Criffel Charitable Trust
Charity 1040680
Overview
Summary
Criffel Charitable Trust appears to be a broad-discretion grantmaker rather than a programme-delivery charity. Its governing objects give trustees wide latitude, while its stated activity areas span welfare, health, faith, overseas aid, culture and environmental interests. This suggests its role may be to direct flexible philanthropic support across varied needs, with a particular orientation toward children and young people, older people and disabled people. Its breadth is potentially a strength, but the available evidence does not reveal its practical priorities or local relationships.
Operational geography
Coverage: Regional
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- The Charity Commission records Birmingham City as an area where the trust operates, but do not identify any Birmingham ward, recognised place, grant recipient or service location. No supplied area identifier can therefore be evidenced as a current operational area.
- The trust is a grant-maker rather than a direct service provider. Its 2024 accounts record 38 institutional grants, but recipient names and grant amounts are withheld under the charitable-trust exemption available during the settlor's lifetime; this prevents assessment of where its Birmingham-funded activity occurs or whether it is neighbourhood-based, district-wide or citywide within Birmingham.
- There is no evidence of a Birmingham physical site. The Charity Commission states that the trust does not own or lease land or property.
- No material delivery partnerships can be identified from the available official evidence because grant recipients are not disclosed.
Additional evidence needed
- A current grant-recipient list, grant-making policy or trustees' report identifying the locations of Birmingham-funded organisations or individuals.
- Confirmation from the trust of whether its Birmingham grants are distributed across the city or concentrated in particular wards, neighbourhoods or institutions.
- Evidence of any operational arrangements with Birmingham-based partner organisations, including the locations and scale of activities supported.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Environment/conservation/heritage
- Overseas Aid/famine Relief
- Religious Activities
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Elderly/old People
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Makes Grants To Individuals
- Makes Grants To Organisations
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A highly discretionary philanthropic vehicle
The trust appears designed to allow trustees substantial freedom to respond to changing charitable opportunities, rather than to pursue a narrowly defined mission.
Why it matters
This helps explain how the organisation may support causes that appear diverse. Its decision-making priorities may be more informative than its formal objects when assessing its role.
Show evidence
“TO OR FOR SUCH CHARITABLE PURPOSES OR CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS AS THE TRUSTEES SHALL FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT.”
Source:Charity Commission“Makes Grants To Individuals, Makes Grants To Organisations.”
Source:Organisation
Broad scope, with welfare at its centre
Although the trust supports a wide range of charitable fields, its principal objects suggest poverty, sickness and Christianity may provide an underlying frame for its grantmaking.
Why it matters
The breadth could otherwise make the trust seem unfocused. Distinguishing principal objects from wider reported activities may help identify which applications or partnerships are most likely to align.
Show evidence
“The principal objects of the charity are the relief of the poor and needy, the advancement of Christianity and the relief of sickness.”
Source:Organisation“The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives, The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty, Overseas Aid/famine Relief, Religious Activities, Arts/culture/heritage/science, Environment/conservation/heritage.”
Source:Organisation
Potentially bridges personal hardship and organisational capacity
By funding both individuals and organisations, the trust may be positioned to address immediate personal needs while also strengthening the groups that support vulnerable people.
Why it matters
This dual route could make the trust a useful connector between direct relief and longer-term community capacity, if its grant practice reflects both routes.
Show evidence
“Children/young People, Elderly/old People, People With Disabilities.”
Source:Organisation“Makes Grants To Individuals, Makes Grants To Organisations.”
Source:Organisation
- Whether grants are primarily local, national or overseas.
- How trustees balance welfare, religious, cultural and environmental purposes.
- Whether grants to individuals and organisations serve distinct needs or overlapping priorities.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent grant lists showing recipients, amounts, locations and purposes.
- Trustee reports or application guidance explaining decision criteria and priority areas.
- Evidence of partnerships, repeat recipients and funded outcomes.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The principal objects of the charity are the relief of the poor and needy, the advancement of Christianity and the relief of sickness.
Charity objects
TO OR FOR SUCH CHARITABLE PURPOSES OR CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS AS THE TRUSTEES SHALL FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT.