Shakespeare Temperance Trust CIO

The Shakespeare Temperance Trust CIO is a longstanding grantmaking charity rooted in Durham City, with origins in historic temperance movements advocating alcohol abstinence to combat social harms and foster community wellbeing. Established to promote healthier social environments through education and facilities like its iconic temperance hall, the Trust has evolved to broadly support the health, welfare, and social cohesion of Durham residents, guided by values of community, unity, service, action, and sustainable stewardship. Its conservative, place-based approach prioritizes long-term impact while preserving capital for future generations, distinguishing it as a specialist local funder deeply tied to its founding ethos.

It funds projects enhancing personal and community health, wellbeing, and engagement, including initiatives for children and young people, the elderly, people with disabilities, other charities, and the general public. Supported activities encompass health promotion, healthy living education, social welfare, inclusive recreation, and use of the temperance hall for charitable purposes, always aimed at Durham City residents.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups—especially small to medium-sized or grassroots organizations—serving Durham City and immediate environs; no strict income thresholds apply, though preference favors local entities. Unsolicited applications are welcomed via online form, considered at biannual trustee meetings in May and November (submit well in advance; no fixed deadlines). Typical grants are modest, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand pounds, focused on projects rather than capital, unrestricted, or emergency aid.

The Trust excludes national, religious, political, or non-local activities, and avoids anything outside its temperance-health-community remit, reinforcing its unique identity as a hyper-local, mission-aligned steward of Durham's social fabric.