The Alexander Duckham Memorial Schools Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £150,000-£191,000
• Total Income (2024): £233,554
• Grant Range: Up to £4,000 per annum (university funding)
• Geographic Focus: UK (RAF-connected families)
• Age Limit: Under 21 years old
• Application Method: Rolling basis via RAF Benevolent Fund

Contact Details

• Email: admin@admst.org.uk
• Phone: 020 3951 9972
• Helpline: 0300 102 1919 (RAF Benevolent Fund)
• Address: 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX
• Website: https://www.rafbf.org/the-alexander-duckham-memorial-schools-trust
• Application Portal: Through RAF Benevolent Fund request for help form

Overview

The Alexander Duckham Memorial Schools Trust was formally established by Charity Commission Scheme on 1 September 1997, though its roots trace back to 1920 when industrialist and aviation pioneer Alexander Duckham donated Vanbrugh Castle to the RAF Benevolent Fund. The trust promotes the education and welfare of children of RAF members and former members who are in need of financial assistance.

With annual expenditure of approximately £191,000 (2024) and an annual grants budget of around £150,000, the trust operates as a specialist educational grant-maker for the RAF community. Since September 2024, the RAF Benevolent Fund has administered the trust's grant-making program following an extensive 2023 review that determined beneficiaries would benefit from specialized case management services. The trust operates with 6 trustees who receive no remuneration, meeting three times annually in London.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

All grants are means-tested and limited to educational support for children under 21 years old who have a child-parent relationship (biological, adoptive, or de facto) with RAF members or former members.

• University Funding: Up to £4,000 per annum for tertiary education
• School Fees: When state system cannot meet needs due to physical/mental health conditions or particular sporting/artistic talents
• Special Educational Needs: Lessons and assessment costs for children with physical or learning disabilities
• Educational Essentials: School uniform, books, laptops, school trips, musical instruments, sports equipment
• Specialized Lessons: For children with particular sporting or artistic talents

Applications are processed on a rolling basis through the RAF Benevolent Fund's request for help form.

Priority Areas

• Educational support for children with special educational needs or disabilities
• School fees where state provision is inadequate for the child's needs
• Support for children with exceptional sporting or artistic talents
• Basic educational necessities (uniform, equipment, books)
• Tertiary education costs (including university)
• Educational opportunities that would otherwise be financially inaccessible

What They Don't Fund

• Beneficiaries who are not connected to RAF service members
• Children over 21 years of age
• Non-educational support (though some historical references suggest limited welfare support for essentials like food, clothing, and furniture may be considered)
• Requests not demonstrating financial need

Ready to write a winning application for The Alexander Duckham Memorial Schools Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by 6 trustees who serve four-year terms and meet three times per year, usually in Marylebone, London. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

In September 2023, trustees sought to recruit new board members with expertise in welfare services, grant-making, accountancy, commercial land and property, or investment management. Following an "extensive review in 2023 of The Alexander Duckham Memorial School's Trust's current ability to best serve the needs of its beneficiaries in an ever more complex environment," trustees made the strategic decision to partner with the RAF Benevolent Fund for specialized case management services.

The trust is governed by the Charity Commission Scheme sealed on 1 September 1997, as amended by Charity Commission on 17 February 2010.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are processed through the RAF Benevolent Fund following the September 2024 administrative transfer. The process is:

1. Complete Request for Help Form: Available at https://www.rafbf.org via the RAF Benevolent Fund website
2. Clearly Specify ADMST Grant: In the additional information section, applicants must explicitly state they are seeking an Alexander Duckham Memorial Schools Trust grant
3. Initial Assessment: A member of the RAF Benevolent Fund team will contact the applicant to discuss available support
4. Alternative Contact: Applicants can call the helpline at 0300 102 1919

The application process operates on a rolling basis rather than fixed deadlines.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. Applicants are contacted by RAF Benevolent Fund staff following form submission to discuss eligibility and support options, but no standard processing time is advertised.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented in publicly available sources.

Application Success Factors

Since the trust now operates through the RAF Benevolent Fund's case management system, the application experience focuses on demonstrating:

1. Clear RAF Connection: Establish the child-parent relationship with a current or former RAF member (biological, adoptive, or de facto parental responsibility)

1. Financial Need: All grants are means-tested, so comprehensive documentation of financial circumstances is essential

1. Educational Justification: Particularly for school fees or specialized support, applicants should clearly demonstrate why state provision is inadequate for the child's specific needs (physical/mental health conditions, learning disabilities, exceptional talents)

1. Age Eligibility: Ensure the child is under 21 years old at the time of application

1. Specific Educational Purpose: Clearly articulate how the funding will be used for educational purposes (equipment, fees, specialized lessons, etc.)

1. Explicit ADMST Application: When completing the RAF Benevolent Fund request form, explicitly state in the additional information section that you are seeking an ADMST grant to ensure proper routing

The trust's partnership with RAF Benevolent Fund means applicants benefit from holistic case management rather than a transactional grant application process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Explicitly State ADMST: When using the RAF Benevolent Fund application portal, clearly specify you're seeking an Alexander Duckham Memorial Schools Trust grant in the additional information section
• Means-Testing is Universal: All grants require demonstration of financial need regardless of the specific educational purpose
• Age Limit is Firm: Beneficiaries must be under 21 years old
• Educational Focus Only: Grants are limited to educational support, not general welfare needs
• University Cap Exists: Maximum £4,000 per annum for tertiary education applicants
• State System Inadequacy: For school fees, demonstrate why state provision cannot meet the child's needs
• Rolling Applications: No fixed deadlines - applications accepted year-round
• Case Management Approach: Since September 2024, benefit from RAF Benevolent Fund's specialist case management team rather than standalone grant assessment

References

• The Alexander Duckham Memorial Schools Trust - Charity Commission
• The Alexander Duckham Memorial Schools Trust Official Website
• How to Apply for a Grant - ADMST
• Ways We Help - ADMST
• History - ADMST
• RAF Benevolent Fund to Administer ADMST Grants Programme
• Educational Grants Directory - Alexander Duckham Memorial Schools Trust
• RAF Families Federation - ADMST Grants Information
• COBSEO - ADMST Trustees Information

Accessed: December 2025