Sir John and Lady Heathcoat Amory's Charitable Trust

Sir John and Lady Heathcoat Amory's Charitable Trust, established in 1962 as part of the Heathcoat-Amory family's longstanding philanthropic legacy in Tiverton, Devon, is a discreet grant-making charity dedicated to relieving need, promoting wellbeing, and advancing opportunities for communities in Devon and Somerset. Steeped in values of local stewardship, generational impact, and flexible philanthropy, it prioritizes preserving capital while supporting a wide array of causes through responsive, non-prescriptive giving under close family trusteeship.

The trust funds diverse initiatives benefiting local people, including education across all ages, health and welfare services, poverty relief, support for vulnerable groups like children, youth, elderly, and those with disabilities, as well as conservation, heritage preservation, and community projects. Examples include grants to the Barn Owl Trust, Stamma, and West Somerset Railway Association, favoring activities that demonstrably enhance quality of life in these counties.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community/voluntary groups operating strictly in Devon and Somerset—particularly Tiverton and Mid-Devon—with a preference for small to medium organizations (typically under £1m income) and grassroots efforts; no religious restrictions apply.

Grants typically range from £1,000 to £5,000 (occasionally up to £8,500) as modest one-off sums for projects, core costs, equipment, or revenue needs, but rarely major capital. Unsolicited applications are welcomed via a simple written letter by post (no forms, online, or email), reviewed on a rolling basis at periodic trustee meetings with decisions in several months. It excludes large national schemes, organizations outside its geography, or oversized entities; distinctive for its traditional, personal, generalist ethos unbound by themes or bureaucracy.