The Overstall Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £98,618 (2025)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Trustee discretion
• Grant Range: Variable (recent grants from individual scholarships to institutional support)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

• Email: clare.savory@cripps.co.uk
• Phone: 01892515121
• Address: Cripps LLP, Number 22 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8AS
• Website: None

Overview

The Overstall Charitable Trust, established in September 2000 by Anne and John Kevin Overstall, is a private grant-making charity that focuses on advancing education through scholarships, bursaries, and institutional support. Founded by Anne Overstall, former Director of Software Development at Kewill Systems plc, the trust operates through Cripps Trust Corporation Limited as its corporate trustee. With annual giving of approximately £98,618 (2025), the trust makes strategic grants to educational institutions and provides scholarships to individual students. The trust has no public website or application process, operating instead through trustee discretion and long-term partnerships with carefully selected beneficiaries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Individual Scholarships & Bursaries: Support for pupils at schools, colleges, and universities in England
• Institutional Grants: Direct support to charitable organizations aligned with trust objectives
• Arts & Music Education: Recent substantial support to LAMDA for purchasing pianos for Musical Theatre courses
• Foundation Support: Long-term partnership with Reed's School supporting Foundation pupils since 2003

Priority Areas

• Mathematics education and study promotion
• Music and dramatic arts education
• Historical preservation and appreciation
• Scientific education and public engagement
• Support for children and young people
• Museums, parks, and historical sites

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside England and Wales
• Non-charitable purposes
• Unsolicited applications from unknown organizations

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Anne Overstall (Founder and Trustee) - Also serves on the Andrew Reed Foundation Board
• Richard Broad
• Fiona Garrett
• Corporate Trustee: Cripps Trust Corporation Limited

The trust operates with no trustee remuneration. Anne Overstall brings significant technology sector experience from her career at Kewill Systems plc, combined with a passion for education and the arts. The trust is managed through Cripps Trust Corporation, which oversees more than 400 trusts.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and existing relationships. The trust identifies beneficiaries proactively rather than through open applications. Organizations cannot apply directly but may make initial contact through the administrative contact at Cripps LLP.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the trust's giving patterns:

• The trust maintains long-term partnerships spanning decades (Reed's School relationship since 2003)
• Anne Overstall's board position at the Andrew Reed Foundation provides insight into her charitable interests
• Contact clare.savory@cripps.co.uk for initial inquiries, though consideration is not guaranteed
• The trust appears to favor established educational institutions with strong track records

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made at trustee discretion without published timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only funder

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this trust, organizations that receive support typically:

• Have established reputations in education, particularly in mathematics, arts, or heritage preservation
• Demonstrate long-term impact potential worthy of sustained partnership
• Align closely with the founders' specific interests in advancing education and public knowledge
• Operate within England and Wales with charitable status
• Come to the trust's attention through existing networks or trustee connections

The trust's support for LAMDA's new Musical Theatre program and decades-long commitment to Reed's School suggests they value:

• Innovation in educational programming
• Support for student access through scholarships and bursaries
• Capital investments that enhance educational capacity
• Institutions that serve young people

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private, invitation-only funder with no public application process
• Focus areas are highly specific: mathematics education, arts education, and historical/scientific appreciation
• The trust values long-term partnerships over one-off grants
• Contact must be made through clare.savory@cripps.co.uk at Cripps LLP
• Best suited for established educational institutions rather than grassroots organizations
• Annual giving of approximately £100,000 suggests capacity for both smaller and larger grants
• Patience is required - relationships may take years to develop into funding partnerships

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Roger and Ingrid Pilkington Charitable Trust
• Thriplow Charitable Trust
• The Albert Dawson Educational Trust
• Viquaran Nisa Noon and Firoz Khan Noon Educational Foundation
• The William Price Charitable Trust
• The Spoore, Merry and Rixman Foundation
• The Martin Smith Foundation
• The Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation
• THE JOHN S COHEN FOUNDATION
• The Dischma Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales, Charity Number 1082580
• Reed's School website, Foundation supporters information
• LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) official announcements regarding piano acquisition for Musical Theatre courses
• Cripps Trust Corporation Limited corporate information
• Annual accounts filed with Charity Commission (2022-2025)