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Funding Opportunity: The Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust
The Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust provides charitable grants to organisations supporting people and communities across Yorkshire.
For local VCSE organisations, this could be a useful funding opportunity to explore — but there are some important eligibility requirements to check before applying.
Who can apply?
The Trust's current policy is to support charities registered with the Charity Commission. With the exception of medical research applications, the people benefiting from the funding must be in Yorkshire. Personal and overseas applications are not accepted.
The Trust's checklist also indicates that organisations should have appropriate safeguarding and health and safety policies, reviewed within the last two years, and undertake risk assessments.
What can you apply for?
Applications need to clearly explain why the funding is needed and what the charitable donation will support.
If applying for a particular project, organisations should provide clear details and costs. Supporting information can also include a project budget, financial forecasts and supplier quotations where appropriate.
The Trust's eligibility checklist highlights some areas that are unlikely to be supported, including:
- Applications with no demonstrable benefit to Yorkshire or people living in Yorkshire
- Individuals
- Annual events
- Building projects that have not yet received planning permission
Organisations that have received a Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust grant within the previous 12 months are also advised that grants are not usually awarded at intervals of less than 12 months
When can you apply?
The Trustees meet four times a year – in March, June, September and December.
Application deadlines are the last Monday of January, April, July and October. If an organisation misses a deadline, its application will be considered for the following meeting instead.
That means organisations considering an application this autumn should be looking towards the October deadline for consideration at the December meeting.
Make sure your application is complete
Applications are now made online, and the Trust is clear that all required documentation must be provided.
You will need to submit the online application form alongside a completed Trust Checklist and your latest annual report and accounts. Missing documentation can mean that an application cannot be considered.
If you think the fund could be a good fit for your organisation, we'd recommend reading the eligibility information and checklist carefully before starting your application.
