Newcomen Collett Educational Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £110,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle (approximately 3-4 months between deadlines)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £3,000 (typically)
• Geographic Focus: London Borough of Southwark only

Contact Details

Address: 66 Newcomen Street, London SE1 1YT

Phone: 020 7407 2967

Email: grantoffice@newcomencollett.org.uk

Website: www.newcomencollett.org.uk

Online Application Portal: marshalls.flexigrant.com

Overview

The Newcomen Collett Educational Foundation has served young people in Southwark for over 300 years, formed in 1988 through the merger of the Elizabeth Newcomen Educational Foundation (established 1685) and John Collett Educational Foundation (established 1711). With annual grant-giving of approximately £110,000, the foundation focuses exclusively on educational activities for young people under 25 residing in the London Borough of Southwark. As an endowed foundation, it generates funding through investment assets and property holdings. The foundation recently changed its name from “Newcomen Collett Foundation” to “Newcomen Collett Educational Foundation” to clarify its charitable purpose. In 2024, the foundation awarded grants to 113+ organizations and individuals, demonstrating a commitment to grassroots educational initiatives across schools, arts organizations, youth development programs, and individual students.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Grants for Organizations (rolling basis via quarterly deadlines)

• Grant Range: Typically £1,000 - £3,000
• Total Annual Distribution: Approximately £100,000 for organizations
• Application Method: Online via Flexigrant portal, quarterly deadlines
• Typical Uses: Equipment purchases, school trips, after-school clubs, holiday clubs, visiting performers

Grants to Individuals (rolling basis via quarterly deadlines)

• Grant Range: Not specified, but focused on education costs and living expenses
• Application Method: Online via Flexigrant portal (requires tutor/qualified person endorsement)
• Typical Uses: Tertiary education, apprenticeships, arts/music/dance courses

Emergency Grants (year-round)

• Security grants: Can be applied for at any time
• Uniform grants: Can be applied for at any time

Priority Areas

For Organizations:

• Equipment purchases for schools and youth groups serving children
• Extracurricular activities including school trips, after-school clubs, holiday clubs, and uniformed organizations
• Educational opportunities provided to Southwark schools and colleges (visiting theatre companies, musicians, performers)
• Arts and cultural programming for young people
• Youth development and sports programs

For Individuals:

• Students pursuing tertiary education or apprenticeships
• Young people studying arts, music, and dancing
• Living costs for students in financial need

Recent Funding Examples (2024):

• Create (Arts) Limited: £3,000
• Ignite Hubs: £3,000
• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts: £2,000
• 1st St James Guides: £2,000
• Surrey Square Primary School: £2,000
• Free to Be Kids: £2,000
• Multiple primary schools (Lyndhurst, Goose Green, John Donne)
• Theatre organizations (Southwark Playhouse, Blue Elephant Theatre)
• Youth charities (XLP, Dallaglio RugbyWorks, National Youth Theatre)

What They Don't Fund

• Salaries and administration costs - The foundation is unwilling to take responsibility for these as they cannot guarantee continuing support
• Retrospective funding - Will not fund expenditure incurred before the relevant Governors' meeting date
• Organizations or individuals outside Southwark - Geographic restriction is strictly enforced
• Individuals over 25 years of age

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Governors (Up to 14 members)

Chair: Mr Tim McNally (appointed by Guy's and St Thomas' Charity)

Vice Chair: Mr Edward Wingfield

Other Governors:

• Mrs Janet Simpson (appointed by The Cathedral School)
• Mr Robin Lovell
• Canon Michael Rawson
• Mr Robert Victor Ashdown
• Mr Alexander Leiffheidt
• Mrs Janet Goodland
• Mr Peter MacFarlane
• Mrs Neha Jain

Governors serve four-year terms and may be reelected. All governors are also trustees of St Mary Newington Educational Foundation (charity number 312317).

Staff

• Ms Catherine de Cintra - Clerk to the Governors
• Ms Amy Lamont - Field Officer
• Mrs Tina Scattergood - Executive Officer
• Mr Jim Keegan - Surveyor

Day-to-day management is carried out by the Clerk to the Governors, the Field Officer, and the Executive Officer, with property portfolio management delegated to the Surveyor working with Marshall's Charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organizations:

1. Submit applications online through the Flexigrant portal at marshalls.flexigrant.com
2. The foundation typically visits organizations to assess project viability before awarding grants
3. Applications are reviewed at quarterly Governors' meetings
4. Organizations may apply only once per 12-month period

For Individuals:

1. Submit applications online through the Flexigrant portal
2. A tutor or qualified person must complete the final page of the application form
3. Applications are reviewed at quarterly Governors' meetings
4. Individuals may apply only once per 12-month period

Eligibility Requirements for Individuals:

• Must be under the age of 25
• Must be in need of financial assistance
• Must have lived in the London Borough of Southwark for at least two years at the time of application

Decision Timeline

2025 Application Deadlines:

• Meeting: 6 March 2025 → Deadline: 7 February 2025
• Meeting: 12 June 2025 → Deadline: 16 May 2025
• Meeting: 18 September 2025 → Deadline: 22 August 2025
• Meeting: 11 December 2025 → Deadline: 14 November 2025

2026 Application Deadlines:

• Meeting: 12 March 2026 → Deadline: 13 February 2026
• Meeting: 11 June 2026 → Deadline: 15 May 2026
• Meeting: 17 September 2026 → Deadline: 21 August 2026

Applications are typically decided at the meeting following the deadline, meaning approximately 4-6 weeks between submission and decision.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. In 2024, the foundation awarded 113+ grants totaling £110,386, suggesting a reasonably high volume of successful applications given the foundation's modest size.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations and individuals may apply only once per 12-month period. The foundation does not specify any waiting period for unsuccessful applicants, suggesting reapplication is permitted in the next funding cycle.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Foundation's Capacity:

The foundation distributes approximately £100,000 annually for organizational grants, which means they typically cannot fully fund projects alone. Applications that demonstrate other funding sources or partnerships are more likely to succeed.

Site Visits Matter:

The foundation usually conducts site visits to assess project viability. This personal engagement suggests they value seeing projects firsthand and building relationships with grantees. Organizations should be prepared to host a visit and demonstrate their work.

Focus on Direct Educational Benefit:

Given the foundation's unwillingness to fund salaries and administration, successful applications will clearly articulate how funding directly benefits young people through equipment, activities, or educational experiences rather than organizational overhead.

Demonstrate Southwark Connection:

The geographic restriction is absolute. Applications must clearly demonstrate how the project serves young people (under 25) who reside in or attend school in the London Borough of Southwark.

Recent Funding Patterns:

The 2024 grants reveal strong support for:

• Arts and cultural organizations (Create Arts, Mountview Academy, theatre companies)
• Youth development programs (scouts, guides, sports programs)
• Primary schools for equipment and activities
• Small to medium grants (£1,000-£3,000 range most common)

Timing Considerations:

The foundation will not fund expenditure incurred before the relevant Governors' meeting date. Plan project timelines accordingly and do not start spending grant funds before formal approval.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic specificity is non-negotiable - Only young people under 25 residing in the London Borough of Southwark are eligible; this is strictly enforced
• Think partnership funding - With typical grants of £1,000-£3,000 and annual giving around £100,000, position your request as part of a broader funding strategy
• Prepare for a site visit - The foundation values personal engagement and typically visits organizations before making grants
• Focus on direct impact - Clearly articulate how funding directly benefits young people through equipment, activities, or experiences, not organizational costs
• One shot per year - You can only apply once every 12 months, so make your application count with a well-developed project
• Plan timing carefully - Quarterly deadlines mean 3-4 month gaps between opportunities; expenditure before approval will not be funded
• Strong track record in arts and education - Recent grants show particular support for creative learning, theatre, music, and enrichment activities alongside traditional educational support

References

• Newcomen Collett Educational Foundation - Official Website
• Charity Commission Register - Charity 312804
• Newcomen Collett Foundation 2024 Annual Accounts
• Newcomen Collett - Recent Grants 2024
• Newcomen Collett - Grants for Organizations
• Newcomen Collett - Grants for Individuals
• Newcomen Collett - Governors & Staff
• Newcomen Collett - About Us
• Meet the Funder: Newcomen Collett Educational Foundation - Community Southwark
• Marshalls and Newcomen Charities Application Portal
• Accessed: December 27, 2025