Richmond National Schools Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £250,549 (2024/25)
• Annual Expenditure: £243,550 (2024/25)
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (south of the river)
• Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address:

c/o Smyth Barkham LLP

1 Mitre Court Buildings

Temple

London EC4Y 7BS

Phone: 020 8876 8095

Website: None

Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Richmond National Schools Trust (founded as a registered charity in 2010) exists to support Church of England education in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, specifically south of the River Thames. With an annual income of approximately £250,000, the trust operates as a grant-making charity that provides financial support to organizations working with children and young people in the area.

The trust appears to have been established from historical endowments associated with Victorian-era National Schools—Church of England schools founded by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education in the 19th century. Today, the trust functions primarily to support voluntary aided Church of England schools with capital funding needs, particularly the 10% contribution that voluntary aided schools must provide for building improvements and maintenance projects (the government covers the remaining 90%).

The trust is administered through Smyth Barkham LLP, a specialist private client and charity law firm based in London's Temple area. The trust has maintained consistent financial reporting and operates with six volunteer trustees who receive no remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates through trustee-discretionary grant-making with no public application process. Grants are made to organizations (not individuals) working in:

• Education and training for children and young people
• Church of England schools in Richmond upon Thames (south of the river)

Based on the trust's expenditure (£243,550 in 2024/25) and purpose, grants likely support:

• Capital contributions for voluntary aided school building projects
• Educational equipment and facilities
• School improvement projects aligned with Church of England educational values

Priority Areas

• Church of England voluntary aided schools requiring capital funding support
• Organizations supporting education in Richmond upon Thames (south of river)
• Children and young people's educational development

Geographic Restriction

The trust operates exclusively in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, specifically south of the River Thames. This geographic area includes Church of England schools such as:

• Christ's Church of England Comprehensive Secondary School (Richmond)
• Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School (Richmond)
• The King's Church of England Primary School (Kew)

What They Don't Fund

• Schools outside Richmond upon Thames
• Schools north of the River Thames within Richmond Borough
• Non-Church of England institutions
• Individual student grants or bursaries
• Revenue/operational costs (focus is on capital projects)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by six volunteer trustees:

1. Esther Margaret Mirrielees - Chair
2. Ruth Alicia Martin - Trustee (appointed March 2025, also serves as trustee of Richmond Church Charity Estates)
3. Dr. Lesley Carol Jerwood - Trustee (appointed November 2017)
4. Sandra Mary Routledge - Trustee (appointed November 2013)
5. James Edward Chilcott - Trustee
6. Patricia Stacey Henchie - Trustee

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, demonstrating a fully volunteer-led governance structure.

Administration

The trust's registered address is care of Smyth Barkham LLP, a London-based law firm specializing in private client work, tax planning, and charity administration. This suggests professional legal oversight of the trust's operations and grant-making activities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Richmond National Schools Trust operates on a trustee-discretionary basis, meaning grants are awarded through the trustees' own identification of need rather than through open applications.

Grants are made directly to organizations (primarily Church of England schools) within the trust's geographic remit. Given the trust's specific focus on voluntary aided Church of England schools in Richmond upon Thames south of the river, funding decisions appear to be made through:

• Direct relationships with schools in the catchment area
• Coordination with the Diocese of Southwark's education team
• Trustee knowledge of capital needs within local Church of England schools
• Responses to specific requests from eligible schools

Getting on Their Radar

While there is no public application process, Church of England schools and education organizations in Richmond upon Thames (south of the river) may be able to establish relationships with the trust through:

• Diocese of Southwark connections: The trust operates within the Diocese of Southwark's territory. School leaders and governors can work with the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education, which supports Church of England schools and may facilitate connections with relevant funding sources.

• Voluntary aided school networks: Since the trust appears focused on supporting the 10% capital contribution required by voluntary aided schools, head teachers and governors of VA schools may make contact regarding specific capital projects.

• Contact via registered address: Organizations can write to the trust at the registered address (c/o Smyth Barkham LLP) to introduce their organization and explain how they align with the trust's purposes.

Decision Timeline

No public information is available about decision timelines. As a discretionary trust making grants to a small number of known beneficiary organizations, decisions are likely made on an as-needed basis throughout the year rather than to fixed deadlines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust operates without a public application process, the following factors appear relevant for organizations that may come to the trust's attention:

Alignment with Trust Purpose:

• Being a Church of England voluntary aided school in Richmond upon Thames (south of the river)
• Having a clear capital project need that aligns with the trust's purpose
• Operating within the Diocese of Southwark's educational framework

Project Types Most Likely Supported:

Based on the trust's purpose and the structure of voluntary aided school funding, likely projects include:

• Providing the 10% match funding for capital improvements to school buildings
• School refurbishment and modernization projects
• Equipment and facilities that enhance Church of England education
• Building maintenance beyond routine repairs

Relationship Factors:

• Connection to the Diocese of Southwark and its education board
• Established track record as a Church of England school
• Strong governance and financial management
• Clear demonstration of need and alignment with Church of England educational values

Geographic Requirement:

Organizations must operate in Richmond upon Thames, specifically south of the River Thames. This is a strict eligibility criterion.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No open applications: This trust does not accept unsolicited applications. It makes grants through trustee discretion to known organizations within its remit.

• Highly specific geographic focus: Only organizations operating in Richmond upon Thames south of the River Thames are eligible—this is an absolute requirement.

• Church of England connection essential: The trust's purpose is explicitly to support Church of England education, making this alignment non-negotiable.

• Capital funding focus: The trust appears structured to support capital projects rather than operational costs, particularly the 10% contribution required by voluntary aided schools.

• Diocese relationship valuable: Connection to the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education may facilitate awareness of the trust and its purposes.

• Professional administration: The trust is administered through a specialist law firm, suggesting formal processes and professional governance despite the lack of public applications.

• Small pool of beneficiaries: With annual expenditure of approximately £243,000 and a very specific geographic and denominational focus, the trust likely supports a small number of organizations on an ongoing basis.

References

• UK Charity Commission Register: Richmond National Schools Trust, Charity No. 1134701.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3962872

• UK Charity Commission: Trustee information for Richmond National Schools Trust..

• Diocese of Southwark: Richmond & Barnes Deanery. https://southwark.anglican.org/deanery/richmond-barnes-deanery/

• GOV.UK Get Information About Schools: Information on voluntary aided Church of England schools in Richmond upon Thames including Christ's Church of England Comprehensive Secondary School, Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, and The King's Church of England Primary School.

• Diocese of St Albans: “Capital Funding for Voluntary Aided (VA) Schools in England” - Blue Book guidance on VA school capital funding requirements and the 10% contribution requirement.

• Smyth Barkham LLP website: Firm specializing in charity administration and trust work. https://smythbarkham.co.uk/

• Church of England: “Church schools and academies” - Information on the history of National Schools and Church of England education. https://www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools/church-schools-and-academies