The Sheldon Trust

Registered Charity Number: 242328

CRITERIA

Geographical Area

The Trustees of the Sheldon Trust's geographical area of giving is the West Midlands with particular emphasis on the following areas, Birmingham City, Coventry City, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Wolverhampton and the County of Warwickshire. The main purpose of the charity is to relieve poverty and distress in society, especially in deprived areas, concentrating grants on community projects, as well as those directed to special needs groups.

Trustees Meetings

The Trustees meet three times a year in April, August and November and consider around 15 to 20 applications at any one time depending on the amount of income that is available.

What type of grants do we make?

The Trustees do provide help with equipment, furnishings and running costs. The Trustees will not normally consider appeals in respect of the cost of buildings.

The Trustees do put aside a portion of their income for grants by way of Special Projects of which they have personal knowledge or, an organisation which they have supported in the past.

The Trustees also set aside a designated sum for holidays for the disadvantaged from within their geographical area. These applications are considered in April each year. Completed applications should be submitted by the end of February to be considered. The average value of these grants is £500.

Please note the Trustees will not consider general appeals from National Organisations.

How much do we give?

In the financial year ending 5 April 2007 the Trustees authorised grants of £176,052 for 44 organisations.  The average size of grant was £4,000. Some of these grants were repeated in subsequent years.

When to apply?

Applications and supporting documentation must reach our offices 6 weeks before the date of the next scheduled meeting.

How to apply?

The Trustees prefer all applicants to submit their application online. The next scheduled Meeting of the Trustees is due to take place on Friday 5 December 2008.

Applicants may download the application questions and prepare their answers in advance. You will be able to begin your application and then save and return to it later if required.

Click here to access a copy of the Application Questions

When you are ready to make your application, please use the link to go to the Online Application Form.

Click here to go to the Online Application Form

If you have any problems please e-mail the Trust Administrator at charities@pwwsolicitors.co.uk.

What to include with your application

A copy of your most recent signed accounts, a budget for the project for the current financial year and, if you are applying for a salary, a job description.

We do not accept draft accounts. Please do not send any other information as it will be discarded.

Grant Offers

Successful organisations will be sent a letter confirming the grant offer and any conditions. The grant acceptance letter must be signed by a senior staff member within your organisation, preferably your Director/Chief Executive or Assistant Director.

Reporting on the Grant

Grantholders will be sent a short monitorig form to be completed and returned to the Trust at the end of the project. This form will be sent with payment of the grant. Further applications from your organsiations will not be considered unless this form has been returned.

Re-applying to the Sheldon Trust

Unsuccessful applicants can re-apply after two years.

Successful applicants will not be considered for a period of two years following receipt of a grant (or final payment of repeat funding).

Thank you for your interest in the Sheldon Trust