The Knights Of The Round Table Benevolent Fund

Charity Number: 212217

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??52,250 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (institutional nomination only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: ??1,500 - ??2,000 per individual award
  • Geographic Focus: London-based institutions, with some national programs

Contact Details

Address: 7 Elm Tree Avenue, Esher, KT10 8JG

Phone: 020 8398 2321 or 07887 760122

Website: www.knightsoftheroundtable.org.uk

Charity Number: 212217

Note: The fund works primarily through institutional partnerships. Direct applications from individuals are not accepted.

Overview

The Knights of the Round Table Benevolent Fund (Charity No. 212217) is the charitable arm of The Honourable Society of Knights of the Round Table, a British society founded in 1720 at the Fountain Coffee House on London's Strand by actors, artists, and literary friends seeking to perpetuate the ideals of King Arthur. The charity has significantly expanded its impact in recent years, increasing annual charitable distribution from ??20,000 to in excess of ??50,000 in 2023/24. The fund had an income of ??42,410 in 2023 and distributed ??52,250 in awards. The society operates from the prestigious Lansdowne Club in Mayfair and is currently led by Knight President Admiral the Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead. The fund exclusively supports young people at the outset of their careers through institutional nominations, focusing on exceptional talent in creative, technical, and professional fields.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The fund operates through institutional nomination only - there is no public application process. Partner institutions select recipients based on exceptional ability and potential.

Individual Student Awards: ??1,500 - ??2,000 per recipient

  • Awarded to students nominated by partner colleges and institutions
  • Multiple awards made annually across different disciplines
  • Examples include awards at City & Guilds of London Art School, Chelsea College of Arts, and Royal College of Music

Royal College of Surgeons Surgical Skills Prize

  • Funds the Louis Solomon Knights Award for Surgical Skills
  • Part of the “Are You Cut Out for It?” national competition for Core Trainees (CT2s)
  • Winners receive a cash prize and invitation to the Knights' Diplomatic Dinner at the House of Lords

College of Policing Bursary: ??2,000 total

  • Either a single individual or split between two bursary recipients
  • Supports research and professional development in policing

Priority Areas

Arts & Creative Fields:

  • Fine Art
  • Music performance and composition
  • Architectural stone carving
  • Ornamental wood carving and gilding

Conservation:

  • Stone, wood, and decorative surfaces conservation
  • Historic preservation skills

Hand Skills & Crafts:

  • Traditional craft techniques
  • Technical excellence in skilled trades

Professional Training:

  • Legal training
  • Surgical skills development
  • Professional research (policing)

Youth Development:

  • Scout groups in London
  • Services cadet groups

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct applications from individuals (all awards are by institutional nomination)
  • Organizations or projects (focus is on individual students only)
  • Students outside their partner institution network
  • General operating costs or capital projects
  • Retrospective funding
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Governance and Leadership

Knight President: Admiral the Right Honourable Lord West of Spithead (as of 2025)

The charity is governed by a Declaration of Trust dated 29 February 1992 and Rule VIIIA. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, demonstrating a commitment to maximizing charitable impact.

The society brings together members from diverse professional backgrounds who share a commitment to supporting exceptional young talent. The organization hosts various prestigious dinner events, including the Guinevere & Medical Dinner and the Diplomatic Dinner at the House of Lords.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Critical Note: This fund does not accept direct applications from individuals or grant-seekers.

Award Process:

  1. Partner institutions nominate students of outstanding ability
  2. Institutions select candidates based on exceptional talent and potential
  3. The Society reviews institutional nominations
  4. Awards are announced and presented at award ceremonies

For Institutions: There is no publicly available information on how institutions can become nominating partners. Interested educational institutions should contact the fund directly.

Known Partner Institutions:

  • City & Guilds of London Art School (3 awards annually)
  • Chelsea College of Arts
  • Royal College of Music
  • Royal College of Surgeons of England
  • College of Policing
  • East London Scouts

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Awards are made annually, with winners announced at various points throughout the year. Award recipients are invited to exhibit their work at Award Winners lunches and other society events.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable as this is an institutional nomination system rather than an open application process. The fund made awards to numerous students across multiple institutions in 2023 and 2024.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - students are nominated by their institutions rather than applying directly.

Application Success Factors

Since this fund operates exclusively through institutional nominations, the following factors are relevant for:

For Students:

  • Excel in your field at a partner institution
  • Demonstrate exceptional talent and potential
  • Engage with your institution's awards and recognition programs
  • Focus on artistic, technical, or professional excellence that sets you apart

For Institutions Seeking Partnership:

  • Focus on arts, music, conservation, hand skills, legal training, or professional development in London
  • Support young people at the outset of their careers
  • Have robust systems for identifying exceptional talent
  • Align with the society's values of promoting excellence and supporting outstanding ability

Recent Award Recipients (2024):

  • Kate Holmes (BA Hons Carving: Architectural Stone, City & Guilds)
  • Thomas Yeung (BA Hons Conservation: Stone, Wood & Decorative Surfaces, City & Guilds)
  • Henry Brown (Graduate Diploma Carving: Woodcarving & Gilding, City & Guilds)
  • Konstantina Nouka, James Cairns, Freja Malle Hoyer, Olivia Roberton, Lara Wollington (various disciplines)
  • Helen Aitchison (Carving: Architectural Stone)
  • Sereena Malcolm (Carving: Woodcarving & Gilding)
  • Sophie Nicholas (Conservation: Stone, Wood & Decorative Surfaces)

The society's stated mission is to “give financial awards to young people, nominated by the institutions they attend” and to “award grants to those who have made an exceptional start to their career.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Not Suitable for Direct Applications: This fund cannot be approached through traditional grant-seeking. It operates exclusively through institutional nominations.
  1. Institutional Partnership Focus: If you represent an educational institution in London focused on arts, music, conservation, hand skills, or professional training, this could be a valuable partnership to explore.
  1. Individual Award Model: The fund focuses on recognizing and supporting exceptional individual students rather than funding projects or organizational activities.
  1. Significant Growth: The fund has more than doubled its annual distribution in recent years (from ??20,000 to over ??50,000), indicating expansion and potential for new institutional partnerships.
  1. Prestige and Networking: Beyond financial support, award winners gain access to prestigious society events and networking opportunities with accomplished professionals across various fields.
  1. Traditional Values, Modern Impact: While rooted in an 18th-century society, the fund actively supports contemporary education in both traditional crafts and modern professional fields.
  1. London-Centric with Exceptions: Primary geographic focus is London institutions, though programs like the Royal College of Surgeons competition and College of Policing bursary have broader reach.

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References

All sources.