The Myner Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £140,000 (approximate, based on 2025 expenditure)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (projects vary from small library equipment to major building extensions)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Cornwall, but open to applications worldwide
• Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Registered Address: Bayspace St Ives, Fernlea Terrace, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2BH

Phone: 01736 808800

Website: https://www.mynertrust.org.uk/

Charity Number: 1086804

Overview

The Myner Trust was established in memory of Dennis George Charles Myner (1927-2012), an architect and painter from St Ives, Cornwall. The trust continues his philanthropic legacy of supporting educational and cultural institutions. With annual expenditure reaching approximately £140,000 in recent years (with significant increases to £151,616 in 2024 and £140,407 in 2025), the trust focuses on advancing education in its broadest sense—from formal schooling to community education, research, museums, libraries, and lifelong learning. The trust is particularly known for its longstanding support of the Morrab Library in Penzance and sponsors the prestigious Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry, named after Dennis Myner's sister. While the trust's primary focus is Cornwall-based projects, it is open to supporting appropriate organizations worldwide.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Myner Trust does not operate traditional grant programs with fixed amounts or deadlines. Instead, the Chair of Trustees proactively identifies and invites organizations that meet the trust's eligibility criteria to apply for funding.

Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry (in partnership with Morrab Library):

• First Prize: £2,000
• Second Prize: £1,000
• Third Prize: £500
• Sonnet Prize: £1,500
• Children's competition also offered

Priority Areas

Education Types Supported:

• Formal education (schools, colleges, universities)
• Community education (pre-schools, playgroups, adult learning centers)
• Physical education and development
• Training and lifelong learning
• Research (research foundations, think tanks, scientific institutes)
• Individual skill development

Supported Organizations:

• Educational institutions at all levels
• Museums, galleries, archives, and libraries
• Professional institutes and learned societies
• Charitable and non-profit organizations advancing education

Known Funded Projects:

• Morrab Library extension and operational support
• Conservation-grade photographic storage cabinets for photo archives
• Professional scanning equipment and computers for digital preservation
• Museum of Cornish Life storage expansion
• Paradise Park learning program
• Penzance Literary Festival
• Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry (annual international competition)

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals (explicitly stated)
• Organizations that do not align with educational advancement
• Unsolicited applications are not considered

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees (as of charity register):

• Michael Higgins - Chair (appointed 21 February 2012)
• Malcolm Kemp - Trustee (appointed 31 January 2014)
• Lynnette Kemp - Trustee (appointed 31 January 2014)
• Sharon Glynis Higgins - Trustee (appointed 4 April 2012)

The Chair of Trustees plays a central role in identifying and inviting appropriate organizations to apply for grant funding.

About the Founder: Dennis Myner was born in London in 1927 and qualified as an architect in St. Albans. He moved to Penzance in the late 1950s for his mother's health and in the early 1960s built his own house in St Ives, where he established his architectural practice. After retiring in the early 1970s, his sister Patricia Eschen encouraged him to take up painting, giving him his first set of oils and brushes. He set himself the goal of painting 300 pictures but had created 753 paintings by the time of his death. Dennis was deeply committed to the Morrab Library, dedicating 15 years to obtaining planning permission for a library extension. His philanthropic legacy continues through the trust established in his memory.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications.

The Myner Trust operates by invitation only. The Chair of Trustees proactively identifies and invites appropriate organizations that meet the trust's eligibility criteria to apply for grant funding. Unsolicited applications will not be considered.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on organizations they have selected as aligned with the trust's mission to advance education.

Getting on Their Radar

The Myner Trust has a clear pattern of supporting organizations with which it has developed relationships, particularly in Cornwall's cultural and educational sectors. Specific intelligence about this funder includes:

• Morrab Library Connection: The trust has an exceptionally strong relationship with Morrab Library in Penzance, which was central to Dennis Myner's life and interests. He frequented the library's Photo Archive during retirement and dedicated 15 years to obtaining planning permission for the library's extension. The trust continues this legacy through ongoing support.

• Cornwall Heritage & Cultural Sector: The trust has demonstrated interest in museums (Museum of Cornish Life), libraries, and cultural heritage projects, particularly those involving preservation, archival work, and educational programs.

• Known Beneficiaries: Organizations that have received support include Morrab Library, Museum of Cornish Life, Paradise Park (for educational programs), and Penzance Literary Festival—all Cornwall-based cultural and educational institutions.

• Trustee Connections: With trustees based in St Ives and the surrounding area, the trust appears to identify potential beneficiaries through local knowledge and connections within Cornwall's charitable sector.

Organizations working in education, heritage preservation, libraries, museums, and cultural education in Cornwall are most likely to be considered by the trustees. Building visibility within Cornwall's cultural and educational charity networks may increase the likelihood of being identified by the trustees.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, decision timelines are determined by the trustees' discretion.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the trust invites selected organizations rather than reviewing open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. Organizations previously supported (such as Morrab Library, which receives ongoing support) may receive multiple grants over time at the trustees' discretion.

Application Success Factors

Since The Myner Trust operates by invitation only, traditional “application success factors” do not apply. However, research reveals specific characteristics of organizations that have received support:

Alignment with Dennis Myner's Legacy:

• Organizations connected to Cornwall's cultural heritage and preservation
• Libraries and archives, particularly those involved in photographic or historical preservation
• Educational institutions advancing learning in the arts, culture, and heritage

Project Characteristics of Known Funded Work:

• Infrastructure improvements for cultural institutions (library extensions, museum storage)
• Digital preservation and archival technology (scanning equipment, conservation-grade storage)
• Educational programming (learning programs, literary festivals)
• Cultural competitions and prizes (Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry)

Geographic and Sectoral Focus:

• Strong preference for Cornwall-based projects, particularly in the Penzance and St Ives area
• Cultural institutions with established track records
• Projects that provide clear public educational benefit

The Trust's Own Guidance: The trust website states that they support “the advancement of education” and recognize "education's power to drive economic growth, enrich culture, and reduce poverty“ with an emphasis on providing ”clear and tangible public benefits." This language suggests trustees value projects with demonstrable impact on educational access and cultural enrichment.

Partnership Approach: The Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry demonstrates the trust's willingness to partner with established institutions (Morrab Library) on initiatives that honor the founder's family while advancing educational and cultural goals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• You cannot apply directly - The Myner Trust operates exclusively by invitation from the Chair of Trustees. Unsolicited applications will not be considered.
• Cornwall focus - While technically open to worldwide applications, the trust demonstrates a clear preference for Cornwall-based educational and cultural institutions, particularly in the Penzance and St Ives area.
• Broad definition of education - Support extends beyond formal schooling to include museums, libraries, archives, research, and cultural education—anywhere that advances learning and provides public benefit.
• Relationship-driven funding - The trust's ongoing support for organizations like Morrab Library suggests they build long-term relationships with beneficiaries rather than making one-off grants.
• Heritage and preservation - Known funded projects emphasize archival preservation, cultural heritage, and infrastructure for educational institutions.
• Honors founder's legacy - Projects connected to the arts, architecture, libraries, and Cornwall's cultural landscape align closely with Dennis Myner's personal interests and life's work.
• Growing grant-making capacity - With expenditure nearly doubling from £76,933 (2023) to £151,616 (2024), the trust appears to be expanding its grant-making activities.

References

1. The Myner Trust official website - https://www.mynertrust.org.uk/
2. Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Myner Trust (Charity No. 1086804) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3976107
3. “Dennis Myner, Patricia Eschen and The Dennis Myner Trust” - The Morrab Library - https://morrablibrary.org.uk/2022/06/thedennismynertrustblog/
4. “Patricia Eschen Prize For Poetry 2024” - The Morrab Library - https://morrablibrary.org.uk/poetryprize2024/
5. “Celebrating Poetry Excellence: Winners of the Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry 2024 Announced” - CornishStuff - https://cornishstuff.com/penzance/celebrating-poetry-excellence-winners-of-the-patricia-eschen-prize-for-poetry-2024-announced/
6. Charity Commission Financial History for The Myner Trust - showing annual income and expenditure 2021-2025