Lord Austin Trust

The Lord Austin Trust is an independent grant-making charity focused on enhancing health, welfare, and community wellbeing in Birmingham and surrounding West Midlands areas, including Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, and Walsall. Established to provide financial assistance primarily to hospitals and local organisations, its core mission advances health and saves lives, alongside general charitable purposes, arts, culture, heritage, science, and support for vulnerable groups such as children, young people, the elderly, people with disabilities, other charities, voluntary bodies, and the general public. Guided by values of local responsiveness, transparency, and effective resource allocation, the Trust stands out for its trustee-led, discretionary approach, prioritising direct-service projects that deliver tangible benefits to the region without rigid programmatic constraints.

It funds health-related initiatives, welfare projects, and community services aligned with its objects, emphasising hospitals, small to medium local charities, and voluntary groups providing frontline support. Beneficiaries include vulnerable populations and the wider public, with grants supporting practical, impactful activities rather than broad research or national efforts.

Eligible applicants must be UK-registered charities operating exclusively within the specified West Midlands locales; there is a preference for smaller organisations delivering local services, though no strict income thresholds apply. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding occurs invite-only via trustee selection, with no formal processes, forms, or deadlines; decisions are adhoc.

Typical grants range from £1,000 to £10,000 (most under £5,000), totaling around £140,000 annually, restricted to project-specific uses without routine support for core costs, capital, or unrestricted funding. Distinctively, its hyper-local focus and non-competitive, relationship-driven model make it a reliable yet selective partner for Birmingham-area charities addressing health and community needs.