Dickinson Charitable Trust

The Trust funds a broad range of charitable causes across England and Wales. These include mental health support through counselling, therapy, and peer groups; disability services including respite care, day services, and inclusive activities for children and adults with autism, learning disabilities, and complex health needs; education and youth work such as after-school clubs, mentoring, and employment training for young people facing barriers; elderly care addressing isolation through befriending and day centres; family and carer support including respite and advocacy; homelessness prevention, addiction recovery, and refugee support through outreach and drop-in centres; and community development via creative arts, sports, and outdoor activities. The Trust also supports welfare initiatives for veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and ethnic minorities. Work is often preventative, person-centred, and community-led, with a focus on underserved communities.

The Trust funds only organisations, not individuals. Eligible organisations include registered charities and voluntary bodies such as community groups. It favours grassroots, innovative charities, particularly those with lived experience leadership. The Trust supports organisations that serve a wide range of beneficiaries, including those facing mental health challenges, disabilities, young people, elderly, and families in need. There is no restriction on religious context. The Trust prioritises organisations delivering public benefit across England and Wales, with a focus on underserved communities.

The Trust does not fund individuals or non-charitable organisations. It does not impose thematic exclusions, so any charitable cause may be considered as long as it falls within statutory charitable norms.

The Trust offers flexible funding, including unrestricted, project, core, capital, and revenue grants. Funding decisions are made by trustee discretion, responsive to the needs of applying organisations. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications. It values simplicity and low-overhead efficiency, and does not have fixed priorities, allowing it to adapt to evolving societal challenges.