The Lord Cockfield Memorial Trust

Charity Number: 1123996

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately £140,000-£260,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (discretionary grants)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation/trustee-discretion only)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified
  • Geographic Focus: England, Isle of Man, and overseas (particularly Isle of Man connection evident)

Contact Details

Administrative Contact:

Smyth Barkham LLP

1 Mitre Court Buildings

Inner Temple

London EC4Y 7BS

Email: DianaR@smythbarkham.co.uk

Phone: 020 7299 3560

Charity Number: 1123996

Note: The trust does not operate a website or public application portal.

Overview

The Lord Cockfield Memorial Trust was established by trust deed on 3 August 2007 and registered as a charity in 2008. The trust was created in memory of Lord Arthur Cockfield (1916-2007), a distinguished British politician and European Commissioner known as “The Father of the Single Market” for his work on completing the European Single Market. Lord Cockfield and his wife Monica, a choreographer, considered the Isle of Man their home and are buried there.

The trust operates as a discretionary grant-making foundation with total income of approximately £171,000-£215,000 annually and expenditure ranging from £138,000 to £263,000. The trust makes grants to both individuals and organizations across multiple charitable purposes including culture and the arts, humanitarian and disaster relief, environmental protection, and poverty alleviation. The trust is administered by Smyth Barkham LLP, a specialist private client law firm based in the Inner Temple, London.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single discretionary grant program with trustees empowered to support “exclusively charitable objects and purposes in any part of the world as the trustees may in their discretion think fit.” There are no fixed grant tiers or published funding limits.

Application Method: Invitation only / trustee discretion (no public application process)

Priority Areas

The trust has demonstrated interest in funding:

  • Culture and the Arts - including performing arts organizations such as ballet companies
  • Humanitarian and Disaster Relief - emergency response and support services
  • Environment and Nature Protection - conservation and environmental initiatives
  • Poverty Alleviation - programs supporting disadvantaged communities
  • Health and Welfare - including emergency medical services

Beneficiary Groups

The trust makes grants that benefit:

  • Children and young people
  • Elderly people
  • People with disabilities
  • Other charities and voluntary organizations

Geographic Focus

The trust has a particular connection to the Isle of Man (reflecting Lord and Lady Cockfield's personal ties to the island) but operates nationally throughout England and internationally. Known Isle of Man beneficiaries have included the Manx Ballet Company, St John Ambulance, and the Isle of Man Children's Centre.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are published, though all grants must meet exclusively charitable purposes under UK charity law.

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by 2 trustees who serve without remuneration or benefits. The trustees exercise broad discretionary powers in selecting grant recipients and determining grant amounts.

The trust is administered by Smyth Barkham LLP, a niche law firm specializing in private client, tax, and entertainment law, advising high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and trustees.

Historical Note: Member of the Legislative Council Eddie Lowey, who was a friend of Lord and Lady Cockfield for many years, previously served in a trustee or distribution capacity for the trust on the Isle of Man.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The trust operates on a trustee-discretion model, meaning grants are awarded through the trustees' own identification of suitable beneficiaries rather than through open application rounds.

Grants appear to be awarded based on:

  • Pre-existing relationships with the trustees
  • The trustees' knowledge of charitable work in their areas of interest
  • Connections to causes and locations meaningful to Lord and Lady Cockfield's legacy

Organizations seeking funding would need to establish contact with the trustees through the administrative offices at Smyth Barkham LLP, though there is no guarantee that unsolicited approaches will result in funding.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the discretion of trustees on their own timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the trust does not accept public applications, so success rates cannot be calculated.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the discretionary nature of this trust, organizations that have received funding appear to share the following characteristics:

Connection to the Isle of Man: The trust has shown a clear pattern of supporting Isle of Man-based charities, reflecting Lord and Lady Cockfield's personal connection to the island as their adopted home.

Arts and Culture Focus: Given Lady Cockfield's background as a choreographer, the trust has supported performing arts organizations, particularly the Manx Ballet Company.

Community Services: Support for frontline community services such as St John Ambulance and children's centers suggests the trustees value practical charitable work with direct community impact.

Established Organizations: Known beneficiaries are established charitable organizations rather than new initiatives, suggesting the trustees favor proven track records.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this trust cannot be approached through standard grant application methods
  • Isle of Man connection is significant - the trust has demonstrated commitment to supporting Isle of Man charities due to the Cockfield family's personal ties to the island
  • Arts and culture, particularly performing arts, appear to be an area of interest, likely reflecting Lady Cockfield's background as a choreographer
  • Discretionary grant-making means trustees identify beneficiaries themselves based on their own knowledge and priorities
  • Contact via the administrative offices at Smyth Barkham LLP would be necessary for any exploratory conversations, though unsolicited approaches may not be welcomed
  • Broad charitable remit means the trust is not limited to specific causes but has wide discretion to support any exclusively charitable purpose
  • Relationship-based funding suggests that personal connections and trustee knowledge of organizations drive grant decisions

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