Reedham Children's Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Expenditure: £550,631 (year ending June 30, 2024)
• Annual Income: £287,387 (year ending June 30, 2024)
• Geographic Focus: Croydon, South London (with boarding school grants nationally)
• Age Range: Children and young people aged 4-21 (primary focus on ages 4-16)
• Founded: 1844 (180 years of operation)

Contact Details

• Website: www.reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk
• Email: info@reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk
• Phone: 020 8660 1461
• Address: 23 Old Lodge Lane, Purley, Surrey, CR8 4DJ
• Charity Number: 312433
• Company Number: 00081410

For specific enquiries:

• Youth Innovation Fund: Jessica (Fundraising Manager) - 07837 339113
• Croydon Youth Consortium: Rachel (Youth Strategy Manager)

Overview

Reedham Children's Trust is a 180-year-old grant-making charity that has been supporting vulnerable children since 1844. Founded by Reverend Dr. Andrew Reed as the Reedham Orphanage, it operated as a residential institution until 1980, when it transformed into a modern grant-making trust. The organization has enjoyed royal patronage since 1850, most recently serving under the late Queen Elizabeth II as patron.

Today, the Trust operates through two distinct funding streams: providing boarding school fee assistance for approximately 130 vulnerable children annually across independent and state boarding schools, and funding grassroots organizations in Croydon through the Youth Innovation Fund and Croydon Youth Consortium partnerships. With recent expenditure of £550,631 against income of £287,387 (year ending June 2024), the Trust is actively drawing on its investment income and reserves to maximize impact for vulnerable children.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Boarding School Fee Assistance

• Provides assistance with boarding fees for approximately 130 children per year
• Supports placement at independent and state boarding schools
• Covers school fees, essential school kit, and travel costs
• Application method: Contact info@reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk
• Rolling basis for individual applications

2. Youth Innovation Fund (YIF)

• Launched in 2024 for Croydon Youth Consortium members
• Annual application cycle for innovative projects
• Supports transformation of vulnerable young people's lives in Croydon
• Grant amounts not publicly specified
• Applications invited annually

3. Croydon Youth Consortium Funding

• Invests in voluntary and community organizations within the consortium
• 30 member organizations across Croydon
• Enables innovative collaborations
• Partnership established in 2022 with Croydon Voluntary Action

Priority Areas

Geographic Focus:

• Primary focus on Croydon and South London
• Boarding school grants available nationally

Target Beneficiaries:

• Children aged 4-21 (primary focus on 4-16 age group)
• Children who have experienced death or disablement of one or both parents
• Vulnerable young people in urgent need of assistance or care
• Children who cannot be adequately cared for in their home environment
• Young people at risk of school exclusion, expulsion, or social isolation
• Children already in alternative education
• Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
• Young refugees and their families
• Children with special educational needs
• Children experiencing poverty, domestic violence, or mental health issues

Thematic Areas Funded (based on YIF projects):

• STEM education and skills development
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Creative arts and empowerment
• Youth violence prevention
• Sports and physical activity combined with therapeutic support
• Music and artist development
• Refugee empowerment and integration
• Neurodivergent youth support
• Disability employment and entrepreneurship
• Digital innovation for young people

What They Don't Fund

Based on their stated mission and focus, the Trust does not fund:

• Organizations outside of Croydon (except for boarding school placements for individual children)
• General applications from organizations not part of the Croydon Youth Consortium
• Projects not focused on children and young people
• Adult services
• Projects outside their age range (21+)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Trust has 4 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Specific current trustee names are not publicly listed on the website.

Senior Staff Team

Sarah Burns - Chief Executive Officer (as of April 2025)

Rachel Smart - Youth Strategy Manager

Key contact for Croydon Youth Consortium matters

Jess Ritchie - Fundraising Manager

Key contact for Youth Innovation Fund applications (07837 339113)

Aarti Sharma - Finance Manager

Posey Furnish - Executive Assistant

Dami - Youth Partnerships Officer

The team comprises professionals with expertise in education, fundraising, child protection, finance, and community engagement. The organization has 10 volunteers and no employees earning over £60,000.

Royal Patronage

The organization has enjoyed royal patronage since 1850, most recently under Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who served as patron from 1952 until her death in 2022.

Application Process and Timeline

Boarding School Fee Assistance

How to Apply:

• Contact the Trust directly via email: info@reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk
• Phone: 020 8660 1461
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis
• Assessment based on child's circumstances and urgent need

Eligibility:

• Children who have lost or experienced disablement of one or both parents
• Children who cannot be adequately cared for in their home environment
• Children in urgent need of assistance and care

Youth Innovation Fund

How to Apply:

• Open to Croydon Youth Consortium members only
• New project applications invited annually
• Contact Jessica (Fundraising Manager) at 07837 339113
• Projects should be innovative and transform lives of vulnerable young people in Croydon

Decision Timeline:

Not publicly specified; applicants should contact directly for current timelines

Croydon Youth Consortium Membership & Funding

How to Apply:

• Contact Rachel (Youth Strategy Manager) via the website
• Must be a voluntary or community sector organization working with young people in Croydon
• Consortium currently has 30 members

Decision Timeline:

Not publicly specified

Reapplication Policy

Information not publicly available. Organizations should contact the Trust directly.

Application Success Factors

For Boarding School Applications:

• Demonstrate urgent need: The Trust specifically supports children in “urgent need of assistance and care”
• Show home environment challenges: Evidence that the child cannot be adequately cared for at home
• Document family circumstances: Clear information about parental death or disablement, or other compelling circumstances
• Emphasize stability benefits: How boarding school placement will provide a stable and caring environment

For Youth Innovation Fund & Consortium Applications:

Key Success Factors:

• Innovation: Projects must demonstrate innovative approaches to supporting vulnerable young people
• Croydon focus: Must directly benefit vulnerable children and young people in Croydon
• Transformation: Should demonstrate potential to “transform lives” not just provide temporary support
• Early intervention: Aligns with the Trust's focus on targeted early-intervention support
• Consortium membership: For YIF, must be a Croydon Youth Consortium member

Examples of Funded Projects (Year 1 & 2):

• STEM programs (Her Hero)
• Boxing therapy combining physical activity with therapeutic support (Box Therapy)
• Youth violence prevention (BleedKits)
• Creative arts empowerment
• Martial arts mentoring (Grapple Warriors)
• Music and artist development (Respect the Game, Music Box)
• Refugee empowerment (Asylum To Autonomy)
• Mental health digital platforms
• Neurodivergent youth support (Odd Girl In)
• Disability employment initiatives (Entrepreneurial Adventures)
• Youth media production (ContentMENT)

Language and Terminology:

• Use terms like “vulnerable children,” “early intervention,” “transforming lives,” “raising aspirations”
• Focus on “practical, emotional and inspirational support”
• Emphasize building “resilience, skills, and self-belief”
• Reference specific Croydon context (36% of young people live in poverty, persistent absence, school exclusion risks)

Partnership Approach:

The Trust values collaboration, as evidenced by partnerships with:

• Croydon Voluntary Action
• Legacy Youth Zone
• Boarding Schools' Association
• Barbara Ward Children's Foundation
• Grassroots organizations and schools

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Two distinct funding streams: Understand whether you're applying for individual boarding school assistance or organizational funding through YIF/Consortium programs

1. Croydon-centric for organizational grants: Unless applying for individual boarding school placements, your organization must work with vulnerable young people in Croydon and ideally be part of the Croydon Youth Consortium

1. Innovation is essential: For YIF applications, demonstrate genuinely innovative approaches rather than standard service delivery

1. Early intervention focus: Projects should intervene early to prevent escalation of issues like school exclusion, exploitation, or social isolation

1. Direct contact is key: With limited public application guidelines, building a relationship through direct contact with Jessica (YIF) or Rachel (Consortium) is important

1. Long-term commitment: The Trust has been supporting vulnerable children for 180 years and draws on investment income, suggesting they value sustainable, long-term impact over short-term fixes

1. Evidence of need: Whether for individual children or organizational projects, clearly demonstrate urgent need and how the support will provide stability and transformation

References

• Reedham Children's Trust official website: www.reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 312433: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/312433
• Companies House, Company No. 00081410: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00081410
• Barbara Ward Children's Foundation: https://www.bwcf.org.uk/reedhamtrust
• Youth Innovation Fund Projects page: https://www.reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk/yif-projects
• Croydon Youth Consortium page: https://www.reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk/croydon-youth-consortium
• Our Team page: https://www.reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk/pages/category/our-team
• The History of Reedham page: https://www.reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk/the-history-of-reedham
• What We Do page: https://www.reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk/what-we-do
• The Patron's Lunch - Charities and Organisations: http://www.thepatronslunch.com/infocus_reedham