How to apply

As part of our periodic review to ensure the governance of the Charitable Foundation is maintained, we are conducting a review of the Chelsea Building Society Charitable Foundation. Trustees will be reviewing recommendations made by the review in May 2008 and resuming grant making from November 2008. There maybe changes to the donations policy following the Trustees review therefore we are currently not accepting any applications until after the review.

First, check the policy and exclusions information below to make sure you are entitled to apply for funding. Then download your application form from the links on the left of this page.

General policy

• To benefit local communities
• To relieve suffering and disadvantage.

To be eligible for funding, your work must be UK based and within a 10 mile radius of a Chelsea Building Society branch. View locations of our branches.

Priority will be given to projects associated with the following:

• homelessness
• the disadvantaged, vulnerable or socially excluded
• all forms of disability
• health - self help and voluntary groups
• encouraging prudent money management. eg money advice services
• security and community safety.

Only applications from registered charities will be considered.

Donations

• Donations will normally be considered in the range of £250 to £5,000
• Larger amounts only in exceptional circumstances.

Exclusions

The trustees will not consider grants relating to the following:

• activities which are mainly/normally the statutory responsibility of central or local government or some other responsible body (except proposals for added support services)
• schools, universities and colleges (except for projects which will specifically benefit disabled students and are additional to statutory responsibilities)
• hospitals, medical centres, medical treatment research (except projects extra to statutory responsibilities)
• collecting funds for later distribution to other charities or to individuals
• political or pressure groups
• profit distributing organisations
• individuals or individual fund-raising efforts, including expeditions or overseas travel
• general fund raising events, activities or appeals
• fabric appeals for places of worship
• the promotion of religion
• animal welfare or wildlife
• charities which have substantial reserves (in excess of 12 months expenditure) or in serious deficit
• the purchase of minibuses or other vehicles
• the acquisition, renovation and refurbishment of buildings.

Sending your application

Applications can only be considered if made in writing on the Charitable Foundation's application form. Please download the form using the link below.

Application for donation form (96KB, opens in new window)

Please arrange to complete the feedback form if you have previously received a grant from the Trustees.

The Trustees will only consider further applications after a period of one year has elapsed.

Please give all details of how the Charitable Foundation's donation was spent, what a difference it made, and how many people benefited as a result of the donation.

The feedback form must accompany any new application for donation form.

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Once you have downloaded the application form you can either complete the form on screen and then print or print off a blank form for completion by hand.

Your completed application form should then be forwarded together with any supporting or background material together with a copy of your signed financial reports and accounts to:

The Secretary
Chelsea Building Society Charitable Foundation
Thirlestaine Hall
Thirlestaine Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL53 7AL

All applications will be acknowledged. Applicants will be notified of the result of their application as soon as possible but you should bear in mind that it may take up to 6 months for requests to be considered.