The Nina And Roger Stewart Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £112,544 (2023)
• Grant Range: £100 - £5,000 (based on known programs)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Charity Number: 1143730
• Established: 2011

Contact Details

Address: Howard Kennedy LLP, No 1 London Bridge, London SE1 9BG

Phone: 07860 395253

Note: The trust does not have a public website or email address listed on the Charity Commission register.

Overview

The Nina and Roger Stewart Charitable Trust was established in 2011 following the death of Nina Stewart at the age of 95, who left nearly all her estate to create this grant-making charity. Nina Stewart had a remarkable life story: in the 1930s, worried by the threat of fascism, she and Roger left Romania for Cyprus, and Nina went to study art in Paris. During World War II she joined the British forces in Cairo as a translator with the rank of Captain. After the war, she moved to London and became a successful businesswoman. The trust operates throughout England and Wales with an income of £147,098 and expenditure of £112,544 in 2023. The trust makes grants to organisations within the trustees' terms of reference and makes very occasional grants to individuals. With three trustees and no paid staff, the trust focuses particularly on supporting arts, education, disadvantaged young people, and people with disabilities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates several distinct grant programs:

Nina Stewart Awards (University of the Arts London)

• For up to 4 Home or International students enrolled in the final year of BA (Hons) Fashion at Central Saint Martins
• Provides contribution towards course costs and final collection
• Assessed on financial need and academic merit
• Legacy to Nina's personal interest in style and fashion

South London Gallery Postgraduate Residency

• Six-month residency for recent postgraduate art students
• £4,500 housing bursary
• £5,000 artist's fee
• £4,000 production budget
• Studio space in SLG Fire Station
• Culminates in solo exhibition
• Program on pause for 2024/25

Roger and Nina Stewart Fund (AWGB)

• Maximum of 10 discretionary grants per year through the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain
• For disadvantaged AWGB members or those who would like to join
• Supports starter turning kits, tools, training, travel expenses
• Targets young people with challenging home situations or in care
• Can include membership subscription costs

Priority Areas

• Arts, culture, heritage and science
• Education and training
• Children and young people, particularly those who are disadvantaged
• People with disabilities
• General charitable purposes
• Overseas aid/famine relief (occasional)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the trust operates within strict trustees' terms of reference, suggesting they only fund within their established program areas.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Robert Craig LLM, FCIARB
• Gordon Philip Eder
• One additional trustee (name not publicly available)

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The trust has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

The trust is administered through Howard Kennedy LLP, a London law firm, suggesting professional legal oversight of grant-making decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through established partnerships and at the discretion of the trustees.

The trust operates through three main channels:

1. University partnerships: The Nina Stewart Awards at Central Saint Martins and the South London Gallery residency are administered by those institutions. Students and artists apply through the respective institution's processes, not directly to the trust.

1. AWGB Discretionary Grants: Members of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain can apply through AWGB's internal grant application process for support from the Roger and Nina Stewart Fund.

1. Trustee discretion: Other grants are made to organisations within the trustees' terms of reference, but there is no public application portal or guidance.

Getting on Their Radar

Nina Stewart's Legacy in Fashion: The trust has demonstrated sustained commitment to supporting fashion students at Central Saint Martins. Organizations or institutions working with disadvantaged fashion students or emerging fashion talent may be of interest to the trustees.

Arts Education Partnerships: The trust's support for the South London Gallery residency (2011-present, albeit with pauses) shows interest in supporting emerging artists through established arts institutions. Organizations providing structured support, mentoring, and exhibition opportunities for early-career artists could align with the trust's interests.

Woodturning and Craft: Through the AWGB partnership, the trust supports disadvantaged individuals in accessing craft education. Organizations working with young people in care or from challenging backgrounds in craft-based skills development may align with the trust's priorities.

Established Institution Model: Both major grant relationships are with respected institutions (UAL, South London Gallery, AWGB) rather than direct grants to individuals or small organizations. This suggests the trust prefers working through established organizations with track records.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available as applications are not accepted through a public process. Institutional partnerships appear to operate on annual cycles.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not available as there is no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's closed application process, the following factors appear important based on their established funding relationships:

Institutional Credibility: Both major beneficiaries (UAL/Central Saint Martins and South London Gallery) are highly respected institutions with national and international reputations. The trust appears to favor working with established organizations.

Focus on Emerging Talent: All three main programs (Nina Stewart Awards, SLG Residency, AWGB grants) specifically support people at early career stages or facing financial disadvantage in pursuing their craft.

Nina Stewart's Legacy: The fashion awards directly reflect Nina's personal interest in style and fashion. Her life story - fleeing fascism, military service, business success, and commitment to the arts - may inform the trustees' priorities.

Structured Support Programs: Rather than one-off grants, the trust supports comprehensive programs that provide mentoring, space, financial support, and exhibition/career development opportunities.

Disadvantaged Groups: The AWGB program explicitly targets “those who are disadvantaged in some way, on benefit, low earnings etc.” and young people in care. Supporting disadvantaged individuals appears to be a consistent priority.

Long-term Commitment: The trust has maintained its relationships with beneficiaries over many years (Nina Stewart Awards since 2011, SLG residency from 2011-2015 and continuing as the Postgraduate Residency), suggesting they value sustained partnerships over numerous small grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not an open application trust: The Nina and Roger Stewart Charitable Trust operates through established partnerships and trustee discretion rather than accepting unsolicited applications
• Institutional partnerships are key: If you work for an arts education institution, crafts organization, or charity supporting disadvantaged young people, a formal institutional partnership may be the route to funding
• Focus on fashion, visual arts, and craft: The trust's known funding reflects Nina Stewart's personal interests in fashion and the arts, plus support for traditional crafts through woodturning
• Support for emerging talent: All documented programs focus on students, recent graduates, or early-career individuals rather than established practitioners or large-scale organizational costs
• Disadvantage is a priority: The trust explicitly supports individuals facing financial hardship, disadvantaged young people, and those in care
• Long-term view required: The trust maintains multi-year relationships with beneficiaries, so any approach would need to demonstrate potential for sustained partnership rather than one-off funding
• Professional administration: With legal oversight from Howard Kennedy LLP and careful trustee governance, any partnership would likely require formal agreements and reporting structures

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE ROBERT GAVRON CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Williams Charitable Trust
• The South Square Trust
• THE HEADLEY TRUST
• Chapman Charitable Trust
• Newby Trust Limited
• The De Laszlo Foundation
• The Michael Marks Charitable Trust
• The Elephant Trust
• The Ofenheim Charitable Trust

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - The Nina and Roger Stewart Charitable Trust (Charity Number 1143730). Retrieved from: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5021767

1. University of the Arts London - Nina Stewart Awards. Retrieved from: https://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/fees-and-funding/scholarships-search/nina-stewart-awards

1. South London Gallery - Postgraduate Residency programme information. Retrieved from: https://www.southlondongallery.org/residencies/graduate-residencies/

1. SPACE Studios - Nina Stewart Studio Bursary programme history. Retrieved from: https://spacestudios.org.uk/artist-support-post/nina-stewart-residency/

1. Association of Woodturners of Great Britain - Members Benefits including Roger and Nina Stewart Fund. Retrieved from: https://www.awgb.co.uk/members-benefits/

1. UK Charity Commission - Accounts and Annual Returns for Charity 1143730. Retrieved from: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5021767/accounts-and-annual-returns