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
• 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 organisations aligned with trust objectives
• Arts & Music Education: Support to institutions including LAMDA for musical education resources
• Foundation Support: Partnerships with educational institutions supporting foundation pupils

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

• Organisations outside England and Wales
• Non-charitable purposes
• Unsolicited applications from unknown organisations

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Corporate Trustee: Cripps Trust Corporation Limited

Anne Overstall (Founder) brings significant technology sector experience from her career at Kewill Systems plc, combined with a passion for education and the arts. She also serves on the Andrew Reed Foundation Board. The trust is managed through Cripps Trust Corporation, which oversees more than 400 trusts.

How to Apply to The Overstall Charitable Trust

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. Organisations 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 with educational institutions
• 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 favour 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, organisations 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 institutions such as LAMDA 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 organisations
• 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:

• Thriplow Charitable Trust
• The Roger And Ingrid Pilkington Charitable Trust
• The Spoore, Merry And Rixman Foundation
• The John S Cohen Foundation
• The Dixie Educational Foundation
• The William Price Charitable Trust
• The Aldgate And Allhallows Foundation
• The Sir John Sedley Educational Foundation
• The Lennox Hannay Charitable Trust
• Edwin Fox Foundation

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales, Charity Number 1082580
• Andrew Reed Foundation website, Board member information
• LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) official announcements regarding piano support
• Cripps Trust Corporation Limited corporate information
• Annual accounts filed with Charity Commission (2022-2025)