Leicester Cathedral Charitable Trust

Leicester Cathedral Charitable Trust is a dedicated charitable entity established to sustain the work, heritage, and spiritual life of Leicester Cathedral (Church of St Martin), with a core mission to preserve its historic fabric, maintain religious facilities—including the interment site for King Richard III—and enhance its role as a centre for worship, pilgrimage, learning, hospitality, and community engagement. Rooted in Christian values of stewardship, inclusion, and service, the Trust emphasises long-term conservation of this listed landmark, balancing immediate repairs with strategic development to ensure its accessibility and relevance to Leicester's cultural and spiritual landscape.

It funds thematic priorities such as major capital works (e.g., heating, lighting, and restoration via the Leicester Cathedral Revealed project), heritage conservation, educational and interpretive facilities, sacred music programmes, liturgical enhancements, and community outreach initiatives that connect the public—locals, pilgrims, students, and visitors—to the Cathedral's Christian heritage and activities like free music lessons for children.

Unsolicited applications are not accepted; eligibility is strictly limited to internal Cathedral projects in Leicester, with no support for external organisations, regardless of size, income, or legal status. Typical grants range from £100,000 to £1,500,000 for large-scale endeavours, allocated internally by trustees without public deadlines, rounds, or application processes.

Distinctively, the Trust does not provide general, unrestricted, or outward-facing funding, excluding non-Cathedral-related causes, other regions, or secular projects; its singular, place-based focus on this Christian heritage site sets it apart as a stewardship vehicle rather than an open grant-maker, leveraging diverse sources to amplify the Cathedral's public mission.