Paul Strank Charitable Trust

The Paul Strank Charitable Trust is a family-founded independent grant-making charity established in 2016 by Paul Strank MBE and Irene Strank, rooted in decades of community support from their Wimbledon-based roofing business. Its core mission is to alleviate poverty, hardship, sickness, and distress among the most disadvantaged, with a strong emphasis on children, young people, and families in crisis. Guided by practical compassion, the Trust prioritises grassroots and local initiatives that deliver direct relief, happiness, and empowerment, while trustees maintain hands-on involvement to foster partnerships and multiplier impact through flexible, needs-led funding.

It supports thematic priorities including poverty relief, aid for disadvantaged and disabled children (e.g., hospice care like Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, leisure/learning access), family resilience amid health or economic crises (e.g., Home-Start Merton), and emergency hardship support. Grants go to small-to-medium voluntary organisations, grassroots community groups, and individuals facing severe need, covering projects, core costs, revenue, and urgent relief—especially where public services fall short.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities and community groups of any geographic base, though with preference for London Borough of Merton and Wimbledon; UK-wide applications are considered if aligned with objectives. No strict income limits apply, favouring smaller entities without large public funding.

Typical grants range from £1,000 to £10,000, with larger amounts possible via partnerships. Unsolicited written letter applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with decisions at regular trustee meetings within weeks—no fixed deadlines or online portal. The Trust excludes statutory obligations and capital projects unless urgently needed, standing out for its personal trustee oversight, individual grants, local South London networks, and blend of proactive/responsive funding for hard-to-reach groups.