Chippenham Borough Lands Charity

Chippenham Borough Lands Charity (CBLC), tracing its roots to a 1554 Royal Charter and formally established in 1990, is a historic place-based endowed charity dedicated to enhancing the welfare and wellbeing of Chippenham Parish residents in Wiltshire. With a £14m endowment generating ~£300,000 in annual grants, CBLC stewards over 70 acres of green spaces (e.g., Westmead Playing Field, Mortimores Wood) and community buildings (e.g., Pewsham Community Centre), embodying core values of stewardship, long-term empowerment, and community benefit to foster a thriving local area.

It funds initiatives advancing relief for the aged, sick, disabled, or poor; recreational facilities; education; and community benefit, prioritising community cohesion, physical/mental health, poverty reduction, education/employment prospects, housing access, sports, arts, culture, and nature engagement. Supported activities include mobility aids, mental health programs, school enrichment, sports infrastructure, events, and capital projects like the £2.9m Arc climbing centre. Beneficiaries span vulnerable individuals (low-income, disabled, elderly), local charities, schools, CICs, and voluntary groups delivering parish services.

Eligible applicants—UK-registered charities, CICs, community groups, or academic institutions—must operate within or serve Chippenham Parish (residents: 6+ months). No income limits apply; small/medium entities preferred, up to £10,000/year total. Applications via online eligibility checker and form: year-round for individuals (decisions in 28 days, covering essentials like food/fuel/education); organisational rounds on 1 June, 1 September 2025, and 1 February 2026 (decisions ~2 months later), plus November Christmas Vouchers. Typical grants: £500–£10,000.

CBLC excludes political/religious promotion, animal welfare, non-local projects, statutory-funded activities, retrospectives, property upgrades, or emergencies. Distinctive for its asset-based model, exclusive parish focus, and legacy-building capacity among historic borough charities.