A local charity helping elderly, sick, disabled and disadvantaged people in Wantage and nearby villages, with grants
The Ray Collins Charitable Trust helps local people and local causes in Wantage and the surrounding villages. Its charitable purpose is the relief of poverty for elderly, sick, disabled, injured and disadvantaged people, including providing household appliances or furnishings and funding emergency, medical or necessary equipment or services.
The Trust was set up by Ray Collins, who was born in Wantage Hospital and has lived and worked in Wantage all his life, alongside seven friends. It is a registered charity (a charitable incorporated organisation, number 1173358). All decisions are taken by the trustees in line with the Trust's criteria, and the trustees are volunteers who are not paid.
In 2021 the Trust received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, with special recognition for its COVID response, when its volunteers shopped, delivered meals and prescriptions and marshalled flu and vaccine clinics.
The Trust's donations focus on relieving loneliness and poverty among elderly and vulnerable people, and on helping sick, disabled, injured and disadvantaged people in Wantage and the surrounding villages. It also helps local volunteer groups that help people in line with its criteria.
The Trust's biggest donation: £45,000 for a 17 seat adapted minibus with a wheelchair lift for Fitzwaryn School, funded with the Vinci Foundation (£12,000), St James Place with Sunshine Coaches and the Variety Club (£29,000) and £4,000 from the Trust.
Referred by the Wantage Independent Advice Centre, the trustees set aside £1,600 and, with volunteers and local firms, redecorated a bungalow and fitted a new cooker, fridge freezer and washer dryer for a mother and her son.
Coach trips for families and people living in isolation, such as days out to Southsea and Cotswold Wildlife Park.
Over £55,000 spent in the community in 2022, including an Easter lunch for over 65s, 500 Easter eggs, two family coach trips, household goods for residents in need, a Christmas Day dinner and 150 Christmas hampers.
Many thanks for the wonderful lunch and entertainment. We really had a lovely Easter Sunday, otherwise I would have been alone all day and very lonely.
SJ
Thank you to all the trustees and your many helpers for making my Christmas Day such a jolly one.
ET
As a parent to a child that has attended Fitzwaryn for 7 years now and the minibus was an amazing surprise and one which will be very well used.
MM
The Trust considers applications from members of the public, carers, local day centres, neighbourhood police teams, surgeries, nurseries and schools. Recipients must live in Wantage or the surrounding villages within a five mile radius, and typical grants are under £1,000. The Trust can only help in Wantage, Grove, the Hanneys, the Hendreds, Challow, Charney Bassett, Childrey, the Letcombes, Ardington and Lockinge.
Download the Application for Funding Form from the Apply for Help page, or email info@raycollinstrust.org for a copy. Completed forms must be returned by email, and only applications on the Trust's forms can be accepted.
The Trust does not fund:
The Trust's fundraising events include the Grove & Wantage Extravaganza, which it ran with Grove Rugby Club in June 2026.
Elderly, sick, disabled, injured and disadvantaged people living in Wantage and the surrounding villages within a five mile radius. It considers applications from members of the public, carers, day centres, neighbourhood police teams, surgeries, nurseries and schools.
Wantage, Grove, the Hanneys, the Hendreds, Challow, Charney Bassett, Childrey, the Letcombes, Ardington and Lockinge.
Typical grants are under £1,000.
No. Cash payment requests are not funded. Help includes household appliances and furnishings, equipment and home or garden makeovers.
Download the Application for Funding Form from the Trust's website or email info@raycollinstrust.org for one, then return it by email. Only applications on the Trust's forms are accepted.
No. All the trustees volunteer their time and no fees are paid to committee members.
Email the Trust for an application form, or to sponsor, volunteer or fundraise.
Check with The Ray Collins Charitable Trust before you travel. Run it? Add your opening hours, free.
Please check before you go. Opening hours, meeting times and other details can change, and while we work to keep this accurate, our information can sometimes be wrong. Confirm with The Ray Collins Charitable Trust before making a trip. Tell us if something has changed.
