Making the most of life
Welcome to Four Acre Trust
Four Acre Trust was founded in 1995 by John Bothamley with profits from the building industry. The grants programme is now closed to new applications.
Our current programmes support schools’ extra curricula projects, early intervention work, international eye and water projects.
We anticipate that the current process of spending out our present capital will be completed by 2014.
People
Trustees
John Bothamley – Chair
Marion Baker
Mary Bothamley
Taymour Ezzat
Steve Ratcliffe
John Bothamley – Chair
Marion Baker
Mary Bothamley
Taymour Ezzat
Steve Ratcliffe
Trust Administrator
June Horton: 01981 580015
June Horton: 01981 580015
Field Officers
Norman Ashton
David Brooks
Christine Ball
Apollo Economides
Peter Farmer
David Goldsmith
Liz Lloyd
Colin Logan
David Brooks
Christine Ball
Apollo Economides
Peter Farmer
David Goldsmith
Liz Lloyd
Colin Logan
Tony Marland
Geoff McNutt
Norman Muir
Jane Newman
Ronnie Oakes
Keith Rookledge
John Sturt
Geoff McNutt
Norman Muir
Jane Newman
Ronnie Oakes
Keith Rookledge
John Sturt
History of the Trust
John Bothamley already had a background of helping charities by providing rent free premises and renovating accommodation for, amongst others, the Youth Hostels Association, the YMCA and Save the Children.
In 1995 he decided to formalise his charitable support and created Four Acre Trust, as a vehicle for providing financial support to operating charities registered in the UK.
Trustees, who meet six times a year, were chosen for their general and specific knowledge of the charitable and business sectors.
Over the past sixteen years, Four Acre has supported 1200 charities with £18 million.
Areas of work have included supporting charities that inspire young people to grasp opportunities. Youth clubs and projects, into work schemes for disabled people, mentoring and befriending, and residential breaks.
In 1995 he decided to formalise his charitable support and created Four Acre Trust, as a vehicle for providing financial support to operating charities registered in the UK.
Trustees, who meet six times a year, were chosen for their general and specific knowledge of the charitable and business sectors.
Over the past sixteen years, Four Acre has supported 1200 charities with £18 million.
Areas of work have included supporting charities that inspire young people to grasp opportunities. Youth clubs and projects, into work schemes for disabled people, mentoring and befriending, and residential breaks.
Most grants have supported revenue expenses, and have backed good people able to effect change in their area of work. Much funding has been the support of salary costs.
Approximately 25% of funding has supported charities working in the developing world. Projects have included water, sanitation, eye and educational projects.
In 2007, trustees appointed 20, pro bono, field officers who bring sound business expertise at the initial stages of grant application, and support charities throughout the process. This initiative was highly commended in the 2008 Charity Awards in the Grantmaking category.
In 2010, the fund closed to new applicants.
Now in the final stages of spending out our capital, we are working with a small number of charities who are working effectively to help the next generation make the most of their lives.
Approximately 25% of funding has supported charities working in the developing world. Projects have included water, sanitation, eye and educational projects.
In 2007, trustees appointed 20, pro bono, field officers who bring sound business expertise at the initial stages of grant application, and support charities throughout the process. This initiative was highly commended in the 2008 Charity Awards in the Grantmaking category.
In 2010, the fund closed to new applicants.
Now in the final stages of spending out our capital, we are working with a small number of charities who are working effectively to help the next generation make the most of their lives.
Our Philosophy
We believe that people most value things they have worked for. To this end, we like to see recipients making some form of contribution towards the project, even if it is not in the form of cash.
We prefer to support projects that help to prevent rather than cure problems.
We like charities that work locally, make good use of volunteers and can stand up for themselves when challenged about their work.
We like to ‘back the person’ – some of our most effective grants have been attached to the continuing employment of an individual who has impressed us. Much funding is salaries and associated core costs.
We acknowledge that times are changing and dislike the shifting of government responsibilities onto charities.
We seldom support capital projects as that is an area where funding appears to be easier to find.
We don’t need to see our name on every project.
We dislike the fact that charities are treated differently from commercial companies.
We believe that charities need to improve their professionalism, and to continually try to move to a sustainable position.
We hope that social enterprises will multiply and provide services at a local level.
We prefer to support projects that help to prevent rather than cure problems.
We like charities that work locally, make good use of volunteers and can stand up for themselves when challenged about their work.
We like to ‘back the person’ – some of our most effective grants have been attached to the continuing employment of an individual who has impressed us. Much funding is salaries and associated core costs.
We acknowledge that times are changing and dislike the shifting of government responsibilities onto charities.
We seldom support capital projects as that is an area where funding appears to be easier to find.
We don’t need to see our name on every project.
We dislike the fact that charities are treated differently from commercial companies.
We believe that charities need to improve their professionalism, and to continually try to move to a sustainable position.
We hope that social enterprises will multiply and provide services at a local level.
