The Elliott Simmons Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1038541
• Annual Giving: £339,303 (2024)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: UK and overseas
• Application Method: No public application process
• Founded: 1994

Contact Details

Address: Devonshire House, 1 Devonshire Street, London W1W 5DR

Email: Not publicly available

Website: No dedicated website

Overview

The Elliott Simmons Charitable Trust was established in 1994. During his lifetime, Elliott Simmons experienced mental health difficulties and expressed his desire to contribute to charities supporting people impacted by mental illness. He requested that upon his death a trust be set up to ensure that those in need of mental health care would have the support they needed, and to support music-related charitable causes. A private charitable trust was established in his name to ensure his wishes were complied with. The trust makes grants to registered charitable organisations and to organisations with charitable objects which are exempt from the requirement for charitable registration, operating both in the UK and overseas. In the year ending April 2024, the trust distributed £339,303 in grants, significantly exceeding its income of £49,605, indicating the trust is drawing on its capital to fulfil its charitable mission.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The trust focuses on two main areas reflecting Elliott Simmons' personal wishes:

Mental Health: The trust prioritises mental health charities. This reflects Elliott Simmons' own experience with mental health challenges and his desire to support others facing similar issues.

Music: Supporting music-related charitable causes was identified as one of Elliott Simmons' key interests.

Jewish Community Organisations: The trust has demonstrated strong support for organisations serving the Jewish community, particularly those addressing mental health needs and supporting individuals with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Israel-Connected Programmes: The trust supports programmes connecting young people to Israel.

Known Beneficiaries

The trust has supported several organisations including:

• Jami (Jewish mental health charity): The trust funded Jami's Hub in Finchley, now known as the Elliott Simmons Centre for Wellbeing, and provided a substantial grant to refurbish Head Room café in Golders Green, a social enterprise established by Jami in 2016 that provides mental health support alongside kosher food and beverages.

• Maccabi GB: The trust supports the Elliott Simmons Challenge Israel Tour, a longstanding programme enabling young Jews with SEND to travel to Israel with appropriate support.

• Langdon: The organisation partners with Maccabi GB on the Elliott Simmons Challenge Israel Tour for young people with special needs.

• Centre for Mental Health: The trust funded the Commission for Equality in Mental Health, which ran from July 2018 to the end of 2019, investigating inequalities in mental health and seeking policy and practice solutions.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented, though the trust's funding pattern suggests a focus on mental health, music, Jewish community organisations, and causes aligned with Elliott Simmons' personal values.

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by 3 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Jonathan Prevezer serves as a trustee of the trust. The trust operates as a private charitable trust with trustees making grant decisions based on Elliott Simmons' stated wishes to support mental health and music-related charitable causes.

How to Apply to The Elliott Simmons Charitable Trust

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Elliott Simmons Charitable Trust operates as a private trust with grants awarded at the discretion of the trustees. There is no publicly available application form, guidelines, or submission process. Grants appear to be made to organisations that align with Elliott Simmons' wishes regarding mental health and music.

The trust identifies and supports beneficiaries through trustee discretion, focusing on causes that would have been “close to his heart” based on his life experiences and stated wishes.

Getting on Their Radar

The trustees have stated they are “extremely happy to support” causes knowing they would have been something close to Elliott Simmons' heart. Organisations working in mental health, music, support for individuals with SEND, and Israel-connected programmes for young people may wish to consider relationship-building approaches:

• Connections through supported organisations: The trust has established long-term relationships with organisations like Jami, Maccabi GB, Langdon, and Centre for Mental Health. These organisations may provide networking opportunities within the charitable sector.

• Jewish community sector events: Given the trust's focus on Jewish community organisations, engagement in Jewish communal events and networks may provide opportunities for trustees to become aware of aligned organisations.

Application Success Factors

Since the trust operates without a public application process, success in receiving funding appears to depend on:

Alignment with Elliott Simmons' Values: Organisations must align with mental health support or music, the two causes Elliott Simmons specifically identified. The trustees work to ensure “his wishes were complied with.”

Mental Health Focus: Organisations addressing mental health challenges align strongly with the trust's mission.

Long-term Impact: The trust has made substantial capital grants (such as the Jami Hub and Head Room café refurbishment) suggesting interest in projects with lasting community benefit rather than ongoing operational support.

SEND and Inclusion: The trust supports the Elliott Simmons Challenge Israel Tour specifically because it enables young people with SEND to participate in experiences they might otherwise be excluded from, suggesting value placed on inclusive programming.

Jewish Community Connection: The trust has demonstrated strong support for Jewish community organisations, though this is not exclusively required.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private trust without a public application process - unsolicited applications are unlikely to be successful
• The trust focuses on mental health and music, with particular emphasis on Jewish community organisations
• Trustees make decisions based on what would have been "close to Elliott Simmons' heart" - alignment with his personal values and experiences is critical
• The trust makes substantial capital grants (£339,303 distributed in 2024) rather than small recurring grants
• Organisations already supported by the trust include Jami (mental health), Maccabi GB, Langdon (SEND programmes), and Centre for Mental Health (equality research)
• Building connections within the Jewish charitable sector may provide the best route to trustee awareness
• The trust operates with 3 unpaid trustees who are committed to honouring Elliott Simmons' legacy

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust
• The A M Charitable Trust
• Cannon Charitable Trust
• The Jeremy And John Sacher Charitable Trust
• David & Ruth Lewis Family Charitable Trust
• The Guyll-leng Charitable Trust
• The Aimwell Charitable Trust
• The Lynne And Nigel Ross Charitable Trust
• The Gerald And Gail Ronson Family Foundation
• The Schapira Charitable Trust

References

• UK Charity Commission Register, The Elliott Simmons Charitable Trust (Charity Number 1038541), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1038541&subid=0
• Jami UK, "Party celebrates benefactor's life,", https://jamiuk.org/chanukah-party-celebrates-life-of-generous-benefactor/
• Maccabi GB, “Elliott Simmons Challenge Israel Tour,”, https://www.maccabigb.org/challengetri p
• Charity I Choose, “The Elliott Simmons Charitable Trust,”, https://www.charityichoose.com/london/general-charitable-purposes/the-elliott-simmons-charitable-trust
• The Jewish Chronicle, “Jami moves into new era with Finchley purchase,”, https://www.thejc.com/news/community/jami-moves-into-new-era-with-finchley-purchase-pb2q8k9j
• Langdon UK, “Elliott Simmons Challenge Israel Tour 2023 - Parents Meeting,”, https://langdonuk.org/event/elliott-simmons-challenge-israel-tour-2023
• Centre for Mental Health, “Commission for Equality in Mental Health,”, https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/commission-equality-mental-health/
• Jewish News, "Community comes together to celebrate Chanukah at Jami's Head Room café,", https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/community-comes-together-to-celebrate-chanukah-at-jamis-head-room-cafe/