About The Tantum Trust

The Tantum Trust was established in 1992 with the aim of helping struggling families and individuals in North East Hampshire and South West Surrey.

Over the years that vision has become a reality and to date we have distributed over £1.25 million to those in need.

From its origins as a tabletop in a community hall in Bordon, the Trust has grown - now four shops in Bordon, Liphook, Haslemere and Grayshott provide the funds from which grants are made.

The Tantum Trust is a registered charity, governed by a board trustees, all volunteers with a wide range of backgrounds.

The Trustees meet regularly to consider grant applications while ensuring the Trust meets its charitable objectives.

Overheads are kept to a minimum to maximise the funds available for distribution.

Grant applications must be made through agencies such as Citizens Advice, Social Services, Schools and Family Centres and must come with financial statements and supporting evidence. The trustees are not limited in what types of grants can be considered; and make decisions as quickly as possible, sometimes in a matter of hours.

Our four shops are run by managers assisted by over forty volunteers. We pride ourselves that our shops are a vibrant working and volunteering community while at the same time providing welcoming places to shop.

In addition to generating the surpluses which enable the charity to carry out its work, the shops provide affordable clothing, footwear and other goods to the local community and provide the means for these pre-used items to be recycled. We are proud of our low environmental impact.

At Christmas we give supermarket food vouchers to the neediest families nominated by local schools. In 2022 £25,000 of vouchers were given.

Most recently we have funded courses aimed at teaching young families to cook healthy meals on tight budgets.

The Tantum Trust is unique because the type of assistance it can give is not restricted and it can make rapid decisions when needed. This often makes it the first port of call for Social Services and Citizens Advice when they have clients in need.

Case Studies

These are just some examples of how we have been able to help by providing grants to those in need in the local community.

Referred by East Hants PCN
An applicant, incapacitated and unable to work and complete daily living skills was sleeping in a chair as they were unable to afford to replace their bedframe which had collapsed.

The Tantum Trust granted £250 for a replacement bed.

Referred by Alton Family Support Network

A family with two children, one suffering from trauma and extreme anxiety, and struggling financially.

The Tantum Trust granted £350 towards the cost of mental health support for the child.

Referred by 3 Counties Money Advice

A single mother, having escaped an abusive relationship together with her young child, was forced to move into emergency accommodation until she could be more permanently re-housed nearer to her mother who was terminally ill and needed her support.

The Tantum Trust granted £500 towards the cost of floor coverings in place of the concrete floors and bare floor boards throughout the new house.

Referred by Homestart

A couple, both employed but on low incomes, applied for financial support towards their children’s nursery fees.

The Tantum Trust granted £340 to help supplement their childcare costs.