Mrs Jane Cart's Trust

The Trust funds poverty and hardship relief for clergy and their dependants in the Diocese of St Albans, which covers Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, north London, and Dunstable. They provide means-tested grants for living costs, such as household expenses and daily needs, as well as emergency grants for urgent situations. Additionally, they support clergy mental health through retreats. The grants are directed at individual clergy, their spouses, widows, widowers, and dependants, including older people and carers. All funding is for specific uses: project delivery for living costs, emergency relief, and training for retreats. Grants are not available for core costs, capital works, or equipment.

Individuals who are Church of England clergy, or their spouses, widows, widowers, and dependants, may apply. Applicants must have served or be serving in the Diocese of St Albans. The Trust prioritises those in financial need, with grants assessed on a means-tested basis. Beneficiaries include older people and carers. The Trust’s grants are for individuals only, not organisations. Applicants should have a strong connection to the Church of England and the Diocese of St Albans area.

The Trust does not fund research, training (except clergy retreats), events, transport, equipment, capital works, or core costs. They also exclude extended study leave, private education, private medical and healthcare costs, rental or mortgage payments, motor car acquisition, debt repayment, and office equipment. These exclusions apply across all grant programmes.

The Trust makes one-off grants to individuals, typically through an annual means-tested living grant and emergency special grants. They also provide grants for clergy retreats. Unsolicited applications are welcome from eligible individuals. The Trust does not fund multi-year commitments or core costs, and all grants are for specific purposes as outlined in their programmes.