THE BARBARA WHATMORE CHARITABLE TRUST
A limited number of small grants for up to £5,000 are available to UK registered charities working in the areas of the relief of poverty, conservation and crafts training, and education projects in museums, the theatre and poetry that can inspire young people.
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o Application deadline: SUNDAY 15th MARCH 2026.
o Funder: The Barabara Whatmore Charitable Trust (founded 1981. Charity number 283336. Total value of all grants awarded during the year ended 5 April 2024: £85,384 (2023: £87,776)).
o Who can apply: UK registered charities.
o Key words: Relief of Poverty, Theatre, Poetry, Museums, Music, Classical Music Education and Career Development, Heritage Preservation, Training in Conservation and Crafts, Children and Young People, East Anglia, United Kingdom.
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The objectives of the Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust are:
o To foster and promote the education of the general public in the appreciation of the arts and music.
o The relief of poverty, and
o Such other purposes recognised by the law of England and Wales to be exclusively charitable.
The Trust funds carefully chosen cultural and heritage preservation projects in the UK (particularly in East Anglia).
Eligible areas include support for:
o Schemes or bursaries for classical music education to enable young musicians to attend courses or music groups and orchestras, and to provide practical experience for singers and instrumentalists with the prospect of a career in classical music;
o Conservation and crafts training, via bursaries to recognised higher educational teaching organisations;
o Education projects in museums, the theatre and poetry, which inspire young people and their experience.
The conservation of specific endangered historic artefacts and of the natural heritage environment is also eligible, as are preventive projects to protect historic or natural collections.
During the year ended 5th April 2024, the Trust awarded 25 grants totalling £85,384 (2023: 27 grants totalling £87,776).
Grants ranged from £500 to £5,000 and comprised of a mixture of (predominantly) repeat grants to the same group of charities, together with a few new applicants.
A list of all grants made over the last 2 years can be found on page 11 of the Trust’s annual accounts.
Funding is not available for:
o Repair work to the fabric of buildings or structures.
o The purchase of musical instruments or works of art.
o Choral societies.
o Festivals, or
o Individuals.
Please note that the Trust does not have a website. Further information is, however, available on the Charity Commission website.
The Trust holds meetings twice a year in April and October. Applications should be made in writing and sent to the Administrator, either by post or as an email attachment, to the address below.
Applications can be received at any time, but not later than 15th March or 15th September to be in time for consideration at the following month’s half-yearly meeting.
The next application deadline is therefore on Sunday 15th March 2026.
Contact details for the Trust are:
Ms Catherine Gardiner
Administrator
The Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust
3 Honeyhanger
Hindhead Road
Hindhead
Surrey
GU26 6BA.
Email: ed@bwct.org