The Barry Amiel And Norman Melburn Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £224,720 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed at biannual trustee meetings (January & July)
• Grant Range: £500 - £15,750
• Geographic Focus: Primarily UK, occasional international exceptions

Contact Details

• Website: www.amielandmelburn.org.uk
• Email: contact@amielandmelburn.org.uk
• Phone: 7891405065
• Postal Address: PO Box 79650, London SE8 9BT
• Trust Coordinator: Fergal O'Dwyer

Overview

The Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust was established in 1980 by Norman Melburn, named in honour of his friend Barry Amiel, a lawyer and fellow Marxist. Following Melburn's death in 1991, the Trust commemorates both founders. The Trust's objectives are to advance public education, learning and knowledge in all aspects of the philosophy of Marxism, the history of socialism, and the working-class movement. With total expenditure of £224,720 in 2024 against income of £18,301, the Trust is actively distributing its endowment to support grassroots political education, research, publishing, archiving, cultural projects, and community organizing aligned with building non-exploitative and egalitarian societies. The Trust has recently introduced a strategic priority to ringfence 50% of funds for popular political education projects engaging non-academic, non-activist audiences, particularly those facing barriers to accessing education about socialism and working-class movements.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Regular Awards: £500 - £7,350 (considered at both January and July meetings; applications via online portal typically open in May and November)
• Major Funding Awards: £7,350 - £15,750 (considered once yearly at January meeting only; final decisions announced in April)
• Urgent Small Awards: Up to £500 (rolling basis; introduced May 2024 for unexpected urgent needs; limited to one application per year)

Priority Areas

The Trust funds political education projects that advance public education, learning and knowledge in Marxism, socialism, and the working-class movement. Funded project types include:

• Political education: Workshops, seminars, lectures, discussions, and training programmes for grassroots organizers and communities
• Research and publications: Written work, academic research with public engagement, translations, and publications
• Archiving and preservation: Maintenance of libraries, archive materials, and historical documentation
• Arts and culture: Theatre projects, documentaries, exhibitions, and cultural initiatives exploring working-class history
• Community organizing: Projects building solidarity, rank-and-file power, and collective action

Strategic priority (50% of funds ringfenced): Projects with strong focus on popular political education engaging non-academic and non-activist audiences, especially those reaching communities facing barriers to accessing education about Marxism, socialism, and social movements seeking egalitarian societies. The Trust welcomes work addressing class, racial equity, and climate solutions through this lens.

What They Don't Fund

• Core/organizational funding (project-based funding only)
• University or college course subsidies or operations
• Undergraduate or postgraduate student fees or maintenance
• Conference attendance transportation and related costs
• Campaigning activities (due to charitable status restrictions)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Chair: Rebecca Amiel
• Vice Chair: Alan Finlayson
• Treasurer: Emma Williams
• Trustees: Ilyas Nagdee, Donald Sassoon, Deborah Hermanns, Huda Elmi, Madeleine Davis, Jo Littler, Andrew Dolan, Daniel Chester, Dominic Curran

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Staff

• Trust Coordinator: Fergal O'Dwyer

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted via online upload form when the Trust is open for applications. The Trust typically opens for applications in May and November, with deadlines announced on their website and newsletter. Do not submit applications until a deadline is announced—the Trust explicitly requests applicants wait for announcements.

Deadlines for submission can be up to two months before trustee meetings. Applicants should sign up for the Trust's newsletter to receive announcements about upcoming application windows.

The application requires:

• Project description demonstrating alignment with Trust objectives
• Budget (detailed budgets encouraged but not essential)
• References from independent evaluators familiar with your work (not employees or close collaborators involved in the project)

For Urgent Small Awards, apply only when an unexpected need has arisen and think carefully before submitting.

Decision Timeline

Applications are considered at biannual trustee meetings in January and July. Regular awards (up to £7,350) are reviewed at both meetings. Major awards (over £7,350, up to £15,750) are only considered at the January meeting, with final decisions announced in April.

Applicants will typically be notified of the outcome after the next trustees meeting following their submission. The Trust does not specify exact notification timeframes beyond “after the next trustees meeting.”

Success Rates

The Trust does not publicly disclose success rates or the number of applications received versus awards made.

Reapplication Policy

Unlimited reapplications permitted. There is no limit on the number of times applicants can apply to the Trust, and unsuccessful applicants may reapply without any waiting period or restrictions.

No feedback provided. As a small Trust with limited resources, they cannot offer feedback on unsuccessful applications or comment on individual submissions.

Multiple applications per year allowed (except Urgent Small Awards, which are limited to one per year). However, applicants cannot receive both a major award and a regular award in the same year.

Previous award recipients may reapply, though recent success may influence trustee decisions.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priority

The Trust has designated 50% of funds for projects emphasizing popular political education and engagement with non-academic, non-activist audiences, particularly those reaching underserved UK communities facing barriers to learning about Marxism, socialism, and working-class movements. Projects demonstrating this focus are strategically prioritized.

Demonstrating Scope and Connection

The Trust's objectives encompass diverse intellectual and social movements seeking non-exploitative, egalitarian societies—including initiatives addressing class, racial equity, and climate solutions. Applicants need not address all areas but should clearly demonstrate how their work connects to these broader goals.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects (2025)

• Workers Observatory: Political education workshops empowering food delivery riders (£6,800)
• Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance: Multimedia reporting on undercover policing history (£15,248 major award)
• Landworkers Alliance: Political education for farmers and foresters on anti-far-right organizing (£15,230 major award)
• Leo Panitch Leadership Programme: Year-long socialist leadership training for 30 UK participants (£5,620)
• Middle Child Theatre: Working-class people reading and writing plays to build solidarity in Hull (£5,000)
• Mayday Rooms: Open-access peace movements archive with exhibitions (£3,500)
• Feminise Politics Now: Union-focused participatory research on building rank-and-file power (£5,000)

Application Quality Guidance

• Clarity over length: The Trust values clear, focused applications that respect word limits while addressing how your project aligns with Trust objectives
• Demonstrate other fundraising efforts: The Trust encourages applicants to seek other funding sources and asks that applicants disclose which other funders they have approached
• Independent references: References should be from independent evaluators who know your work—not employees or close collaborators involved in the project
• UK focus: The Trust primarily funds UK-based projects, though occasional exceptions exist for strongly aligned international work

What the Trust Values

Based on awarded projects, the Trust prioritizes:

• Grassroots community engagement and organizing
• Projects connecting theory (Marxism, socialism) to practical contemporary struggles
• Work building solidarity among marginalized or working-class communities
• Research and documentation preserving working-class history and social movement knowledge
• Popular education formats accessible to non-academic audiences
• Projects addressing intersectional issues (class, race, climate) through socialist frameworks

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Strategic alignment is critical: 50% of funds are ringfenced for popular political education reaching non-academic, non-activist audiences—align your project with this priority for stronger consideration
• Think beyond traditional Marxism: The Trust welcomes work on racial equity, climate solutions, and other social movements seeking egalitarian societies—demonstrate how your work connects to these broader goals
• Review funded projects: Study the Awards Archive on their website to understand the breadth of projects funded, from theatre to organizing to research
• Apply multiple times if needed: Unlimited reapplications are permitted with no waiting periods, though no feedback is provided on unsuccessful applications
• Time your application strategically: Major awards (£7,350-£15,750) are only considered at the January meeting; regular awards at both January and July meetings
• Demonstrate other fundraising efforts: The Trust asks applicants to disclose other funding sources approached, showing you're pursuing diverse funding streams
• Subscribe to their newsletter: Application windows are announced via newsletter and website—do not submit until a deadline is posted

References

• The Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust - Official Website -
• Apply for an Award - Application Information -
• The Funding Role of the Trust -
• Frequently Asked Questions -
• Our Trustees -
• Awards Archive -
• UK Charity Commission Register - Charity 281239 -
• Introducing Urgent Small Awards -