The Ian Karten Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £447,593 (2024)
• Charitable Expenditure: £358,333 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified; trustees meet at least twice yearly
• Grant Range: Varies by program; bursaries and equipment grants
• Geographic Focus: UK, Israel, and Ireland
• Registered Charity Number: 281721

Contact Details

Website: https://iankartencharitabletrust.org.uk/

Address:

Ian Karten Charitable Trust

International House

64 Nile Street

London N1 7SR

Administrator: Inés Meza-Mitcher (Email: ines@iankartencharitabletrust.org.uk)

Phone: 07720931477

For Karten Centre Applications:

• UK centres: Dawn at dawn@karten-network.org.uk
• Israel centres: Debbie at debbie@karten-network.org.uk

Note: The Trust prefers email correspondence and recommends using their contact form for initial inquiries.

Overview

Founded in 1980 by Holocaust survivor Ian Karten MBE, The Ian Karten Charitable Trust has been supporting education and disability technology for over four decades. Ian Karten lost his father, brother, and sister in the Holocaust and established the Trust to provide educational opportunities similar to those he received when coming to the UK. He was awarded an MBE in 1999 for 'services to charity' following a ten-year programme for more than 2,000 scholarships.

The Trust has two primary focus areas: supporting university education through bursaries and scholarships, and establishing Karten Centres that provide assistive technology access for disabled adults. Since 1997, over 103 Karten Centres have been established across the UK, Israel, and Ireland. The Trust has supported well over 3,000 students to date. Ian Karten died in 2011, but his legacy continues through the Trust's ongoing work.

For the financial year ending September 2024, the Trust had a total income of £465,406 and charitable expenditure of £447,369. A significant strategic change is underway: from the 2024/25 financial year, 50% of the Trust's income will be paid to Karten Network, enabling them to distribute funding to Centres as they deem appropriate.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Karten Centres - Assistive Technology Equipment Grants

The Trust provides generous funding for equipment, software, assistive devices, networking, and furniture to establish or upgrade centres for disabled adults. Since 1997, over 103 centres have been established.

Current Status: The Trust is not currently accepting applications for new Centres. Existing centres may apply for additional or upgraded equipment.

Recent Examples of Equipment Funded:

• Fife College (2018): Laptops, digital recorders, C-Pen readers, Pearl Camera, assistive software (Brain in Hand, JAWS, Sonocent)
• Treloar College (2020): Direct-to-garment printer, wide format printer, sublimation printer
• BID Services (2018): Laptops, interactive smart boards, JAWS software, magnifiers for visual impairments
• General equipment: iPads, iPhones, Amazon Echo devices, smart TVs, monitors, mounts, microphones

2. Educational Bursaries - Ian and Mildred Karten Bursaries

The Trust works with select universities to provide scholarships and bursaries for students who cannot afford education.

Current Partner Institutions:

• Woolf Institute at the University of Cambridge (interfaith relations research)
• Birkbeck, University of London
• Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• University of Southampton (Access Scheme)
• Previously: University of Warwick (3-year programme concluded in 2024)

Bursaries support living costs, travelling expenses, books, accommodation, and groceries. Specific award amounts are not publicly disclosed.

3. TechAbility Service

Funded by the Trust in partnership with Natspec, TechAbility supports the assessment and delivery of Assistive Technology in UK Further Education colleges for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The service provides professional development, webinars, consultation visits, seminars, and has created TechAbility Standards for technology delivery.

4. Other Grants

The Trust occasionally makes smaller awards to aligned organizations. Recent recipients include Aurora FE (special educational needs provider) and Watts Gallery.

Priority Areas

• Disability Technology Access: Assistive technology for adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, learning disabilities or mental health problems
• Vocational Training: Computer-aided training for disabled adults to access employment and independent living
• Higher Education: Supporting students who cannot afford university education
• Interfaith Understanding: Funding Jewish-Christian/non-Jewish relations research centres
• Further Education: Supporting colleges serving students with SEND through TechAbility

What They Don't Fund

While the Trust does not publish a formal exclusions list, their focus is clearly defined:

• The Trust focuses on adults with disabilities (not children's services)
• They fund capital costs (equipment, technology) rather than operational expenses for Karten Centres
• They are not currently accepting applications for new Karten Centres
• Bursaries are provided through pre-existing university partnerships, not direct to individual students
• Geographic focus is UK, Israel, and Ireland

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Anthony Davis - Chair

• Solicitor by profession
• Joined the Trust in 2013
• Focus on educational work

Sal Cooke OBE

• Over 30 years' experience in education
• Expertise in educational technology, disability and inclusion
• Runs “Just Ask Sal”
• Awarded OBE for services to Educational Technology

Edward Copisarow

• Over 30 years in the voluntary sector
• Experience as fundraiser, grantmaker, Chief Executive, and Trustee
• Focus on disability and social inclusion issues

Alexandra (Davis) Moran

• Development professional
• Focus on arts and education philanthropy
• Trustee since 2016
• Development Board member at St John's College, University of Durham

Administration

Inés Meza-Mitcher - Administrator (currently on maternity leave until July 2025)

• Over a decade of experience in administrative support roles
• Particular interest in supporting charity boards and effective governance

Pamela Johnson - Acting Administrator (July 2024 - July 2025)

• Three decades of experience in charity, non-profit, and education sectors

Governance Practices

• Trustees meet at least twice yearly to review accounts and discuss proposed donations, scholarships and bursaries
• No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity
• Day-to-day operations delegated to Chair and Administrator
• Future Board meeting scheduled for 13 March 2025 to approve new Karten Network funding agreement

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For New Karten Centres: The Trust is currently NOT accepting applications for funding new centres.

For Existing Karten Centres - Equipment Upgrades:

1. Contact Dawn (UK) or Debbie (Israel) at the earliest opportunity to receive guidance and support
2. Complete the required application form and accompanying spreadsheet template (available via OneDrive link from Karten Network)
3. Email completed application to dawn@karten-network.org.uk (UK) or debbie@karten-network.org.uk (Israel)
4. Applications must be submitted by specified deadlines ahead of trustee meetings

For Educational Bursaries: The Trust works through pre-existing university partnerships. Individual students cannot apply directly to the Trust but should contact their institution's financial aid office to inquire about Ian and Mildred Karten Bursaries.

For General Inquiries: Use the contact form on the Trust's website (iankartencharitabletrust.org.uk/contact-us/) to be put in touch with the Administrator. The Trust prefers email correspondence.

Decision Timeline

• Trustees meet at least every six months (minimum twice yearly)
• Applications must be submitted by noon on specified deadlines ahead of trustee meetings
• Historical examples show deadlines approximately 2-3 months before trustee meetings
• Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed
• Centres planning to apply should notify administrators “at the earliest opportunity”

Success Rates

Success rates and application volume data are not publicly available. The Trust operates on an invitation/relationship basis for new programmes, with existing centres having the opportunity to apply for equipment upgrades.

Reapplication Policy

For existing Karten Centres, reapplication for additional equipment appears to be permitted. Specific waiting periods or restrictions are not publicly disclosed. The Trust emphasizes early communication with administrators for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical

The Trust has very specific focus areas and is not currently expanding its Karten Centre network. Applications must align precisely with:

• Supporting disabled adults (not children)
• Assistive technology and equipment needs
• Vocational training and independence goals
• For bursaries: interfaith relations or supporting students who cannot afford education

Importance of Assistive Technology Impact

Based on funded projects and the Trust's founding philosophy, successful applications demonstrate how technology will be transformational for individuals with complex needs. Ian Karten was described as “a visionary who saw the difference technology can make to the lives of disabled people.”

Example Success Stories the Trust Values:

• Vision-impaired clients regaining independence to read mail, cook, and communicate with family
• Students with severe anxiety managing daily routines and staying in education through Brain in Hand technology
• Non-verbal individuals with limited movement re-engaging with surroundings through sensory technology
• Tetraplegic individuals regaining ability to use phones and computers independently

Equipment Accessibility is Key

For Karten Centre applications, equipment must be accessible to users with complex disabilities. Treloar College's successful 2020 application specifically highlighted that new printers were “much more accessible to suit the complex physical disabilities of the students,” enabling them to get more involved in the printing process.

Work with Existing Organizations

The Trust explicitly “works with an existing organisation” and funds through established charities and institutions. They do not appear to fund individuals directly or new standalone projects.

Early Communication Matters

Documentation repeatedly emphasizes that centres “should notify [administrators] at the earliest opportunity in order that relevant guidance and support can be given.” Building a relationship and seeking guidance before formal application is clearly valued.

Quality Standards for FE Colleges

For further education colleges, engagement with TechAbility Standards demonstrates commitment to quality assistive technology delivery. The Trust invested in creating these standards to guide what colleges should strive towards.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Current Funding Landscape: The Trust is not accepting new Karten Centre applications. Only existing centres can apply for equipment upgrades, and bursaries are awarded through pre-existing university partnerships.

1. Major Strategic Shift: From 2024/25, 50% of Trust income will go to Karten Network for distribution. This changes the funding landscape - contact Karten Network for future opportunities.

1. Technology Must Be Transformational: Applications should demonstrate how assistive technology will fundamentally change lives, enabling independence, employment access, and engagement with the world. Use concrete examples and beneficiary stories.

1. Adults, Not Children: The Trust's disability work focuses exclusively on adults with disabilities. Do not apply for children's services or schools.

1. Equipment Over Operations: For Karten Centres, the Trust funds capital costs (hardware, software, furniture, networking) rather than operational expenses like salaries or rent.

1. Relationship-Based Funding: The Trust works through established partnerships and relationships. Building connections with administrators and demonstrating alignment with the founder's vision is important.

1. Ian Karten's Legacy Guides Decisions: Understanding the founder's story as a Holocaust survivor committed to education and interfaith understanding helps applicants align with the Trust's values. Ian was passionate about enabling disabled people to access work and independent living through technology.

References

1. The Ian Karten Charitable Trust official website: https://iankartencharitabletrust.org.uk/

1. UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 281721: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=281721

1. Karten Network website: https://karten-network.org.uk/

1. Karten Network - Apply for Support: https://karten-network.org.uk/centres/support/

1. The Ian Karten Charitable Trust - Trustees page: https://iankartencharitabletrust.org.uk/trustees/

1. The Ian Karten Charitable Trust - Ian Karten biography: https://iankartencharitabletrust.org.uk/ian-karten/

1. TechAbility - About TechAbility: https://www.techability.org.uk/about-us/about-techability/

1. The Ian Karten Charitable Trust - TechAbility page: https://iankartencharitabletrust.org.uk/other-support/techability/

1. Karten Network - Case Studies: https://karten-network.org.uk/newsletter-article-category/case-study/

1. The Ian Karten Charitable Trust - Woolf Institute: https://iankartencharitabletrust.org.uk/higher-education/woolf-institute/

1. The Ian Karten Charitable Trust - Birkbeck: https://iankartencharitabletrust.org.uk/higher-education/birkbeck/

1. Charity Commission Annual Returns for The Ian Karten Charitable Trust, financial year ending September 2024 (Accessed via Charity Commission Register December 2025)