Robert And Felicity Waley-cohen Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £314,382 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: N/A (invitation/trustee discretion only)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Banbury, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, South Northamptonshire (primary); England and Wales (broader)
• Application Method: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Address: 27 South Terrace, London SW7 2TB

Email: jeg@Uptonviva.com

Phone: 020 7581 6710

Note: The trust has stated “there are unlikely to be resources available for new applicants in the near future.”

Overview

Established in 1976, the Robert and Felicity Waley-Cohen Charitable Trust is a private grant-making foundation with a deeply personal mission. The trust concentrates its resources on supporting young people with mental health challenges in the Banbury and Oxfordshire area, continuing support for Oxford Children's Hospital, and maintaining long-standing commitments to arts organizations. With annual expenditure of approximately £285,000-£314,000, the trust operates under the sole trusteeship of The Hon Mrs Felicity Ann Waley-Cohen OBE, who received her honor in 2021 for services to Children's Medicine. The family's philanthropic work is closely connected to the memory of Thomas Waley-Cohen, who died from bone cancer in 2004 at age 20, inspiring the family to raise over £1 million for Oxford Children's Hospital, which named Tom's Ward in his honor.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The trust focuses exclusively on:

• Youth Mental Health: Supporting young people with mental health challenges in Banbury, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and South Northamptonshire
• Children's Healthcare: Continuing support for Oxford Children's Hospital, particularly initiatives honoring Thomas Waley-Cohen's memory
• Arts Organizations: Maintaining support for arts organizations with which the trustees have established long-term relationships

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside their established geographic focus areas
• Projects unrelated to youth mental health, children's healthcare, or the arts
• New applicants (resources are committed to existing beneficiaries)

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Governance and Leadership

Sole Trustee: The Hon Mrs Felicity Ann Waley-Cohen OBE

Mrs. Waley-Cohen received an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours List 2021 for services to Children's Medicine. She has been recognized for her significant contributions to healthcare provision for children in the Banbury, Oxfordshire area.

The trust's charitable purposes are defined broadly as: “To such charitable foundations and for such charitable purposes as the trustees shall from time to time in their absolute discretion determine.”

Note: The trust operates with a single trustee and has no conflicts of interest policy documented publicly. Some governance concerns have been noted regarding late annual return filings.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process.

The trust explicitly states: “There are unlikely to be resources available for new applicants in the near future.”

Grant-making decisions are made at the sole discretion of the trustee, The Hon Mrs Felicity Ann Waley-Cohen OBE. The trust focuses its resources on:

1. Established relationships with organizations the trustees have supported for many years
2. Organizations working with young people facing mental health challenges in specific geographic areas (Banbury, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, South Northamptonshire)
3. Oxford Children's Hospital
4. Select arts organizations with long-standing connections to the trust

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made through trustee discretion to pre-selected beneficiaries rather than through an application and review process.

Application Success Factors

Given that this trust does not accept applications from new organizations, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have historically received support share these characteristics:

• Geographic Alignment: Organizations operating in Banbury, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, or South Northamptonshire
• Mission Focus: Work addressing youth mental health challenges or children's healthcare needs
• Long-term Relationships: The trust maintains commitments to organizations it has supported over many years
• Connection to Family Values: The trust's priorities reflect the Waley-Cohen family's personal experiences, particularly regarding children's healthcare and the memory of Thomas Waley-Cohen

Organizations working in youth mental health in the Banbury area that have established track records may be considered if resources become available, though the trust has indicated this is unlikely in the near future.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: This trust does not accept unsolicited applications and has explicitly stated resources are unlikely to be available for new applicants
• Highly Focused Giving: Concentrates on youth mental health in specific geographic areas (Banbury, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, South Northamptonshire)
• Personal Connection: Funding priorities reflect the family's experiences, particularly support for Oxford Children's Hospital in memory of Thomas Waley-Cohen
• Long-term Commitments: The trust maintains ongoing support for arts organizations and charities with which it has established relationships
• Small Operation: With a single trustee and annual giving of approximately £300,000, this is a boutique trust with limited capacity
• Consider Alternative Funders: Organizations seeking support for youth mental health in Oxfordshire/Warwickshire should explore other funders, as this trust is not currently expanding its beneficiary base
• Family Legacy: Understanding the Waley-Cohen family's philanthropic history and connection to children's healthcare may provide context, though opportunities for new partnerships remain unlikely

References

• UK Charity Commission Register: Robert and Felicity Waley-Cohen Charitable Trust, Charity Number 272126. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=272126&subid=0
• Giving is Great - Charity Factsheet for Charity 272126. Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=272126
• The London Gazette: “Felicity WALEY-COHEN, Order of the British Empire.” New Year Honours List 2021. Available at: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3703348
• The Oxford Magazine: “Oxfordshire people in New Year Honours List 2021.” Available at: https://theoxfordmagazine.com/the-oxfordshire-people-recognised-in-the-new-year-honours-list-2021/
• Place2Be: “A magical evening of ice skating raises over £300,000 in memory of Thomas Waley-Cohen,” December 2023. Available at: https://www.place2be.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/2023/december/a-magical-evening-of-ice-skating-raises-over-300-000-in-memory-of-thomas-waley-cohen/
• Oxford Hospitals Charity: “A magical evening of ice skating in memory of Thomas Waley-Cohen.” Available at: https://www.hospitalcharity.co.uk/news/a-magical-evening-of-ice-skating-in-memory-of-thomas-waley-cohen
• Oxfordshire Community & Voluntary Action: “Trusts with an Interest in Oxfordshire.” Available at: https://ocva.org.uk/trusts-with-an-interest-in-oxfordshire/