The Gilstrap Charity
The Gilstrap Charity
Newark and Sherwood District Council is the sole trustee of The Gilstrap Charity and has set-up a committee called the Trustee Board of the Gilstrap and William Edward Knight Charities to undertake the trustee role.
Our purpose
We have established a funding pot to fund applications for projects, events and initiatives which reflect our purposes and objectives.
The membership of the Trustee Board is drawn from the council’s Newark Wards to reflect that our purpose is to benefit residents of the town.
History
In 1883 Sir (then Mr.) William Gilstrap gave land in Castle Gate on trust to the Borough of Newark for the purposes of a library. He intended to give further land to our charity, but died before doing so.
His successor, Lieutenant Colonel John McRae Gilstrap, conveyed five parcels of land to us, with the intention that the income should be used to support the library.
Various parcels of land were then sold, leaving us owning one piece of land. This piece of land is 1.7 acres at Chestnut Avenue, Newark, which is currently used as an open space/play area. This land has been allocated for residential development. We are in the process of disposing of this parcel of land and will use the income generated from the capital receipt to further our objectives.
In addition to giving Newark a new library, Sir William Gilstrap also gave the Borough of Newark additional land which currently comprises Newark Castle's grounds.
In 1884, the former Borough of Newark made a “one off” payment to our charity of £1,200 to effectively buy out the charity and to layout Newark Castle's grounds as “public walks and pleasure grounds.” This was agreed and approved by Sir William Gilstrap.
In August 1990, following the relocation of the County Council library to alternative premises, our Charity Commission made a new scheme in respect of the Gilstrap Charity and Newark and Sherwood District Council was appointed sole trustee. The scheme required that the former library building be used as “an educational centre for the purpose of advancing public knowledge and understanding of features of historic interest in the area of benefit” (the former Borough of Newark) as constituted in 1883.
On 5 March 2013, an amendment was made to the 1990 scheme which enabled the district council to sell or lease the building. The new scheme also extended the area of benefit for us to the Parish of Newark.
On 1 April 2013, we leased the former library to Nottinghamshire County Council for a term of seven years without exclusion of Landlord and Tenant Act rights.
The County Council sought a renewal of the lease in 2020 which was granted for a further seven years.
We have retained possession of the public toilets located at the rear of the building. These are operated and managed by the district council. An external organisation is contracted for the cleaning of the toilets.
Projects we have supported
Apply for funding
Any funding application must demonstrate benefit to the residents of Newark and can be used towards events, projects or other initiatives.
Applications will be considered at a meeting of the Trustee Board against their favourable criteria. Applications meeting some, or all, of these criteria are more likely to be successful.
Favourable criteria includes applications which:
- promote education, the understanding of a historic building, or the history of Newark generally
- demonstrate a benefit to the Newark community
- provide sustainable benefits
- have already obtained match funding, or is likely to
Any funding application enquiries should be sent to the Clerk of the Gilstrap Charity, who will provide an application form.
Castle House
Great North Road
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG24 1BY
Email: clerk@thegilstrapcharity.org
Following assessment of the application you will be contacted if further information is needed, but are advised to include as much information as possible within the application.
Grants will not be awarded retrospectively.
Conditions of grant funding
The conditions for any grant funding awarded are that:
- approval must be sought for any subsequent changes to the submitted project outline
- if any funding is surplus to requirements, this should be returned to us
- progress reports and an evaluation report after the project or event should be provided to our Trustees
- the applicant ensures that all necessary licences, consent and other approvals are obtained
- the grant funding must be spent within 12 months of being awarded
- proof of expenditure is required
- any publicity associated with the funded event or project must acknowledge the Gilstrap Trust’s contribution, include our logo and website address