Celia Mackay Charitable Trust

The Celia Mackay Charitable Trust, established in 1993 and registered in England and Wales, is a private grant-making charity dedicated to advancing general charitable purposes, including education and training, health and lifesaving initiatives, disability support, and arts, culture, heritage, or science—primarily within Leicestershire. Guided by trustees' local knowledge and a commitment to public benefit, it adopts a responsive, generalist approach, making modest grants to strengthen civil society through core welfare, education, and community cohesion, with a philosophy rooted in addressing regional disadvantage via tangible, catalytic support for grassroots efforts.

It prioritizes organizations aiding children and young people, vulnerable groups with special educational needs, health interventions, disability provision, inclusive education, community welfare, and cultural activities. Funding supports core services, project delivery, operational costs, and a mix of revenue/capital needs for small to medium voluntary groups delivering local impact, such as schools, youth clubs, hospices, medical research, and community initiatives serving the general public.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or community groups, with a strong preference for those operating in or serving Leicestershire (though UK-wide discretion applies); no strict income thresholds exist, but patterns favor modest-sized entities. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—grants go to causes known to trustees via their adhoc meetings with no fixed deadlines or online process. Typical awards range from £2,000 to £10,000 (often £2,000–£5,000), as one-off grants without multi-year commitments.

Distinctively, it avoids individuals, large-scale projects, or unaligned causes, differentiating as a selective, locally attuned funder emphasizing merit-based support for public-benefit organizations without formal strategies, guidelines, or open calls, ideal for Leicestershire-aligned charities demonstrating clear impact on youth, health, inclusion, or arts.