Spielman Charitable Trust

The Spielman Charitable Trust, an independent grant-making charity established in 1979, focuses on alleviating immediate needs and improving lives for vulnerable people in Bristol and the wider South West of England. Rooted in values of practical assistance, compassion, and deep local commitment, it prioritizes care and education for children and young people, while supporting people with disabilities, carers, families facing hardship, and other disadvantaged groups. Its responsive, needs-driven approach favors front-line interventions like direct care, educational programs, welfare support, crisis relief, and community capacity-building, with recent grants to organizations such as One25 (supporting vulnerable women) and ERIC (aiding children with bladder and bowel conditions).

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities operating in Bristol or surrounding South West areas, with a strong preference for small to medium-sized local groups (typically under £1 million annual income) addressing persistent community needs. Unsolicited applications are welcomed via a simple letter by post, including organizational details, project needs, budgets, and accounts; no online portal exists.

Grants typically range from £2,000 to £10,000 (most £3,000–£7,500) for projects or select core costs, awarded on a rolling basis at trustee meetings (dates unpublished; allow several months for decisions). The Trust avoids multi-year funding, capital-only projects, or support for large national charities' general operations, distinguishing itself through unbureaucratic processes, trustee-embedded local knowledge, and unwavering focus on grassroots impact in Bristol's voluntary sector.