The George Davies Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1024818

Geographic Focus: Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

  • Founded: 1995
  • Charity Number: 1024818
  • Annual Giving: Data not publicly available
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,150,000 (major strategic donations)
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed

Contact Details

Address: P.O. Box 19, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, GL56 9TL

Email: elaine.fletcher@sporter.biz

Phone: 1386852862

Note: The trust does not appear to have an open application process. Contact details suggest applications may be by invitation or direct approach only.

Overview

The George Davies Charitable Trust was established in 1995 by George Davies, the renowned fashion retail entrepreneur known as “the King of the High Street” who created Next, George at Asda, and Per Una for Marks & Spencer. The trust was created to support children, education, and health causes both in the UK and internationally. Governed by a trust deed dated 27 April 1995 (amended 04 November 2019), the principal object is for all income and trust capital to be applied for general charitable purposes, with an emphasis on medical and educational activities. The trust operates throughout England and Wales, as well as in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. George Davies has made several high-profile donations through the trust, including the largest individual gift in the University of Leicester's history (£5.15 million in 2017) and a £1 million donation to Birmingham Women's Hospital in 2024. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not appear to operate formal grant programs with published application cycles. Instead, funding appears to be directed through strategic partnerships and founder-initiated projects.

Major Strategic Donations: The trust has made significant one-off donations ranging from £1 million to £5.15 million for specific medical and educational initiatives.

Application Method: Not publicly disclosed. The trust appears to identify and approach beneficiaries rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Priority Areas

Children & Young People

  • Child health services, particularly neonatal and maternal care
  • Education for under-privileged children
  • Children with special needs

Health & Medical

  • Vascular disease research and treatment
  • Maternal and neonatal health services
  • Hospital simulation and training facilities
  • Medical education

Education

  • Medical education and training facilities
  • Secondary education in developing countries
  • University partnerships

Geographic Focus

  • England and Wales (particularly Midlands and Birmingham areas)
  • Sri Lanka (Chitra Lane project supporting children with special needs)
  • Tanzania (DCT Mvumi Secondary School)

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are published. However, the trust appears to focus exclusively on children, education, and health causes aligned with the founder's personal connections and interests.

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Governance and Leadership

Founder: George Davies (born 29 October 1941), English fashion designer and retailer who created brands accounting for over 12% of UK high street clothing sales. Awarded Drapers Record Life Time Achievement award (2003) and “Designer of the Decade” by Prima (2004).

Trustee Structure: No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Specific trustee names are not widely publicized.

Personal Connection to Causes: George Davies' philanthropic approach is deeply personal. His £1 million donation to Birmingham Women's Hospital was motivated by the hospital saving his granddaughter Evie in 2006, when she was born with a rare congenital heart defect. He stated: "The George Davies Charitable Trust was created to support children in many parts of the world... 18 years on, as Evie has just started university, I'm delighted to once again be supporting the Trust."

George Davies on His Philanthropy: “The work of the George Davies Charitable Trust is extremely close to my heart. We support education and health causes in both the UK and internationally.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

No Public Application Process: The George Davies Charitable Trust does not appear to accept unsolicited grant applications. The trust identifies and approaches beneficiaries directly based on the founder's interests and connections.

Contact Method: Organizations may write to the registered address or use the contact details provided, but there is no guarantee of a response or consideration without an existing relationship.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Major donations appear to be the result of personal relationships and direct engagement rather than formal review cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the closed nature of the trust's operations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the lack of a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust does not accept open applications, the following factors appear to be critical for securing support:

Personal Connection: George Davies' giving is deeply personal. His major donations have been motivated by family experiences (granddaughter's care at Birmingham Women's Hospital) and direct encounters (meeting a nurse in his local pub led to further support).

Strategic Impact: The trust favors projects with measurable, significant impact - such as preventing limb amputations through the Leicester vascular clinic or improving maternal mortality through simulation training.

Long-term Relationships: Davies appears to maintain ongoing relationships with supported organizations. He first supported Birmingham Women's Hospital in 2006 and returned with a major gift in 2024.

Medical Education & Innovation: Recent funding has emphasized training facilities and innovative approaches to healthcare delivery rather than general operating support.

Geographic Connection: Major UK donations have been concentrated in the Midlands region (Leicester, Birmingham), suggesting a preference for supporting areas with personal significance.

Other Charitable Interests: Beyond the trust, Davies has donated assets including his private yacht to Sail 4 Cancer and his private jet use to Celebration of Life After Cancer charity. He is also a trustee of the Mvumi School Trust supporting education in Tanzania.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This trust does not accept unsolicited applications - it operates through founder-directed giving based on personal relationships and strategic interests
  • Major donations require personal connection - George Davies' giving is motivated by personal experiences and direct relationships with healthcare professionals and institutions
  • Focus on transformative impact - the trust favors significant donations that create new facilities, endow chairs, or fundamentally change service delivery rather than small grants
  • Medical education and maternal/child health are clear priorities based on recent funding patterns
  • Geographic focus on the Midlands for UK giving, with international work in Sri Lanka and Tanzania
  • Long-term partnership approach - organizations that receive support once may be supported again years later if impact is demonstrated
  • If your organization lacks a direct connection to George Davies, pursuing this funding source is unlikely to be productive

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