The Magdalen And Lasher Charity

Charity Number: 211415

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £15,000 (music grants) + £58,000-£105,000 (educational grants)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program; educational grants awarded May-September
  • Grant Range: £500 - £7,500+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Borough of Hastings, East Sussex only

Contact Details

Address: Old Hastings House, 132 High Street, Hastings, TN34 3ET

Phone: 01424 452646

Email: admin@oldhastingshouse.co.uk

Website: www.magdalenandlasher.co.uk

Overview

The Magdalen and Lasher Charity, founded in the 13th century, is one of Hastings' oldest charitable institutions. The charity operates three main programs: general grants for individuals and organizations supporting those in need, hardship or distress; pension provision for over 200 elderly residents; and management of Old Hastings House residential care home. Through its Educational Foundation (established 1906), the charity has awarded over £1.3 million since 2009 to schools and students in Hastings. The charity is governed by up to 15 trustees including ex-officio appointments (the Rector and four churchwardens of St Clement and All Saints Parish), three Borough Councillors nominated by Hastings Borough Council, and co-opted trustees. Clive Scott Galbraith has served as Chair since 2012.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grants for Individuals

  • Amount: Varies based on need
  • For residents experiencing need, hardship, or distress
  • Subject to means testing
  • Must be sponsored by approved agencies (HARC, East Sussex County Council Social Services, Citizens Advice Bureau, schools, Christians Against Poverty, Xtrax, Brighton Housing Trust)
  • Rolling basis

General Grants for Organizations

  • Recent examples: £3,900 - £7,500
  • For not-for-profit organizations directly helping Hastings residents
  • Normally for one-off specific projects
  • Recent recipients include Fresh Vision People Ltd (£6,500 for youth programme catering), Association of Carers (£3,900 for staff costs), Bags of Taste (£5,500 for home cooking programme), A Touch of Gentleness CIC (£7,500 for volunteer training)

Educational Foundation - School Grants

  • Major Grants: £5,000+
  • Minor Grants: Up to £5,000
  • Annual invitations to all Hastings state schools
  • For educational projects and activities not otherwise funded
  • Recent cycle: 5 major grants (£45,600 total) and 17 minor grants (£58,349 total)

Educational Foundation - Student Bursaries

  • Up to £1,500 per student for undergraduate university places
  • Paid in three £500 installments over years one, two, and three
  • Applications due by end of April
  • Requires reference from 6th form tutor or UCAS
  • Applications invited through local 6th Form Colleges

Educational Foundation - Further Education Grants

  • For further education and vocational courses
  • Applications accepted at least one month before course commencement

Batley Hibbert Musical Education Fund

  • Approximately £15,000 annually
  • For individuals and associations in Hastings
  • To further the practice and development of music

Priority Areas

  • Relief of poverty and need in Hastings
  • Support for elderly residents
  • Educational advancement for Hastings students
  • Musical education and development
  • Community organizations addressing hardship and distress
  • Projects benefiting residents who have lived in Hastings for 3+ years

What They Don't Fund

  • Repayment of debts or loans
  • Legal fees
  • Funeral expenses (except cost of attending a funeral)
  • Purchase of vehicles
  • Applicants who have not exhausted other obvious sources of relief (e.g., social services)
  • Projects outside the Borough of Hastings
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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Clive Scott Galbraith (appointed 2012)

Trustee Structure: Maximum of 15 trustees:

  • Ex-officio: Rector and four churchwardens of St Clement and All Saints Parish
  • Three Borough Councillors nominated by Hastings Borough Council
  • Up to seven co-opted trustees

Annual Elections: Trustees elect their Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Committee Chairmen annually.

Administration: Both The Magdalen and Lasher Charity and The Magdalen and Lasher Educational Foundation share administration and premises at Old Hastings House.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Individual General Grants:

  • Applications must be sponsored by an approved agency with direct knowledge of the applicant
  • Subject to means testing
  • Download application forms from website or request by post
  • Submit completed forms with all relevant supporting documentation to Old Hastings House

For Organizational Grants:

  • Consult the Guidelines document available on the charity's website
  • Submit application with full project details

For Educational Foundation School Grants:

  • Annual invitation sent to all Hastings state schools
  • Schools apply for major (£5,000+) or minor (up to £5,000) grants

For Student Bursaries:

  • Download both required forms from website
  • Include full course fee details and letter of acceptance
  • Include details of why taking the course and plans upon completion
  • Provide finance details (means-tested based on household income below £35,000)
  • Submit with reference from 6th form tutor or UCAS
  • Deadline: End of April

For Further Education/Vocational Courses:

  • Apply at least one month before course commencement

Decision Timeline

Educational Foundation Individual Grants: Majority awarded between May and September. Applications received after this period may be refused if the budget has been spent.

General Grants: Timeline not publicly specified; contact charity for details.

Grant Payment: All grants awarded must be paid within the year approved.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The charity notes that “each application is viewed on its individual merits.”

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy not publicly specified. Contact the charity for guidance if an initial application is unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements

Residency is Non-Negotiable: All applicants (individuals and organizations serving individuals) must demonstrate three years' residency in the Borough of Hastings and current residency at time of application.

Exhaust Other Sources First: The charity explicitly requires that applicants have approached other obvious sources of relief (e.g., social services) before applying. This demonstrates both genuine need and appropriate due diligence.

Agency Sponsorship for Individuals: Individual applications require support from approved agencies who have direct knowledge of the applicant's circumstances. This third-party validation is essential for success.

Financial Need Documentation: For educational grants, the charity states: “Grants and bursaries are usually only awarded to students from families earning below the median UK household income (currently £35,000).” Be prepared to provide comprehensive finance details.

Project Specificity: The charity emphasizes that organizational grants are “normally for one-off specific projects.” Avoid requesting general operational funding; focus on discrete, deliverable projects.

Timing Considerations

For educational grants, note the charity's warning: “Applications received after that [May-September] may have to be refused if the budget has been spent.” Apply early in the cycle to maximize chances of funding availability.

Historical Context

The charity's 13th-century origins and consistent focus on Hastings residents indicates deep local commitment. Applications that demonstrate understanding of local context and community needs may resonate more strongly.

Recent Funding Examples Show Preference For:

  • Youth programs (Fresh Vision People Ltd - £6,500)
  • Carer support (Association of Carers - £3,900)
  • Practical life skills programs (Bags of Taste - £5,500)
  • Volunteer capacity building (A Touch of Gentleness CIC - £7,500)
  • Cultural community events (Jack in the Green festival support)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Three-year residency in Hastings Borough is mandatory - this is the primary eligibility filter; ensure applicants/beneficiaries meet this requirement before investing time in an application.
  • Agency sponsorship is required for individual applications - establish relationships with approved agencies (HARC, East Sussex County Council Social Services, CAB, etc.) before applying.
  • Demonstrate you've exhausted other funding sources - the charity explicitly wants to know you've approached social services and other obvious relief sources first; document this in your application.
  • Apply early for educational grants - with most individual educational grants awarded May-September, late applications risk finding an empty budget.
  • Focus on one-off projects for organizational grants - avoid requesting ongoing operational costs; frame requests around specific, deliverable projects.
  • Provide comprehensive financial information - means testing is standard; transparency about household income (particularly for educational grants) is essential.
  • Local connection matters - as one of Hastings' oldest charities, demonstrate deep understanding of local community needs and how your project addresses them specifically within the Borough.

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