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Q1:  What is the Edward Carpenter Community Trust?

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The Edward Carpenter Community Trust (ECCT) is a charity founded in 1988 whose charitable objectives are "To preserve and protect health and to advance education particularly for and about gay men and women and other concerned people in the public community and those working with them".

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The “gay men and women” referred to in the original 1988 objectives should now be taken to include the wider LGBTQ+ community.

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ECCT currently has 3 trustees and is registered as charity No. 298791 with the Charity Commission for England & Wales.

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Q2. What is our connection with the Edward Carpenter Community? 

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The Edward Carpenter Community (ECC) is a network of men who love men, dedicated to community-building, creativity, personal growth, friendship and fun. 

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ECCT can be regarded as the charitable arm of the ECC, but it is a separate organisation and is not bound by the ECC's aims and intentions. For example, ECC  membership is restricted to gay men, but ECCT does not have this restriction.

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Q3: What small grants are made by ECCT?

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ECCT has, in recent years, made several small grants (< £1,000) each year to selected LGBT charities whose aims are aligned with our own. A list of grants made in recent years is shown below. The total funds available for these grants equates to ECCT's investment income. 

 

Q4: Who is eligible to receive a small grant from ECCT?

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We make small grants to groups (not individuals) who operate as charities. Usually, they will be a UK-based registered charity. However, unregistered charitable groups may be eligible if information is provided showing a suitable track record. In exceptional circumstances, non-UK charitable groups may receive grants. 

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We favour smaller charities where our grant will have greater impact.

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Q5: What is meant by a “large grant”?

 

At some point in the future ECCT intends to make a substantial grant (here called a "large grant").

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ECCT can consider applications for a substantial financial grant that is to be used for financing the purchase of buildings or land (“a facility”) which will be used to promote the charitable objectives of ECCT.

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Q6: Who is able to apply for a large grant?

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The grant application can be made by a group which has established legal status in the UK. This is likely to be: a Registered Charity, Co-operative business or Community Interest Company.

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Q7: Where can the buildings or land be located?

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ECCT will only consider grants for facilities located in the UK.

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Q8: What should be provided in a large grant application?

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ECCT will work with applicants to support their proposal. An application must be supported by a business plan that is credible to the satisfaction of ECCT Trustees and their advisers. The proposal must be for a sustainable facility and the plan should include aspects such as governance and management, purchase and operational finance and staff/volunteer resources. It should also address the possible closure/wind-up of the facility.

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The applicant must demonstrate a long-term commitment to the project, for example based on their past record of relevant projects and activities.

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Q9: Would ECCT own a facility that has been financed with a large grant?

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The facility and its activities would not be operated by ECCT but the charity would retain an interest in it e.g. owning the lease, which could revert to ECCT in the event of closure.

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Q10: Could the grant be used to provide housing?

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The main purpose of the facility and the intended beneficiaries will need to fit within ECCT’s charitable objects as outlined above. This applies equally to any housing that might be provided, apart from residential staff or volunteers maintaining the facility or organising its activities.

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Q11: Who would be able to use the facility?

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Users of the proposed facility:​​

• Might be restricted to members of the LGBTQ+ community.

• Should not be otherwise restricted to a specific organisation, social or religious group.

• Must be available to both men and women (although some events might be restricted to a single gender).