Trust gives away £7 million in grants

The Norman Family Charitable Trust, a grant making Charity based in Budleigh Salterton, has recently celebrated passing its £7 million milestone of grant donations since it began in 1979.

This family trust was created by Ken Norman and his wife, son and sisters, from the proceeds of the sale of Normans Cash and Carry Warehouse business. There were 9 branches in various parts of the South West, the first being in Budleigh Salterton. The original aim of the Trust was to make grants to local good causes and charitable organisations, primarily for communities in the South West with emphasis on East Devon and the counties of Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset.

Ken Norman died in 2001 but the Charitable Trust continues to grow and two of its Trustees are Norman family members. The Trust has become one of the largest grant making charities in the South West. It has been a major supporter of local hospices, medical research, the RNLI, local community projects, as well as donating to numerous charities for children, young people and animals.

In celebration of this great achievement, the Trustees have decided to focus their grant making on helping small, local, not for profit organisations, those that may be struggling from recent cut backs and do not have access to other sources of income, and are perhaps reliant on volunteers.

Roger Dawe, Chairman, said “we are keen to invite new applications from any local charitable organisations working for the good of the community and in need of financial assistance. Over the last few years the Trust has awarded, on average, over 300 grants a year for all over the South West, and now we are looking to assist people in East Devon that may be struggling and do not know that we are there to help”.

Further details about The Norman Family Charitable Trust and how to apply for funding can be found on its website http://www.nfct.org.