Vernon N Ely Charitable Trust

The Vernon N Ely Charitable Trust, established in 1964 and registered with the Charity Commission (number 230033), is a grant-making trust dedicated to promoting health, wellbeing, and community benefit, with a distinctive dual focus on the London Borough of Merton and tennis-related charities. Guided by values of localism, sport, and tangible social impact, it supports interventions that enhance physical activity, youth engagement, and community development through robust governance, including financial controls, risk management, and safeguarding policies.

It funds health and care initiatives—such as hospices, cancer support, and cardiac risk prevention—as well as sports organisations, particularly those advancing tennis participation, facilities, and grassroots development. Grants typically support capital projects (e.g., building upgrades, equipment, solar installations), capacity-building, and strategic developments delivering long-term sustainability, prioritising organisations with demonstrable local impact in Merton or tennis advancement.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, with a preference for small- to medium-sized groups rooted in Merton or with a strong tennis track record; no formal income thresholds apply, though large national charities are rarely funded. Currently invite-only and closed to unsolicited applications as trustees spend out remaining resources, it reopens in January 2025 with biannual trustee meetings. Typical grants range from £5,000 to £29,000, often £10,000–£25,000 for one-off projects.

Exclusions include core costs, unrestricted funding, emergency relief, seed-funding, and activities outside Merton or tennis; its unique blend of hyper-local community health support and targeted tennis investment sets it apart in the UK charitable sector.