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.

The graph below depicts how the Trust has spent the resources for the Year End 5th April 2023.

As in previous years, the majority of funds were allocated in the area of social welfare, perhaps as a reflection of where the highest demands for support were coming from.

Individuals

Individual Churches

Hospices or Hospitals

Start-up costs

Project costs

Schools and Universities

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.

Turtle Foundation

The MCT has supported Turtle Foundation since 2023.

Turtle Foundation started as a small group of passionate individuals who saw the extinction of sea turtles fast approaching and wanted to do something to prevent this. Turtle Foundation has been working in Indonesia and Cabo Verde to develop concepts with the local population on how to better protect sea turtles and their eggs.

Their vision is a future where sea turtles and their habitats are sustainably protected healthy and safe from extinction and destruction. They set up camps along the coasts for rangers and volunteers to patrol nesting beaches and protect nesting females. Rangers and volunteers also work to protect turtles against poaching activities.

Turtle Foundation is an essential organisation towards the conservation of turtles and their habitats.

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Camphill Village Trust

The MCT has supported Camphill Village Trust for 40 years, starting our relationship in 1985!

Camphill Village Trust is a national charity and adult social care provider who supports adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health problems, and complex needs.

Established in 1954, Camphill Village Trust is inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy, which values humanity and nature. Their approach focuses on enabling potential, celebrating the rhythm of natural life, and valuing everyone’s contribution.

They operate in ten communities throughout England, in both rural and urban settings, and we offer supported living communities and day opportunities for the people they support.

They are a national leader in Green Care, which uses a range of activities that promote physical and mental health and well-being through contact with nature.

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Teen Action

The MCT has supported Teen Action since 2015.
Teen Action supports marginalised young women and carers in North London during key adulthood transitions; creating better futures.
Established in 2006, they service 200+ minoritised young women annually who have caring responsibilities, and suffer the abysmal effects of poverty, social exclusion and the multiple disadvantages of life in BAME communities.

With 10 years of MCT funding, Teen Action continues supporting them through skills development, arts engagement, vocational training, residentials, mentoring, and career support.
Working in the heart of their community, and led by women, they seek to raze barriers, address inequality, empower young women, and provide a safe space for them.

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Acet UK

The MCT has supported Acet UK since 2013.

Acet UK is a vibrant, youth-centric charity dedicated to improving the emotional and physical well-being of children and young people. Founded in 1988 as a compassionate response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, we work in 15 countries across Asia, Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and the UK, bringing positive change to international communities.
They inspire and equip individuals, schools, and organisations to make a real difference in young people’s lives, by championing mental health, positive relationships and good sexual health, through the Esteem programme.
The Esteem curriculum is a dynamic, multi-year curriculum that empowers young people to build resilience, boost self-esteem, and develop the relational skills needed to thrive.

Acet UK also offers the only accredited short-course training for adults who want to become Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Educators. This led to the creation of our Esteem Network, now 240+ strong, delivering high-quality education to young people with passion and purpose.

Last year, Esteem Network reached over 85,000 young people across the UK and 60,000 internationally. As a result, young people gain confidence in making healthy decisions, have better emotional well-being, and are more likely to stay in school, improve academically, and make safer choices.

Wintercomfort

The MCT has supported Wintercomfort since 2015.

Wintercomfort is the only information, advice, training and support centre in Cambridge for those who are sleeping rough, staying in local night shelters, sofa surfing, living in temporary accommodation or vulnerably housed. They are open daily throughout the year and have been supporting the homeless in our city since 1991.

Wintercomfort provide essential welfare services including hot meals, showers, laundry services and clothing alongside a broad range of support to help people gain the skills and confidence they need to reach their full potential.

Their services include housing advice, access to training and employment opportunities, counselling, support with addiction, money and debt advice, dedicated services for women facing homelessness, migrant support and a wide range of activities to promote mental wellbeing and social inclusion.

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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 £17,000,000.

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 (including information about the organisation and contact details) 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.