The Lee Education Charity Of William Hatcliffe

Charity Number: 312801

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M
Geographic Focus: Lewisham

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £66,802 (2024/25)
  • Annual Expenditure: £125,582 (2024/25)
  • Decision Time: 8 weeks
  • Grant Range: Educational grants (amounts not publicly specified)
  • Geographic Focus: London Borough of Lewisham (and Ancient Parish of Lee in exceptional cases)

Contact Details

Address: St. Margaret's Visitors Centre, 2 Brandram Road, Lewisham, London, SE13 5EA

Phone: 07564783385

Email: clerk@lee-hatcliffe.co.uk

Pre-application Contact: Ambassador@lee-hatcliffe.co.uk (sponsors should contact before submitting applications)

Website: https://lee-hatcliffe.org.uk

Overview

The Lee Education Charity of William Hatcliffe is a historic grant-making charity established in 1622 by William Hatcliffe, a keeper of King James I's horses and wealthy property owner. The charity utilizes income from properties left by Hatcliffe to promote education among young people under 25 in the London Borough of Lewisham who are experiencing financial hardship. Operating under a scheme originally dated 12 September 1907 and most recently amended in 2024, the charity distributes approximately £125,582 annually to both individuals and organizations. The charity's seven unpaid trustees are committed to ensuring funds reach those most in need, working in collaboration with related charities and Emmaus Greenwich for provision of grant items.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Educational Support

  • Support for disadvantaged children and young people under 25 in full-time education
  • Funded items include: laptops, books, educational toys, tuition, clothing, school uniforms
  • Social, sporting, and leisure activities including school holiday clubs
  • Rolling applications with 8-week decision timeline
  • Must be submitted through professional sponsors (not directly by individuals)

Organisational Grants

  • Grants to registered charities serving young people in Lewisham
  • Support for Lewisham primary/secondary schools or colleges
  • Funding for housing associations and public sector organizations working with young people
  • Applications accepted from “frontline professionals” only

Priority Areas

The charity prioritizes young people who are:

  • Living at or below the poverty line
  • Acting as young carers
  • Socially excluded or marginalized
  • Experiencing “hidden or less well known” situations
  • In need of a “New Start” (recovering from abuse or substance dependency)
  • Asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants, or refugees
  • Experiencing isolation and loneliness

What They Don't Fund

  • Licenses, subscriptions, travel documents, air tickets, hotel stays, conferences
  • Medicines, health coaching, diagnostic testing, health supplements
  • Start-up packs for self-employed consultants, social media support
  • Video games, large screen TVs, non-educational musical instruments
  • Projects for residents outside Lewisham
  • Campaigning activities, animal welfare, environmental conservation
  • Research, film/podcast/media production projects
  • Retrospective funding for completed work
  • Household repairs, vehicles, insurance, fuel
  • Rent, food, utilities, debt repayments
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Governance and Leadership

The charity operates with seven trustees who oversee all work, management, and administration on behalf of beneficiaries. None of the trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The charity maintains strong collaborative relationships with related charities including The Lee Charity of William Hatcliffe (208053), The Lewisham Almshouse Charities of William Hatcliffe and Abraham Colfe (228514), and the Estate Charity of William Hatcliffe (227720). Philippe Granger has been associated with the charity in previous roles.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Individual Applicants:

Direct applications from individuals are not accepted. Applications must be submitted through professional sponsors.

Eligible sponsors include:

  • Social Services
  • Health Service
  • Housing associations
  • Schools/Colleges
  • Carer's Centres
  • Refuge organisations
  • Other registered charities

Application Process:

  1. Sponsors should contact Ambassador@lee-hatcliffe.co.uk before submitting
  2. Sponsor must have solid understanding of the young person's needs
  3. Sponsor cannot be related to or in partnership with applicant
  4. Application must identify specific needs for assistance
  5. Only complete applications will be processed

For Organisations:

Applications accepted from registered charities, Lewisham schools/colleges, housing associations, and public sector organizations. Organizations should contact the charity to discuss their application before submitting.

Decision Timeline

  • No application deadlines - rolling applications year-round
  • Decision within 8 weeks of receiving complete, eligible application
  • No guarantee of assistance to all applicants

Reapplication Policy

Funds must be used only for specific items requested. Grants withdrawn if funding received elsewhere for same items. Recipients must return funds if items no longer needed. Reapplication after rejection not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Genuine Financial Need:

Applicants must be living on very low income, receiving appropriate welfare benefits, and have exhausted all other funding sources. Applications must show other support has been inappropriate or unavailable.

Target Priority Beneficiaries:

Applications for young carers, those below poverty line, or experiencing social exclusion receive priority. The charity values applications addressing “hidden or less well known” situations.

Clear Educational Benefit:

All requests must demonstrate how support promotes education, including social and physical training. The educational development connection must be explicit.

Professional Sponsorship Quality:

The sponsor's assessment quality and professional relationship with applicant is crucial. Sponsors should have solid understanding of young person's needs.

Specific, Itemized Requests:

Applications must identify specific needs (particular laptop models, specific books, defined tuition) rather than general educational support requests.

Emmaus Greenwich Partnership:

The charity works closely with Emmaus Greenwich for provision of grant items; applications utilizing this partnership may be viewed favorably.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Professional intermediary required: No direct applications from individuals/families; must work through established professional agency
  • Strict geographic restriction: Only Lewisham Borough residents eligible (Ancient Parish of Lee in exceptional circumstances)
  • Under-25 age limit absolute: Exclusively for young people under 25 in full-time education
  • Financial need evidence essential: Must be on very low income, receiving benefits, exhausted other funding sources
  • Eight-week decision timeline: Apply at least two months before items needed
  • Rolling applications advantageous: No deadlines means apply anytime, but competition is ongoing
  • Pre-application contact recommended: Sponsors should email Ambassador@lee-hatcliffe.co.uk before submitting

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