Sylvia and Colin Shepherd Charitable Trust

The Sylvia and Colin Shepherd Charitable Trust, founded in 1973 by Sylvia and Colin Shepherd, is an independent UK grant-making charity dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing and advancement of communities in and around York, with a strong emphasis on a 25-mile radius in Yorkshire. Guided by values of inclusivity, social responsibility, and pragmatic local impact, it responds flexibly to genuine needs through trustees' discretion, fostering community cohesion, cultural enrichment, and support for those facing disadvantage, illness, or exclusion. Its broad-based approach prioritizes tangible local benefits over thematic specialization.

The Trust funds a wide array of charitable activities, including social welfare, health and disability support, education, arts for wellbeing, and environmental conservation. It backs grassroots projects like hospice care, women's initiatives, youth clubs, Alzheimer's support, and cultural access programs, benefiting local people and communities through project funding, core costs, and occasional capital grants. Examples include grants to York Museums Trust, Kyra Women's Project, and Kidz Klub York.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities delivering activities in Yorkshire—those based elsewhere must prove specific local impact—with a preference for small to medium-sized, well-governed grassroots organizations showing evidence of community engagement. No strict income limits apply, though it favors tangible outcomes.

Grants typically range from £500 to £1,000, with around £200,000 distributed annually across 200+ awards. Unsolicited applications are welcomed year-round via a downloadable form emailed to admin@scsctrust.co.uk or posted, with quarterly trustee meetings and no fixed deadlines; decisions follow submissions promptly. It excludes general national appeals and non-local activities, distinguishing itself through unwavering York-centric flexibility and direct support for inclusive, place-based impact.