Francis C Scott Charitable Trust

The Francis C Scott Charitable Trust, established in 1963 by Peter Scott CBE and Dr Joan Trevelyan in honour of their father—a local philanthropist passionate about youth development, arts, community, and conservation—is an endowed grant-maker and social investor dedicated to improving life chances for children and young people up to age 24 in Cumbria and the Lancaster District. Endowed with shares from the Provincial Insurance Company, it upholds a vision of creating opportunities, raising aspirations, and tackling social mobility barriers in resource-scarce areas through partnership-driven, evidence-led funding. Its values emphasise local insight, accountability, strong governance, safeguarding, and long-term impact via unrestricted core grants, multi-year projects, and organisational resilience.

The Trust prioritises youth-focused initiatives like mental health and wellbeing programmes, employability training, outdoor education, music/arts for at-risk youth, youth centres, leadership development, and social inclusion—supporting charities such as Brathay Trust, Youthscape, and Cumbria Youth Alliance that deliver systemic benefits.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities based in or serving Cumbria/Lancaster District, with a preference for small to medium-sized, locally anchored organisations demonstrating robust governance; no religious restrictions apply, but income rules favour those without strict limits.

Main grants (£5,000–£10,000, averaging £1.1m across 28 awards yearly) are awarded via a one-stage online form on a rolling basis, with decisions at trustee meetings (next in March 2026); informal pre-application discussions are encouraged. Small grants (up to £5,000) close after December 24, 2025. It excludes individuals, non-charities, capital projects, and out-of-area causes, distinguishing itself through infrastructure/social investment, core cost funding, and active grantee engagement for sustained regional youth impact.