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Application criteria & guidance

Application guidance

Applications are welcome from 1 June – 31 March each year. The annual deadline for receipt of applications is 31 March.

Trustees meet in May and decision outcomes are communicated by 31 May.

The total grant distribution each year, is estimated as being around £40,000-£50,000.

Trustees would typically expect to make grant awards in the range £2,000 to £5,000.

The fund is open to charitable organisations registered with the Charity Commissions for Scotland and for England and Wales.

The Trustees are receptive to innovation and new developments in the sector.

How will we decide?

The Trust reviews each application against the application criteria and present recommendations to Trustees. Trustees will consider the recommendations and make decisions based on the evidenced need and available funds.

Grant applications criteria

  1. Applicants MUST be a charity registered and operating in the UK
  2. Applicant charities MUST support those who are homeless or are at risk of being homeless (Applicant charities may offer mentoring to develop the skills and confidence of homeless individuals, or those at risk of homelessness.
  3. The Trustees prefer to support charities with an income of no more than £500,000 (though this can be disregarded in exceptional circumstances, including a charity’s organic growth).

The Trustees agreed that the Oliver Borthwick Memorial Trust will NOT:

  • Provide funding to charities that do not support the homeless
  • Fund individuals
  • Fund non-charitable organisations; political or campaigning organisations
  • Fund charities with an income over £500,000

When will you receive a response?

Trustee meetings take place in May on an annual basis. All applicants, successful or not will be notified of the outcome of their application by 31 May.

  • If you are supported: Your organisation will be offered a grant and provided with a monitoring framework, to enable you to outline how funds have been spent and the difference you have made.
  • If your application is unsuccessful: The Trust receives many more applications than there are grants available, if unsuccessful one year, your application may be successful in the future.