Roper Family Charitable Trust

The Roper Family Charitable Trust, established by trust deed on 24 July 2007 and registered as a UK charity shortly after, is a grant-making foundation overseen by three trustees with robust governance policies on conflicts, risks, complaints, and reserves. Rooted in prudent financial stewardship from investment income—yielding £587,040 in charitable expenditure for 2024—it focuses on fostering positive societal change for communities in Bath and North East Somerset through flexible, impactful funding that advances public benefit.

The trust supports a broad spectrum of charitable purposes, including community development, welfare, health and wellbeing, education, and social advancement. It funds diverse local projects like the Corston Community Orchard and other Bath-based initiatives, embracing project funding, core costs, and capital grants for organisations delivering direct benefits to residents, with an emphasis on grassroots and community-led efforts.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities operating in Bath and North East Somerset, prioritising small and medium-sized groups without strict income limits, though patterns favour local operations. It welcomes unsolicited applications via an online form at https://funding.ludlowtrust.com on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadlines or preliminary enquiries required; trustee decisions occur periodically throughout the year, typically taking weeks. Grants range from £1,000 to £60,000, mostly in the lower range.

Distinctive for its hyper-local geographic tie, flexibility across causes without religious restrictions, and openness to core funding, the trust avoids national or international scope, statutory bodies, or non-charitable entities, differentiating itself through sustained, inclusive support for regional public benefit amid responsible endowment management.