Sir Walter St. John's Educational Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £341,490
• Success Rate: Not published
• Decision Time: Quarterly review (4 deadlines per year)
• Grant Range: £1,500 - £10,000 (small grants); Strategic grants currently unavailable
• Geographic Focus: London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Lambeth (preference for Battersea)

Contact Details

• Website: www.swsjcharity.org.uk
• Email: manager@swsjcharity.org.uk
• Phone: 020 7498 8878
• Address: 7 St Joseph's Street, London, SW8 4EN

Overview

Sir Walter St. John's Educational Charity was founded in 1700 by Sir Walter St. John, Lord of the Manor of Battersea, to educate poor boys from the parish. Over 300 years later, the charity continues its educational mission, now supporting children and young people under 25 who are in financial need across Wandsworth and Lambeth. With assets derived from the £1.8 million sale of former school buildings in 1990, managed by Cazenove Capital Management, the charity distributed £341,490 in the most recent financial year. The charity maintains a close connection to its origins through Trinity Fields, the former school playing field on Trinity Road. Governed by 15 trustees including representatives from Wandsworth Council, Lambeth Council, and the Sinjuns Association, the charity focuses on supporting disadvantaged groups including refugees, young carers, disabled children, and care leavers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Education Grants: £1,500

• For local community and voluntary organizations
• Supports educational activities and projects for priority groups
• Applications accepted quarterly via downloadable application form

£5k Grants: £5,000 (occasionally up to £10,000 by invitation)

• For voluntary/community organizations or charities usually with funds under £150,000
• Supports start-up running costs, educational project equipment, organizational growth/development, and time-limited projects
• Applications accepted quarterly via downloadable application form

Strategic Grants: Currently Fully Allocated

• Previously offered up to £30,000 per year for up to three years
• Supported long-term educational projects for priority groups
• Not currently accepting applications

Individual Student Grants

• One-off grants for students aged under 25
• Covers registration fees, travel, books, and equipment
• Applicants must demonstrate financial need and good prospects of course completion

Priority Areas

The charity prioritizes support for:

• Children from socially disadvantaged areas
• Refugee and asylum-seeking children
• Disabled children
• Young carers
• Looked after children and care leavers
• Early years interventions
• Climate change education projects (when special funding rounds are available)

What They Don't Fund

• Pupils at independent schools
• Postgraduate courses
• General living expenses
• Study or travel abroad
• Student exchanges
• Projects outside Wandsworth and Lambeth boroughs

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by 15 trustees representing diverse community interests:

Leadership Team:

• Wendy Speck: Chair (Co-opted)
• Barry Fairbank: Vice-Chair, Chair of Finance & Investment Committee (Sinjuns Association nominee)
• Michael Bates: Chair of Grants Committee (Co-opted)

Trustee Composition:

• 5 trustees nominated by Wandsworth Borough Council
• 2 trustees nominated by Lambeth Council
• 1 trustee nominated by the Sinjuns Association
• 6 co-opted trustees
• 1 ex-officio member (Vicar of St Mary's Battersea)

No trustees receive remuneration, and the charity operates with part-time staffing under the management of Susan Perry.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organizations:

1. Download and review the specific criteria for your chosen grant type from www.swsjcharity.org.uk/how-to-apply/
2. Complete the relevant application form (available in Microsoft Word format)
3. Email completed application with all supporting information to manager@swsjcharity.org.uk
4. Contact the Manager with any queries (email preferred as office is part-time)

For Individual Students:

• Download criteria and application form from website
• Provide evidence of financial need (receipt of benefits or very low income)
• Demonstrate good prospects of successfully completing the course
• Students at South Thames College should apply via College's Student Services

Decision Timeline

2026 Grant Deadlines:

• Tuesday, 10th March 2026
• Tuesday, 2nd June 2026
• Tuesday, 8th September 2026
• Tuesday, 1st December 2026

The charity reviews applications quarterly at trustee meetings following these deadlines. Specific decision timelines are not published, but applicants should expect several weeks for review and notification.

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, the charity's annual expenditure of £341,490 demonstrates significant grant-making activity across both organizational and individual grants.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not published on the website. Applicants should contact the Manager directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Local Impact in Priority Areas

The charity has a proven track record of supporting organizations working with their priority groups. Katherine Low Settlement received initial seed funding 17 years ago for their Love to Learn programme supporting refugee young people, which has since helped “thousands of refugee young people get ahead in their education.”

Show Evidence of Educational Outcomes

Successful applicants provide clear evidence of how their work will support educational advancement. St. Michael's Fellowship reported that “a grant means young Lambeth parents now know there are free museums, galleries and places in London that welcome them,” demonstrating expanded educational opportunities.

Align with Financial Need Criteria

The charity consistently prioritizes organizations serving young people in financial need. Carers' Hub Lambeth's successful application for a homework club provided “tailored educational support to our young carers aged 11-16 years old,” with one young carer reporting it “gave me more of a routine.”

Build Long-Term Relationships

FAST London noted that “SWSJ have been a treasured partner for FAST for over 3 years,” suggesting the charity values ongoing partnerships with organizations delivering consistent educational support.

Complete the Application Thoroughly

For individual student grants, applicants must “provide evidence that they have a good prospect of successfully completing the course” and demonstrate financial need through benefit receipts or income documentation.

Connect to Battersea Heritage Where Possible

While covering Wandsworth and Lambeth boroughs, the charity retains preference for the Battersea area, reflecting its 300-year history in the community.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic specificity is essential: Applications must demonstrate clear benefit to young people under 25 in Wandsworth or Lambeth, with Battersea area receiving preference
• Priority group alignment increases success: Focus on refugees, young carers, disabled children, care leavers, or children from disadvantaged areas
• Strategic grants are currently unavailable: Organizations should focus on Small Education Grants (£1,500) or £5k grants; larger multi-year funding is fully allocated
• Quarterly deadlines allow planning: Four annual deadlines provide multiple opportunities to apply throughout the year
• Evidence of financial need is mandatory: Both organizational and individual applicants must demonstrate that beneficiaries face financial barriers to education
• Long-term partnerships are valued: The charity has supported some organizations for multiple years, suggesting relationship building can lead to sustained support
• Educational focus must be clear: All projects must have explicit educational outcomes, not just general youth work or social support

References

• Sir Walter St. John's Educational Charity official website: https://swsjcharity.org.uk/
• Grants to organisations page: https://swsjcharity.org.uk/grants-orgs/
• How to Apply page: https://swsjcharity.org.uk/how-to-apply/
• Project Feedback page: https://swsjcharity.org.uk/about-us/project-feedback/
• Trustees page: https://swsjcharity.org.uk/about-us/trustees/
• History page: https://swsjcharity.org.uk/about-us/history/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=312690&subId=0