold a book/turn pages and anyone with special learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Listening Books make it available to individuals and hospitals, residential homes and special schools. Listening to audiobooks allows children and young people to listen to the same books their friends and peers are reading, improve comprehension and word recognition as well as helping to instil a greater understanding and enjoyment of literature. For older members, audiobooks, as well as being an enjoyable activity, can for some provide welcome relief from pain, boredom and loneliness, lifting them out of what are often challenging circumstances.

Abbeyfield Society

The Marsh Christian Trust have supported the Abbeyfield Society since 1985. Their aim is to enhance the quality of life for older people and make their lives easier and more fulfilling. As well as ensuring comfortable, safe and homely accommodation, they also foster an environment that aims to stimulate the mind, care and support for their physical health and provide companionship. They have small, homely, friendly houses that have established great links within their community, making time for our residents, and enhancing their lives by bringing everyone together are at the core of what they stand for.

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IMPACT Foundation

IMPACT’s mission is to help those in developing countries that do not have access to medical services, including surgery to reverse disabling condition. They aim to identify and treat early diseases that may lead to disability in the future. IMPACT increases health education and training across communities and provides access to safer water and improved sanitation. They also run projects to ensure women and babies are safe and healthy during pregnancy and increase child survival and projects to aid in the ending of malnutrition. They support the creation of facilities such as hospitals and clinics to deliver high-quality care; train and equip health workers and medical professionals; and help men, women and children understand how they can protect their own health.

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Respite Association

The Respite Association provide short term assistance in the funding of appropriately qualified respite care for disabled, sick, elderly or terminally ill people, to provide breaks for long term carers. They help many people who are at home careers for loved ones who are forced to live on limited income and who care for people in need of constant supervision. Respite gives the carers the chance to take some time off for themselves, to relax and recharge.

Photo: Miss Joanna Lumley OBE, FRGS

Frequently Asked Questions

The Marsh Charitable Trust was established by Brian Marsh OBE with the sum of £75,000. From these beginnings the Trust’s funds have developed and stand today at around £13,000,000.

The Trust’s principle activity is financed by income derived from its investment portfolio, but whenever possible Mr Marsh will make further personal donations. The Trust does not accept any public donations.

The application requirements are a cover letter and a copy of the most recent Annual Report and Accounts. We believe that the application requirements reflect the size of our grants and therefore there is no detailed application form to complete.

Other relevant information is also considered alongside the letter and accounts, but please do not send in a large number of extra documents as there is no need, it will cost you more and it will take longer to process.

If more information is required, we will contact you.

The size of the grants range from £300 to £2,000 with new grantees starting at the lower end of the scale.

Grant sums are decided by the grants committee, but applicants are welcome to request a specific sum. However they should take into consideration the amounts available and remember that new successful applications will receive a grant at the lower end of the scale.

The simple answer is no, you can apply at anytime.

Applications are processed on an on-going basis and you will usually hear from us within 2 months. Sometimes due to the volume of applications we may take a little longer to respond, but it won’t be much longer than that.