Bridge Trust

The Trust supports work that alleviates poverty, disadvantage, and enhances community welfare within a five-mile radius of Barnstaple Guildhall. This includes core running costs, capital projects, and relief for vulnerable groups, such as hospices, advice services, schools, and voluntary organisations serving the poor, sick, or marginalised. The Trust favours responsive, unrestricted support over time-limited projects, concentrating on grassroots needs in Barnstaple. It also provides 'Samaritan Grants' for individuals in acute distress, offering immediate relief. The Trust's funding is locally rooted, prioritising the Barnstaple area, and it does not fund work outside this defined area.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, community groups, and schools, as well as individuals benefiting the defined locality. Small-to-medium local organisations are preferred, with no strict income limits. The Trust supports both organisations and individuals, with a focus on those serving the poor, sick, or marginalised within the five-mile radius. There is no religious restriction, and applications are welcome from both constituted and non-constituted groups, as long as the work directly benefits the Barnstaple community.

The Trust generally does not fund national or large charities unless they are hyper-local, nor does it support work outside the defined five-mile radius. It avoids publicity and is non-promotional, so it is unlikely to fund projects that require significant public recognition. The Trust also tends to avoid time-limited projects or innovations, preferring responsive, unrestricted support for ongoing needs.

The Trust provides responsive, unrestricted support, favouring core running costs and capital projects over time-limited initiatives. It offers 'Samaritan Grants' for individuals in acute distress, providing quick relief. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications, which are considered on a rolling basis, and it manages its grants through volunteer trustees who prioritise stewardship of historic assets alongside targeted social aid. The Trust is private and non-promotional, working quietly to support grassroots needs in Barnstaple.