Registered Charity No. 800610
The Trust was established in October 1988 by a significant gift from its Settlor.
Its annual income is derived almost entirely from its investments, and is used to maintain its grounds and buildings at Barnards Farm in West Horndon gifted to the Trust. These grounds contain the largest collection of malus (ornamental crab apple) trees in Western Europe and are open to the general public and study groups. The well equipped buildings in their extensive and beautiful gardens are available as a training and conference centre and as a meeting place for approved charitable organisations and causes.
In line with the Settlor’s original wishes, the balance of its income is used to support a wide range of good causes. The Trust has helped fund over 400 projects since its inception. The Trustees will normally strongly favour applications from local organisations and individuals, i.e. from within the Essex and East London area. They prefer “seed corn” funding of projects involving volunteers and seldom donate to annual running costs or building refurbishment. However the lower investment returns experienced in recent years has meant that very little, if any, income has remained for other projects.
Application for grants or donations are therefore normally only accepted for a limited number of exceptional projects each year which are of special relevance or interest to the Trust. If you have something you believe may be of interest to the Trust please contact its administrator at the following address:
Mr Bob Folwell
Trustee & Trust Administrator
The Christabella Charitable Trust
Flat 5 Booths Court Poplar Drive
Hutton
Brentwood
CM13 1YY