The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1071390

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £100,000-£115,000 (biannually: £50,000-£55,000 per meeting)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed biannually (July and December)
  • Geographic Focus: UK and overseas
  • Charity Number: 1071390

Contact Details

Address: Broadfield, One Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7BL

Phone: 0207833685

Application Address: The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust, BDB Pitmans LLP, 50 Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H 0BL

Note: The Trust does not maintain a website

Overview

The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust was established in 1998 through a will proved in the High Court of Justice on 31st October 1997. The Trust is a grant-making charity focused on supporting humanitarian causes through small to medium grants. With annual expenditure of approximately £143,000-£174,000 in recent years (2022-2024), the Trust demonstrates a consistent commitment to supporting registered charities working to improve the lives of people who are impoverished, disadvantaged, or in danger of harm or death. The Trust has a clear preference for supporting smaller, more local groups rather than large national charities, reflecting a strategic approach to ensuring grants make meaningful impact at the grassroots level.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: £1,000 - £5,000 (one-off grants)

  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
  • Grants awarded at biannual trustee meetings in July and December
  • The Trust typically awards £50,000-£55,000 at each meeting
  • Applications should be submitted in writing to the application address

Individual Support Programme: Up to £7,000 total budget

  • A small budget set aside for applications from individuals
  • Separate from the main charity grant programme

Priority Areas

The Trust's main focus is supporting humanitarian causes, particularly:

  • Relief of Suffering: Projects addressing the immediate and long-term welfare of people facing hardship
  • Support for People at Risk: Initiatives protecting or assisting people in danger of harm or death
  • Improving Living Conditions: Work aimed at people who are impoverished or disadvantaged
  • UK and International Work: Both domestic and overseas humanitarian projects are eligible
  • Preference for Smaller Organizations: The Trust actively favors smaller, local groups over large national charities

What They Don't Fund

  • Charities supporting animals or animal welfare (explicitly excluded)
  • Large national charities (preference is for smaller, local organizations)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Elizabeth Ann Neale (Appointed: 23 March 2021)

  • Partner at Broadfield UK, London
  • Specialist in tax, probate, trusts, and will and estate planning
  • Expertise in complex probates with an international element
  • Member of the Law Society's Private Client Section and Professional Advisors to the International Art Market

Alastair Collett LLB (Appointed: 15 December 2016)

  • Consultant at Broadfield UK
  • Specialist in complex issues of trust and charity law
  • Member of the Law Society and the Charity Law Association
  • Former Master of the City of London Solicitors Company (2004/5)
  • Also serves as trustee for multiple other charitable trusts including The Truro Fund, The Sheriffs' and Recorders' Fund, and The Pearson-Young Memorial Trust

Governance Policies

The Trust maintains formal policies for:

  • Conflict of interest management
  • Financial reserves
  • Risk management

Trustees do not receive remuneration for their services, and the Trust has no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted in writing to:

The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust

BDB Pitmans LLP

50 Broadway

Westminster

London SW1H 0BL

Key Application Details:

  • No specific application form or online portal
  • No fixed application deadlines - applications accepted at any time throughout the year
  • Applications must be from UK registered charities
  • Letters should clearly outline the humanitarian cause and how the grant would be used

Decision Timeline

  • Review Meetings: Applications are considered twice annually at trustee meetings in July and December
  • Timing Consideration: Applications submitted earlier in the year will be reviewed at the July meeting; those submitted later will wait until December
  • Decision Timeframe: Depending on submission timing, applicants should expect to wait up to 6 months for a decision
  • Notification: Specific notification methods are not publicly documented

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available for The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly documented. Applicants may wish to contact the Trust directly for guidance on this matter.

Application Success Factors

Given the Trust's clear focus and preferences, the following factors are likely to strengthen applications:

Organizational Profile:

  • Being a smaller, local charity rather than a large national organization significantly improves alignment with the Trust's stated preferences
  • UK registered charity status is essential

Humanitarian Focus:

  • Projects directly addressing the relief of suffering, particularly for people who are impoverished or disadvantaged
  • Work supporting people at risk of harm or death
  • Clear demonstration of how the project improves living conditions

Grant Request:

  • Requests within the £1,000-£5,000 range
  • One-off project costs rather than ongoing operational funding
  • Clear, specific budget showing how grant funds will be used

Application Quality:

  • Written applications should be clear and concise
  • Direct connection to humanitarian outcomes
  • Avoid any connection to animal welfare causes (explicitly excluded)

Timing:

  • Consider submitting applications well in advance of the July or December meetings
  • Be prepared for the biannual decision cycle

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Small is Beautiful: This Trust explicitly prefers smaller, local groups over large national charities - if your organization fits this profile, emphasize it
  • Humanitarian Focus Required: Applications must clearly demonstrate humanitarian benefit, particularly relief of suffering or support for people at risk
  • No Animal Welfare: The Trust explicitly excludes animal welfare charities from funding consideration
  • Plan for Timing: With only two decision points per year (July and December), factor in potential wait times of up to 6 months
  • Written Applications Only: There is no online portal or application form - prepare a well-crafted written letter
  • One-Off Grants: The Trust provides one-off grants of £1,000-£5,000, so frame requests accordingly rather than seeking ongoing support
  • No Website: Without a website presence, all communication must be via post or phone - ensure your written application is comprehensive and clear

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