Oldhurst Trust

The Oldhurst Trust is a grant-making charity established in 2002, dedicated to advancing a wide array of charitable purposes across England, Wales, and Scotland. Its core mission is to provide flexible financial support to individuals and organisations addressing social needs, with a strong emphasis on children and young people, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities. Rooted in values of responsiveness, transparency, and community impact, the Trust prioritises governance through robust safeguarding, financial controls, and conflict-of-interest policies, focusing solely on direct grant-making without owning property or delivering programmes itself.

It funds diverse initiatives in general charitable purposes, education and training, health and lifesaving efforts, disability support, arts, culture, heritage and science, amateur sport, and animal welfare. Grants support projects, core costs, and individuals, targeting wellbeing, opportunity access, social inclusion, and disadvantage alleviation, with no restrictions on specific causes within its broad remit.

Eligible applicants must operate in the UK, with a preference for small to medium organisations and local projects, though no strict income thresholds apply and entities are not specified. The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications; grants are awarded at trustees' discretion during biannual board meetings, with no public deadlines, forms, or processes.

Typical grants range from £1,000 to £5,000 (up to £10,000 occasionally), from an annual expenditure of £60,000–£90,000. Distinctively, its trustee-led, invitation-only approach ensures flexibility for emerging needs, differentiating it from open-round funders, while excluding non-charitable uses and non-UK activities.