The Monsoon Accessorize Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £253,082 (2024)
• Annual Income: £348,295 (2024)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (known examples: £250,000 multi-year commitment)
• Geographic Focus: Asia (primarily India and Afghanistan), limited UK projects
• Application Method: Rolling basis via email
• Registered Charity Number: 1038446

Contact Details

Email: monsoontrust@monsoon.co.uk

Phone: 7801766921

Website: www.monsoontrust.org (redirects to www.monsoon.co.uk/charity.html)

Address: Registered charity in England and Wales

Overview

Founded in 1994 by Peter Simon, founder of Monsoon Accessorize, The Monsoon Accessorize Trust has raised over £7 million, partnered with over 60 charitable organizations, and impacted over 250,000 lives. The Trust focuses on relieving poverty through education, healthcare, and income-generation projects for disadvantaged women and children in Asia. With total funds of £657,951 as of August 2024 and annual expenditure of £253,082, the Trust maintains a focused portfolio of five main projects alongside ad hoc initiatives. The Trust's genesis came from Peter Simon's overland journey to Asia, which inspired him to support vulnerable individuals in craft communities, particularly underprivileged women and children requiring healthcare and education. The Trust works with trusted charities on the ground to maximize the impact of every donation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates three focused funding streams:

• Education Fund: Supports quality basic education in rural and urban areas, equipping teachers and supporting children's learning with preference for environmentally friendly approaches
• Poverty Fund: Funds sustainable income-generating activities, promotes women's empowerment, and increases community resilience (aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 1 - No Poverty)
• Community Healthcare Fund: Prioritizes healthcare for mothers and children, improving basic healthcare access in rural communities and strengthening health services and immunization

The Trust provides grants and, on a needs-be basis, gift-in-kind donations. Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis via email submission.

Priority Areas

Core Focus:

• Education projects that equip teachers and support children's learning
• Sustainable income-generating activities using participatory approaches
• Healthcare for mothers and children in rural communities
• Women's empowerment at every stage of the project-management cycle
• Environmental protection and sustainability
• Projects that benefit artisans in the Monsoon Accessorize supply chain

Geographic Priority:

• India (primary focus area)
• Afghanistan (ongoing commitment)
• Limited UK-based projects
• Emergency disaster relief globally (Haiti, Philippines, Pakistan, Turkey-Syria)

Thematic Alignment:

• Poverty alleviation
• Basic education access
• Maternal and child health
• Community resilience
• Livelihood development

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on their focused mandate:

• Organizations blacklisted by government departments or donors
• Projects acting as intermediaries rather than direct implementers
• For-profit organizations
• Projects outside their three core funding streams (education, poverty/livelihoods, healthcare)
• Organizations without proven project management track record

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: The Trust has 2 trustees who meet quarterly to review progress of existing projects, evaluate finances, consider new proposals, and monitor the risk environment of the Trust's activities. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Volunteers: 6 volunteers support the Trust's operations.

Founder's Vision: Peter Simon established the Trust stating: “I wanted to give back to the communities we trade in, specifically to women and underprivileged children” and “My original objective was to tackle the key issues of healthcare and education.”

Governance Approach: The Trust uses a transparent and fair method when recruiting new trustees, selecting them based on general competencies and specialist skill sets. New trustees receive suitable induction to ensure effective governance. The Deed of Trust gives trustees power to invest the charity's surplus funds as they think fit.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a registered NGO, INGO, CBO, or charity
• Experience in education, livelihoods, and/or health sectors
• Proven track record of project implementation and management in the developmental theme
• Must provide reference from previous partnership demonstrating delivery capability
• Directly responsible for project preparation and management (not acting as intermediary)
• Non-profit making organization
• Not blacklisted by any government department or donor

Application Process:

All proposals must be sent to monsoontrust@monsoon.co.uk

Required Application Components:

• Concept note with project objectives
• Justification for the project
• Narrative proposal
• Financial proposal with explanation of grant usage
• Details of other financial resources available
• Reference demonstrating ability to deliver similar developmental impact
• Demonstration of project management cycle capabilities

Ongoing Requirements:

All projects are required to provide regular progress reports, at least annually.

Decision Timeline

Trustees meet quarterly to review proposals. Specific decision timelines from submission to approval are not publicly disclosed. Organizations should expect the review process to align with quarterly trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volumes are not publicly disclosed. The Trust maintains a focused portfolio of five main projects plus ad hoc initiatives, suggesting a selective approach.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's documented priorities and funded projects, successful applications should:

Demonstrate Strong Alignment:

• Focus on women and children as primary beneficiaries
• Address education, healthcare, or income generation
• Operate in India or Afghanistan (highest priority) or align with emergency response needs
• Show how the project promotes women's empowerment throughout the project cycle
• Include environmentally friendly or protective approaches

Show Proven Capability:

• Provide concrete evidence of previous project delivery
• Demonstrate established project management systems
• Include strong references from previous funders or partners
• Show experience in the specific developmental theme

Emphasize Sustainability:

• Use participatory approaches involving beneficiaries
• Create sustainable income-generating activities rather than one-off interventions
• Build community resilience and strengthen local services
• Demonstrate long-term impact potential

Examples of Recently Funded Work:

• Turquoise Mountain (Afghanistan): Pre-primary education and English classes for 100+ children in Bamiyan villages, supporting women artisans
• WaterHarvest (India): £250,000 multi-year commitment for water-irrigation support to 2,000+ families
• Prakratik Society (India): Environmental education program at Fateh Public School, Ranthambore, including funding for boys' hostel construction
• Shalom Global Foundation (Delhi): Aashiana project supporting HIV-positive families with nutrition, education, and jewelry-making training
• Jeevika (Rural India): Addressing period poverty for 5,000+ women through eco-disposable sanitary products and reproductive health education

Connection to Monsoon Accessorize Supply Chain: While not required, projects that benefit artisans or communities connected to the company's supply chain may have strategic alignment.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focused mission: The Trust has a clear mandate supporting women and children in Asia through education, healthcare, and income generation - applications outside this focus are unlikely to succeed
• Proven track record essential: References and demonstrated project management experience are non-negotiable requirements
• Women-centered approach: Projects must put women's empowerment at the forefront of all aspects of project management
• Geographic priority: India and Afghanistan are the primary focus areas; UK and emergency relief are secondary priorities
• Sustainability matters: The Trust favors sustainable, participatory approaches over short-term interventions
• Long-term partnerships: The Trust maintains ongoing relationships with five main partners, suggesting they value sustained collaboration over frequent partner changes
• Quarterly decision-making: Time applications to align with quarterly trustee meetings for review

References

1. Monsoon Accessorize Trust Charity Page - www.monsoon.co.uk/charity.html
2. Monsoon Accessorize Trust Grants Page - www.monsoon.co.uk/charity-grants.html
3. Monsoon Accessorize Trust Impact Page - www.monsoon.co.uk/charity-impact.html
4. Monsoon Accessorize Trust FAQs - www.monsoon.co.uk/charity-faqs.html
5. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1038446 - register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1038446
6. Monsoon Jobs - Our Trusts - www.monsoonjobs.com/our-trust
7. “Giving back with The Monsoon Accessorize Trust” - Monsoon Blog
8. Peter Simon quotes from Monsoon corporate communications and Wikipedia entry on Peter Simon (businessman)
9. Annual Report year ending 31 August 2024 - UK Charity Commission records