The Gooch Charitable Fund

Grant details

Grant size:Smaller capital and project grants up to £5,000. Larger capital grants between £5,000 and £50,000. Larger capital grants are usually paid over 2-3 years.
Typical grant:TBC
Apply by:Friday 7 March, 2025
Decision in:Late April, 2025

Who is it for?Organisations that benefit people living in Ilminster or the TA19 postcode.

What is it for?To support project costs, like staff time, activities and other running costs or capital costs, like equipment or buildings.

Apply Now

What can we use this money for?

To support good causes benefitting people living in and around Ilminster, Somerset.

The aim of this grant programme is to offer grants to groups that are based in Ilminster and the surrounding TA19 postcode, or groups that provide services to people in Ilminster or the TA19 postcode. 

We’re interested in supporting a wide range of groups, including:

  • sports clubs
  • community transport schemes
  • arts, culture and heritage venues
  • youth groups
  • community buildings
  • schools and preschools (but not for statutory duties)
  • events and other activities.

Which groups can apply?

We can only consider your group for a grant from this grant programme if:

  • your based in Ilminster or the wider TA19 postcode or your work directly benefits people living in those areas, and
  • your group meets our minimum standards.

Our minimum standards cover things like:

  • the types of groups we can give a grant to and how we expect them to be run
  • how we expect those groups to manage their finances
  • how those groups keep people safe.

All of our minimum standards are on our FAQ page, where you can also find lots of information about applying for funding.

You can also use our eligibility checker which will help you understand if you can apply for a grant from us.

When do we have to apply?

Apply by Friday 7 March, 2025.

How likely are we to get a grant?

Sadly, we can’t provide funding to every group that applies to us.

We have around £50,000 to give out from the Fund this year. We’re usually able to support 2 out of every 3 applications we receive.

We’re more likely to give you some money if your group:

• is based in Ilminster or the TA19 postcode
• can contribute some of the costs yourself
• works with groups of people facing multiple disadvantages
• has provided reliable reporting on any previous grants we’ve given you
• has not received any other money from us in the last year.

How are decisions made?

Your application will be assessed by one of our team. They’ll read through what you’ve written, look at your supporting documents, and check places like the Charity Commission if you’re a registered charity and your website if you have one. We may contact you if we have any questions.

A recommendation will then be made, and a panel will make the final decision. The panel is made up of former trustees of the Gooch Charitable Trust. 

How do we apply to this programme?

We offer 2 types of grant from the Gooch Charitable Fund. You need to decide which one to apply to or contact the person at the end of this page for advice. 

If you are applying to the smaller capital and project grants (up to £5,000) you need to complete an online application form using the ‘Apply Now’ link below.

If you are thinking of applying for a larger capital grant (between £5,000 and £50,000), we recommend getting in touch with the Manager of this programme to have an initial discussion about your needs.   

When you click on ‘Apply Now’ below you’ll be asked to register your email address.  You will then be sent an email with a link to the online application form. You can save your progress by clicking ‘save as draft’ at the end of the form. The link in the email allows you to return to the form. At the end of the form, you can attach supporting documents.

You need to click ‘Submit’ at the bottom of the form to send your completed application to us. 

 

Where does this money come from?

The Gooch Charitable Trust was set up by Archie Gooch MBE and his daughter Heather Virgin in 1998.

Archie Gooch wanted to show his appreciation to the town where he set up his business Gooch and Housego, with his partner Les Housego after the war in 1948. He and Les had been evacuated from London to work at Standard Telephones and Cables, as key workers, manufacturing crystals for the war effort.  There he met his wife Nancy and settled in Ilminster. He set up Gooch and Housego and became a respected and active member of the community.

Gooch and Housego grew rapidly and was eventually floated on the AIM stock market. At this point Archie decided that he wanted to give something back to the community that had supported him and so, with the help of his daughter, set up The Gooch Charitable Trust (Ilminster).

In 2024, the Trust was transferred to SCF and the former Trustees continue to be actively involved with the Fund. In line with Archie’s wishes, money is set aside for the repair and upkeep of St. Mary’s Church, Ilminster, each year, with all other funds then made available for wider use in Ilminster. 

Read more about the story behind The Gooch Charitable Trust on our news page.

Apply Now

Get help with this funding programme

This funding programme is managed by Sean, our Programmes Manager. Sean can help if you:

  • aren’t sure if you meet our standards
  • aren’t sure if this is the best fund to apply for
  • can’t use our online form, need extra support with your application or if English isn’t your first language
  • can’t attach the documents we’ve asked for.
Sean Boland (He/Him)
Programmes Manager
Working days: Mon - Fri

Grant details

Grant size:Smaller capital and project grants up to £5,000. Larger capital grants between £5,000 and £50,000. Larger capital grants are usually paid over 2-3 years.
Typical grant:TBC
Apply by:Friday 7 March, 2025
Decision in:Late April, 2025

Who is it for?Organisations that benefit people living in Ilminster or the TA19 postcode.

What is it for?To support project costs, like staff time, activities and other running costs or capital costs, like equipment or buildings.

Apply Now

Eligibility quiz

Check if you’re eligible to apply for our grants & funding.

Take our quiz

FAQs

You can find our minimum standards and everything else you need to know about applying on our FAQs page.

Browse our FAQs