The Lawson Trust Cio

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £776,778 (year ending March 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Within 2 working days after quarterly board meeting
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £8,000 (larger grants by invitation only)
• Geographic Focus: Kent and Sussex, England

Contact Details

Website: www.lawsontrust.org

Email: enquiries@lawsontrust.org

Online Application Portal: https://lawsontrust.benefactorcloud.co.uk/

Trust Administrator: Hayley Corker (available for pre-application queries)

Partnership Programs:

• Kent Community Foundation: 01303 814500 or admin@kentcf.org.uk (for grants up to £5,000 in Kent)
• Sussex Community Foundation: 01273 409440 or info@sussexgiving.org.uk (for organizations with income under £2 million in Sussex)

Overview

The Lawson Trust CIO (charity number 1171822) was established in 1980 by Raymond and Blanche Lawson, a Tonbridge-based property businessman and his wife who bequeathed the majority of their estate to charitable causes. The trust was born out of a desire to help people in need within their local community and remains firmly rooted in Kent and Sussex. In 2015, following the sale of Tonbridge & District Properties Ltd, the trust generated substantial proceeds which enabled significant endowments including £5 million to Kent Community Foundation and £2.5 million to Sussex Community Foundation. The current trustees formed The Lawson Trust CIO as the successor to the Raymond & Blanche Lawson Charitable Trust. With total income of £784,323 (primarily from investments) and charitable expenditure of £776,778 in the year ending March 2024, the trust operates with eight volunteer trustees and maintains an open outlook toward supporting organizations addressing genuine community needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Lawson Trust (Direct Grants): £5,000 - £8,000

• Supporting local and national charities addressing the trust's five priority areas
• Larger grants (over £8,000) awarded by invitation only
• Applications accepted year-round via online portal
• Quarterly board meetings with specific deadlines (e.g., applications by 12 noon on the deadline for consideration at the next meeting)
• Maximum grant of £6,000 for standard applications (applications over £6,000 automatically disqualified unless invited)

The Lawson Endowment for Kent:

• Administered by Kent Community Foundation
• Typically grants up to £5,000
• For applicants based in Kent and Medway
• £5 million endowment fund established

The Lawson Endowment for Sussex:

• Administered by Sussex Community Foundation
• For grassroots organizations based in Sussex
• Organizations with income under £2 million
• £2.5 million endowment established

Priority Areas

• Supporting socially isolated elderly people
• Creating opportunities for vulnerable families and young people
• Assisting those furthest from the workplace to find meaningful employment
• Befriending schemes
• Transport initiatives
• Homeless shelters
• Combating social isolation
• Training schemes for offenders, people with mental health issues, and those with disabilities

Priority is given to grassroots community organizations or national charities that engage with beneficiaries and volunteers in Kent and Sussex. The trust emphasizes “organisations which can best demonstrate engagement at community level within the areas of Kent and Sussex.”

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Non-registered charities
• Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Overseas charities
• Political parties
• Promotion of religion
• Scout groups
• Parent-teacher associations
• Large national charity overheads (preferring instead to fund specific projects or interventions)
• General appeals or mail shots
• Organizations that received funding from Lawson Endowments through Kent or Sussex Community Foundations in the past year

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by eight volunteer trustees who receive no remuneration or benefits. The trustees include friends of the original couple and descendants of the Lawsons' friends, maintaining continuity with the founders' vision. The trustees are developing grant-making policy to “safeguard the aims laid down by the founders” while adapting to contemporary community needs.

The trust administrator, Hayley Corker, serves as the primary point of contact and encourages potential applicants to reach out if unsure about their eligibility or application approach.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are only accepted via the online form at https://lawsontrust.benefactorcloud.co.uk/. Applicants must register on the platform before commencing an application. The system allows applicants to save progress and return to complete their application.

The trust accepts applications year-round on a rolling basis, but decisions are made at quarterly board meetings.

Decision Timeline

• Board Meetings: Four times per year (quarterly)
• Application Deadlines: Specific deadlines set for each quarterly meeting (e.g., 12 noon on Friday 2 January 2026 for consideration at the February 12, 2026 meeting)
• Notification: Outcomes communicated within two working days of the board meeting at which the application is considered
• This represents a notably fast response time compared to typical grant funders

Success Rates

The trust does not publicly disclose specific success rate statistics, including the number of applications received versus approved. Given the modest grant range (£5,000-£8,000) and the significant charitable expenditure (£776,778 annually), the trust likely awards between 100-150 grants annually, though this is an estimate.

Reapplication Policy

• Successful applicants must wait eighteen months after their award before being eligible to reapply
• Organizations that received funding from Lawson Endowments through Kent or Sussex Community Foundations in the prior year cannot apply to The Lawson Trust main fund
• Unsuccessful applicants can request feedback
• No explicit waiting period is stated for unsuccessful applicants, suggesting they may reapply in subsequent rounds

Application Success Factors

Geographic Connection is Critical

The trustees are “always keen to direct funds towards the counties of Kent and Sussex where the founders of the trust lived and worked.” National charities must demonstrate how they will direct support to Kent and Sussex or serve beneficiaries in these counties.

Demonstrate Community Engagement

Priority is given to organizations that “can best demonstrate engagement at community level.” Applications should clearly show how projects directly engage with and benefit people in Kent and Sussex communities.

Favor Grassroots Over Overhead

The trust will not support large national charities with overheads, preferring to “devote funds to a specific project or intervention.” Applications should focus on tangible, community-level projects rather than organizational infrastructure costs.

Examples of Funded Projects

1. St George's Community Project, Tunbridge Wells - The only nursery in Tunbridge Wells offering childcare at low cost or free to families in need, supporting vulnerable children and parents
2. University of Kent Medway Student Support Fund - £5,000 bursary to support students most in need of financial assistance
3. Care for the Carers East Sussex - Creative Voices project where 15-20 isolated adult carers explore creativity alongside professional artists
4. The GAP Project - Dynamic community project in Kent connected through Kent Community Foundation

Key Application Advice

• Contact Before Applying: The trust “encourages you to contact Hayley Corker, the trust administrator, if you are unsure about making an application”
• Be Specific: Focus on a specific project or intervention rather than general organizational funding
• Show Local Impact: Clearly demonstrate how the project will engage people in Kent and Sussex
• Avoid General Appeals: Do not submit generic mail shots; applications must be tailored to the trust's priorities
• Stay Within Limits: Applications for more than £6,000 will be automatically disqualified (unless invited to apply for larger amounts)
• Request Feedback: If unsuccessful, feedback is available on request to improve future applications

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic alignment is non-negotiable - Projects must clearly benefit people in Kent and Sussex; national charities must demonstrate specific local engagement in these counties
• Think grassroots and community-level - The trust favors direct service delivery to beneficiaries over organizational overhead; emphasize tangible community impact
• Pre-application contact is encouraged - Don't hesitate to reach out to the trust administrator with questions; this demonstrates seriousness and helps ensure your application is a good fit
• Fast decision timeline - With decisions within two working days of quarterly meetings, you'll know outcomes quickly; plan your project timeline accordingly
• Reapplication requires patience - If successful, wait eighteen months before reapplying; if unsuccessful, request feedback to strengthen future applications
• Specific projects over general support - Focus applications on discrete, well-defined projects or interventions rather than broad operational funding
• Quality over quantity in beneficiaries - The trust values deep community engagement; demonstrate meaningful impact on those most in need rather than reaching large numbers superficially

References

• The Lawson Trust official website: https://lawsontrust.org/
• The Lawson Trust funding information: https://lawsontrust.org/funding/
• The Lawson Trust history: https://lawsontrust.org/history/
• UK Charity Commission Register, THE LAWSON TRUST CIO (Charity Number 1171822): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1171822&subid=0
• Charity Times: “New £5m fund for local charities in Kent and Medway” (2025)
• Kent Community Foundation: The Lawson Endowment for Kent information (2025)
• Sussex Community Foundation: Lawson Trust partnership information (2025)