The Catherine Wines Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £89,303 (FY ending April 2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Throughout England

Contact Details

Registered Address:

Sinclair Gibson LLP

3 Lincoln's Inn Fields

London WC2A 3AA

Email: lucy.gibson@sinclairgibson.com

Phone: 020 7242 9700

Note: The trust is managed by Sinclair Gibson LLP, a leading independent private client law firm specializing in trusts, probate, and succession matters.

Overview

The Catherine Wines Charitable Trust was established as a memorial to Catherine Wines (1970-2020), co-founder and former Executive Director of WorldRemit, the pioneering digital money transfer service. Registered with the UK Charity Commission in 2019 (Number: 1183146), the trust honors Catherine's legacy of financial inclusion, supporting migrants, and mentoring young people. With an annual income of over £205,000 and expenditure of approximately £89,000 (FY 2024), the trust makes grants to organizations aligned with its general charitable purposes throughout England. The trust is managed by three trustees through Sinclair Gibson LLP and operates without a public application process, making grant decisions through trustee discretion.

Catherine was a qualified accountant, fintech pioneer, and passionate advocate for financial inclusion who co-founded WorldRemit in 2010. Diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer in 2018, she continued working, mentoring, and advocating for charitable causes until her death in November 2020. Her dedication to supporting young people, creating opportunities for migrants, and “doing the right thing for customers” continues through this charitable trust.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs with specified amounts. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on alignment with the trust's general charitable purposes.

Priority Areas

While the trust's official purposes are listed as “General Charitable Purposes,” Catherine Wines' legacy suggests likely areas of interest include:

• Financial inclusion initiatives - Supporting access to financial services for underserved communities
• Support for migrants and refugees - Aligned with Catherine's work at WorldRemit enabling affordable money transfers
• Youth development and mentoring - Catherine dedicated significant time to mentoring young entrepreneurs and supporting young people
• Women's empowerment - Catherine was recognized as a champion of women in business and fintech
• Cancer research and support - Catherine supported Pancreatic Cancer UK and spoke publicly about her treatment
• Fintech entrepreneurship - Catherine contributed to Cambridge Judge Business School as a pathway leader for Fintech Entrepreneurship

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented. As the trust operates throughout England, projects outside England are unlikely to be considered.

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by three trustees, none of whom receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The specific names of trustees are not publicly disclosed on the Charity Commission register. The trust is managed through Sinclair Gibson LLP, a highly regarded independent private client law firm with 19 solicitors specializing in trusts, probate, succession matters, and charitable trustee services. Contact person Lucy Gibson serves as the trust's administrative contact.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Catherine Wines Charitable Trust operates as a private charitable trust where grants are awarded through trustee discretion. There is no application portal, published guidelines, or open call for applications. Grants appear to be awarded proactively by the trustees to organizations they identify as aligned with the trust's charitable purposes and Catherine Wines' legacy.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the private nature of this trust and its connection to Catherine Wines' professional network, organizations operating in the following spaces may naturally come to the trustees' attention:

• WorldRemit and the broader fintech ecosystem - Catherine co-founded WorldRemit and was deeply embedded in the fintech community
• Financial inclusion organizations - Particularly those serving migrant communities or enabling affordable financial services
• Youth mentoring and entrepreneurship programs - Catherine “dedicated her time to working with charities and other organisations to support and mentor young people” (WorldRemit)
• Women in business networks - Catherine was recognized as “A Champion of Women” and was active in supporting women in fintech

The trust is managed by Sinclair Gibson LLP at 3 Lincoln's Inn Fields. Organizations working with this law firm or within their charitable client network may have indirect awareness of the trust's activities.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the trust does not operate on published grant cycles or decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. As the trust operates without public applications, success rate data is not relevant.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

While there is no public application process, understanding what the trust values based on Catherine Wines' legacy provides insight into organizations that might align with their mission:

Alignment with Catherine's documented values:

• Organizations enabling financial inclusion for underserved communities, particularly migrants sending money home
• Youth-focused charities involving mentoring or entrepreneurship education
• Women's empowerment initiatives, particularly in business and technology sectors
• Organizations with “a relentless focus on doing the right thing for customers” (Breon Corcoran, WorldRemit CEO)
• Cancer support organizations, particularly those focused on pancreatic cancer

Evidence of Impact: Catherine was results-oriented and business-minded. Organizations that can demonstrate measurable impact and effective use of resources would likely appeal to the trustees.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship: As a fintech pioneer who helped revolutionize the money transfer industry, Catherine valued innovation. Organizations with entrepreneurial approaches to social challenges may resonate with the trust's mission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This trust awards grants proactively through trustee discretion. Do not submit unsolicited applications.
• Memorial trust with specific legacy: Honors Catherine Wines' work in financial inclusion, migrant support, youth mentoring, and women's empowerment
• Modest but selective funding: With £89,000 in annual expenditure, the trust makes targeted grants rather than operating as a major funder
• Professional management: Involvement of Sinclair Gibson LLP ensures professional grant-making practices
• Network-driven identification: Organizations within Catherine's professional networks (fintech, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship) may be more likely to come to trustees' attention
• England-focused: The trust operates throughout England; projects must be based in or serve communities in England
• Values-based giving: The trust preserves Catherine's legacy of “doing the right thing” and supporting underserved communities

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE CATHERINE COOKSON CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Thales Charitable Trust
• The Purslow Trust
• MJB Charitable Trust
• The Wyfold Charitable Trust
• John James Underdown Charitable Trust
• D C R Allen Charitable Trust
• THE NANCY KENYON CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Mary Kinross Charitable Trust
• E B M Charitable Trust

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - The Catherine Wines Charitable Trust (Charity No. 1183146)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1183146&subid=0

Accessed: February 3, 2026

1. UK Charity Commission - What, Who, How, Where Details

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5137798/what-who-how-where

Accessed: February 3, 2026

1. WorldRemit - Catherine Wines Biography

https://www.worldremit.com/en-us/catherine-wines

Accessed: February 3, 2026

1. Pancreatic Cancer UK - Catherine Wines Memorial

https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/news-and-blogs/catherine-wines/

Accessed: February 3, 2026

1. Divas of Colour Forum - “Remembering Catherine Wines: A Champion of Women”

https://divasofcolour.com/remembering-catherine-wines-a-champion-of-women/

Accessed: February 3, 2026

1. Sinclair Gibson LLP - Law Society Register

https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/office/622731/sinclair-gibson-llp

Accessed: February 3, 2026

1. Innovate Finance - Catherine Wines Profile

https://www.innovatefinance.com/profiles/catherine-wines-3/

Accessed: February 3, 2026