Quothquan Trust
Charity 1110647
Overview
Summary
Quothquan Trust appears to be a small, locally administered philanthropic vehicle whose influence is exercised primarily through other organisations rather than direct public-facing services. Its Christian purpose shapes a broad charitable remit spanning poverty, care, education and social welfare, while its use of both grants and mixed-motive social investments suggests an interest in supporting mission-aligned work through more than conventional donation-making. Its historical connection to a predecessor trust and income originating in Quothquan, Scotland indicates an inherited asset base rather than a membership- or fundraising-led model.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Sutton Roughley
Confidence: low
Direct evidence shows that the Trust's current mixed-motive social investments fund Quothquan Homes and Harvest Fields Homes. Those partners currently own and manage 46 rented houses on the Harvest Fields development in Sutton Coldfield. However, the supplied evidence does not directly establish that this development is within Sutton Roughley ward.
- Quothquan Trust, Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for year ended 31 December 2024
The Trust held loans enabling Quothquan Homes to acquire sixteen rented social houses and four apartments, and Harvest Fields Homes to acquire twenty-four rented social homes. - Harvest Fields Homes, 'What we do' page
Harvest Fields Homes and its sister charity Quothquan Homes own and manage 46 rented houses on the Harvest Fields development in Sutton Coldfield.
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence supports a substantial operational presence in Sutton Coldfield through social-investment-funded housing, but does not directly establish the relevant ward or identify the locations of the Trust's own freehold properties.
- The Trust reports that it operates in Birmingham City and its website says it prefers Birmingham and surrounding-area Christian organisations, charities and churches. However, it does not publish a current grants list or recipient locations, so the distribution of its grant-making activity across Birmingham wards cannot be verified.
- A registered office and correspondence address shared with related organisations should not be treated as a confirmed public-facing service site or as evidence of a separate operational area.
- The Trust may exceptionally support projects outside the West Midlands when trustees have direct knowledge of the work; the available evidence does not show whether any such current grants exist.
Additional evidence needed
- A current grants schedule showing recipient organisations, project locations and grant values.
- A current property schedule identifying the locations and charitable use of the Trust's freehold land and buildings.
- Confirmation from the Trust of whether its Birmingham grant-making is distributed across the city or concentrated in particular neighbourhoods.
Areas of work
- Religious Activities
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
How they help
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Other Charitable Activities
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
An intermediary rather than a frontline charity
The available evidence suggests Quothquan Trust operates chiefly by resourcing Christian individuals and organisations, rather than by delivering services directly to people experiencing hardship.
Why it matters
Understanding it as a funding intermediary changes where to look for its local impact: its role is likely expressed through the work, priorities and reach of the organisations it supports.
Show evidence
“Quothquan Trust is a small local grant making charity.”
Source:Organisation“Who the charity helps: Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies.”
Source:Charity Commission“How the charity helps: Makes Grants To Organisations, Other Charitable Activities.”
Source:Charity Commission
Faith is the organising lens, not simply one programme area
Christian witness appears to provide the framework through which the trust approaches poverty relief, care, education and welfare, rather than being a separate activity alongside secular grant-making.
Why it matters
This may shape which applicants, partnerships and forms of impact the trust considers aligned, making its religious identity central to understanding its funding role.
Show evidence
“To advance the Christian faith and as an expression of Christian witness, love and concern to relieve the poor, sick, elderly and those in need, hardship and distress.”
Source:Charity Commission“Spreading the Christian faith through encouraging and supporting the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Source:Organisation“Supporting Christian individuals and organisations.”
Source:Organisation
A potentially more patient form of philanthropy
Its use of mixed-motive social investments may indicate that Quothquan Trust can support some mission-aligned activity through finance designed to pursue social benefit alongside financial considerations, not grants alone.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the trust from a conventional small grant-maker and may create opportunities for organisations whose needs include recoverable or investment-like capital.
Show evidence
“Supporting Christian individuals and organisations, principally through two different activities - grant making and mixed motive (social) investments.”
Source:Organisation“Quothquan Trust was set up as a grant maker and to take over the programme related investments and certain other assets of the Second Quothquan Charitable Trust.”
Source:Organisation
- The geography of its grant-making is unclear: 'small local' is stated, but no area of benefit is identified.
- There is no evidence about grant recipients, investment recipients, funding size, selection criteria or current priorities.
- It is unclear how the trust balances evangelistic, poverty-relief and wider welfare objectives in practice.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or accounts showing grants, investments, recipients, values and geographic distribution.
- Application guidance and exclusion criteria showing how Christian alignment, social need and investment suitability are assessed.
- Examples of funded organisations and outcomes, including whether support reaches communities beyond explicitly Christian bodies.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Spreading the Christian faith through encouraging and supporting the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Supporting Christian individuals and organisations, principally through two different activities - grant making and mixed motive (social) investments.
Charity objects
TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH (IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF FAITH MADE AND AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME UNDER ARTICLE 28) AND AS AN EXPRESSION OF CHRISTIAN WITNESS, LOVE AND CONCERN TO UNDERTAKE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TO RELIEVE THE POOR. THE SICK, THE CHARITABLE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AND THOSE IN CONDITIONS OF NEED, HARDSHIP AND DISTRESS; TO PROVIDE AND /OR SUPPORT TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PASTORAL CARE; AND TO PROVIDE AND/OR SUPPORT FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE OR RECREATION OF EITHER THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE AREA OF THOSE IN CHARITABLE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE.