The Ormiston Trust

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1164358
• Annual Income: £338.9 million (2024)
• Total Grants Since 2015: £12 million across 350 projects
• Grant Range: Up to £5,000 (open programme for schools)
• Geographic Focus: England
• Grant Type: Primarily closed (subsidiaries only), with limited open programme
• Decision Time: 9-12 month project period
• Impact: Supporting 38,000+ young people and families

Contact Details

Main Office:

• Address: Suite 1, Windmill Oast, Rolvenden, TN17 4PF
• Phone: 0207 266 7940
• Email: info@ormistontrust.org
• Website: https://ormistontrust.org

Grants Team (#WeWill Programme):

• Gabriella Ribeiro, Grants Lead: gabriellaribeiro@ormistontrust.co.uk
• Philippa Rottger-Morgan: philippamorgan@ormistontrust.co.uk

Overview

The Ormiston Trust was established in 1969 by Peter Murray OBE and his father George, in memory of Peter's sister Fiona Ormiston Murray, who tragically died in a car crash on her honeymoon. What began with a £500 donation has grown into one of England's significant grant-making trusts supporting children and families. With total income of £338.9 million and having awarded £12 million in grants since 2015, the Trust operates primarily as a closed funder, making grants to its four subsidiary organisations while also administering the #WeWill Social Action Grant Fund for schools across England. Guided by four core values—Nurture, Empower, Innovate, and Impact—the Trust has supported 350 projects and reaches over 38,000 young people and families annually through its network of schools, academies, and family support services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Structure

Important Note: The Ormiston Trust is a closed grant funder for most of its activities. The vast majority of grants are made only to its subsidiary organisations:

• Ormiston Families
• Ormiston Academies Trust
• Gateway Learning Community Trust
• Birmingham Ormiston Academy Group (BOAG)

Open Grant Programme

#WeWill Social Action Grant Fund

• Amount: Up to £5,000
• Duration: 9-12 month period
• Eligibility: Primary and secondary schools based in England only
• Structure: Two-phase programme
• Phase 1: Embed youth social action using the Trust's toolkit and resources
• Phase 2: Additional funding considered for development and implementation of youth-driven social action projects
• Application: By request - contact Grants team for application form

#WeWill Programme Focus Areas

The fund specifically supports projects in four main areas:

1. Environment and Climate Justice
2. Wellbeing and Mental Health
3. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
4. Community-based Issues

Broader Grant Focus Areas (for subsidiary organisations)

The Trust has interest in 12 key areas:

• Wellbeing and Resilience
• Family, Community & Interpersonal Relationships
• Voice, Action & Agency
• Careers, Employability & Vocational Learning
• Personal, Social & Emotional Life Skills
• Creativity, Arts & Culture
• Physical Health & Sport
• Hobbies, Life Experience & Adventure
• Environment
• Inclusion, Diversity & Equality
• Targeted Support & Reward
• Love of Learning & Study Support

What They Fund

• Youth-led social action projects
• Sustainable social action programmes embedded in school curriculum
• Projects co-produced with young people
• Initiatives that develop employability skills, character, agency and confidence
• Projects addressing issues young people care about in their communities

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations outside their subsidiary network (except schools applying to #WeWill)
• Projects not based in England
• Non-school organisations (for #WeWill programme)
• Retrospective funding
• Projects without meaningful youth involvement and leadership

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Governance and Leadership

Directors/Trustees

• Peter Murray OBE (Founder): Founded the Trust in 1969 in memory of his sister. His commercial property investment experience enabled growth of the original £500 donation into a financially strong grant-making trust.
• Di Murray: Career began in the Foreign Office; set up a Welfare Office for 8,000 Vietnamese Boat People in Hong Kong; served on The Children's Society and NSPCC Fundraising Committees; worked as Citizens Advice Bureau Adviser for five years.
• Duncan Murray: Global Shareholding Reporting Manager for Prudential plc, with previous experience at BlackRock, Deutsche Bank, Tudor Capital LLP and Credit Suisse.
• Pete Cornforth: Director
• Steve Macleod: Director
• Caroline: Director

Executive Leadership

• James Murray, CEO: Works alongside trustees on the Trust's strategy and delivery. Has advised organisations in private, public and voluntary sectors for over 20 years in strategic development, partnership setup, programme and project delivery.
• Aneela Bukhari, Head of Education
• Gabriella Ribeiro, Grants Lead

Organisational Scale

• Employees: 5,772 across the Trust and subsidiary organisations
• Total Income (2024): £338,987,000
• Total Expenditure (2024): £342,671,000

How to Apply to The Ormiston Trust

How to Apply

For #WeWill Social Action Grant Fund:

The Trust does not have an open online application portal. To apply for the #WeWill Social Action Grant Fund:

• Email: gabriellaribeiro@ormistontrust.co.uk or philippamorgan@ormistontrust.co.uk

• Demonstrates how you will enhance youth social action programmes
• Shows how students will identify issues they care about
• Explains how the project will be student-led
• Addresses needs specific to your community
• Commits to using the Ormiston Youth Social Action toolkit

• Phase 1: Focus on embedding youth social action in curriculum using the toolkit
• Phase 2: Additional funding considered for scaled youth-driven projects

For Other Funding:

The Trust is a closed funder and does not accept applications from organisations outside its subsidiary network.

Resources Provided

Successful #WeWill applicants receive:

• Youth Social Action Toolkit with resources, curriculum guides and templates
• Access to the Youth Social Action Resource Hub (wewillormiston.co.uk/staff-2/resources/)
• Support throughout the programme duration

Decision Timeline

• Project Duration: 9-12 months
• Application Process: Contact grants team for current deadlines
• Applications are assessed on a cohort basis rather than rolling

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. The programme has expanded to over 180 schools within the Trust's network.

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Student-Led Approach: The Trust emphasises that projects must be “student-led and based around the needs of their specific communities.” Applications should clearly demonstrate how young people will drive the project from conception to delivery.

Use of the Toolkit: Successful applicants must commit to using the Ormiston Youth Social Action Toolkit. Applications should show understanding of how the toolkit will be integrated into the school's approach.

Skills Development Focus: According to programme materials, “The youth social action toolkit outlines every step needed for schools and students to meaningfully engage with youth social action...and is centered around critical skill development (including communication, oracy, problem solving, among others).” Applications should articulate how projects will develop these transferable skills.

Community Connection: Projects should address real issues in the school's community. The Trust looks for initiatives that respond to what young people have identified as important local challenges.

Sustainability: The programme aims to “support academies to fully embed sustainable social action programmes within their curriculum and across their schools.” Show how the project will continue beyond the grant period.

Scale and Impact: The Trust is “particularly interested in funding schools or institutions that can start up or scale up youth social action projects at scale.” Demonstrate potential for wider impact.

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

These successful projects from the Trust's subsidiary academies illustrate what works:

• Brownhills Ormiston Academy: #WeWill Sing - built community choir bringing students, alumni, and primary pupils together, performing regularly with local brass bands
• Cowes Enterprise College: #WeWill Recycle - student-led project breaking down barriers to textile and school uniform recycling
• Packmoor Ormiston Academy: #WeWill Cook - cookery and gardening club creating meals from school garden produce, creating food parcels for people experiencing homelessness
• Ormiston Forge Academy: Eco project raising awareness of fast fashion with flash dances and 'Re'Love Events' for clothing donation
• Ormiston Bushfield Academy: #WeWill Perform - drama and creative arts raising funds for children's hospital while mentoring younger pupils
• Ormiston Six Villages Academy: #WeWill be Cyber Safe - sharing cyber safety research with primary pupils and creating leaflets for elderly community members
• Great Yarmouth (Ormiston Families): Recruited 200+ Wellbeing Ambassadors across 15 schools to offer wellbeing support and lead social action projects

Recognition

The Trust's #WeWill social action projects won Silver in the Pearson National Teaching Awards and are in the running for the Gold Award, demonstrating the quality and impact of funded work.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Limited Scope: This is primarily a closed funder. Only schools in England can access the #WeWill programme; all other funding goes to subsidiary organisations.

• Student Voice is Central: Every aspect of your application should demonstrate genuine youth leadership and voice. This isn't about adults delivering projects for young people—it's about young people identifying, planning, and leading projects themselves.

• Commit to the Toolkit: You must be willing to integrate the Ormiston Youth Social Action Toolkit into your approach. Familiarise yourself with the toolkit before applying (available via wewillormiston.co.uk).

• Think Community Impact: The strongest applications will identify real community needs and show how young people will address them through social action. Local relevance matters.

• Focus on Skills Development: Frame your project around developing transferable skills—communication, oracy, problem-solving, leadership—that will benefit young people beyond the project itself.

• Demonstrate Sustainability: Show how youth social action will become embedded in your school's culture and curriculum, not just a one-off project.

• Two-Phase Opportunity: Remember that successful Phase 1 participants may be considered for additional Phase 2 funding to scale their projects, so think about long-term development from the outset.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The John Armitage Charitable Trust
• The Tom Ap Rhys Pryce Memorial Trust
• The Bowland Charitable Trust
• Schroder Charity Trust
• Fb Coales No 4 (family) Trust
• St Christopher's Educational Trust (incorporating The Hughes And Stevens Bequest)
• The Glastonbury Trust Cio
• The Peter Cruddas Foundation
• Duke Of Devonshire's Charitable Trust
• The Goyal Foundation

References

• Ormiston Trust Official Website: https://ormistontrust.org
• #WeWill Social Action Grant Fund page: https://ormistontrust.org/wewill-social-action-grant-fund
• Grant Focus Areas: https://ormistontrust.org/grant-focus-areas
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1164358
• Founded Organisations: https://ormistontrust.org/founded-organisations
• Education Business UK: “Ormiston Trust offers grants for social action projects” (15 March 2022)
• Ormiston Academies Trust: “#WeWill Do More – youth social action campaign launches across OAT academies” https://ormistonacademiestrust.co.uk/wewill-do-more-youth-social-action-campaign-launches-across-oat-academies
• Youth Social Action Resource Hub: https://wewillormiston.co.uk/staff-2/resources
• Ormiston Families History: https://www.ormiston.org/who-we-are/our-history