The Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust
Charity Number: 800045
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £150,000 - £160,000
- Success Rate: Not publicly available (nomination-only process)
- Decision Time: Trustees meet at least twice annually to assess nominations
- Grant Range: £5,000 - £6,000 per bursary
- Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
- Number of Bursaries: Approximately 22 per year
Contact Details
Email: ianb@smythbarkham.co.uk
Phone: 0207 299 3560
Registered Charity Number: 800045
The Trust does not maintain a website. Official information is available through the UK Charity Commission register.
Overview
The Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust was established on 28th March 1988 to honour the legacy of one of Britain's greatest actors. Sir John Gielgud (1904-2000) was part of the trinity of actors, alongside Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, who dominated British theatre for much of the 20th century. His contribution to British theatre was so significant that without him, there would be no National Theatre or Royal Shakespeare Company as we know them today.
The Trust operates with a focused mission: supporting final-year drama students experiencing financial hardship. In the financial year ending April 2024, the Trust had an income of £66,420 and expenditure of £158,591, distributing approximately 22 bursaries to talented drama students. The Trust is managed by five trustees who bring wealth of industry experience and insight to their selection decisions, ensuring that support reaches students whose talent has emerged during training and who would benefit most from financial assistance during their critical final year.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
Drama Student Bursaries: £5,000 - £6,000
- Available exclusively to final-year drama students at selected UK drama schools
- Awarded to students demonstrating both promising acting ability and financial hardship
- Approximately 22 bursaries awarded annually
- Application method: Nomination only by selected drama schools
Priority Areas
The Trust has a singular focus:
- Supporting final-year drama students experiencing financial hardship
- Students nominated by their drama schools who demonstrate promising acting ability
- Students attending drama schools within the United Kingdom
- Primarily supporting students at Federation of Drama Schools member institutions (formerly Conference of Drama Schools)
What They Don't Fund
- Students who are not in their final year of training
- Direct applications from students (all nominations must come from drama schools)
- Drama schools not selected by the trustees for participation in the programme
- Non-drama educational programmes
- Organizations or projects outside of individual student bursaries
- Students outside the United Kingdom
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Governance and Leadership
Trustees
The Trust is governed by five trustees who bring significant industry experience:
- Ian Gerard Peter Bradshaw - Chair (appointed 1 March 2001)
- Nickolas Andrew Halliwell Grace - Trustee (appointed 4 July 2023)
- Watcyn Lewis - Trustee
- Dame Janet Suzman - Trustee (also trustee of The Wembley to Soweto Foundation)
- Claire Bloom - Trustee
According to LAMDA's announcement about award winners, “The Trustees bring a wealth of industry experience and insight” to their selection process, focusing on identifying talented actors at critical stages of professional development where financial support can make the most positive impact.
No trustees receive remuneration or payments for their service. The Trust has no employees earning over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
The Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust does not have a public application process. Students cannot apply directly for funding.
The Trust operates on an invitation-only nomination system:
- The trustees select a limited number of UK drama schools to participate in the programme
- Each selected drama school may nominate one student candidate per year
- Nominated students must be entering their final year of studies
- The drama school identifies students who demonstrate both promising acting ability and financial hardship
- Nominations are submitted by the drama schools on behalf of students
Drama schools known to participate in the programme include:
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
- Drama Studio London
- Other Federation of Drama Schools member institutions
The Trust previously worked with members of the Conference of Drama Schools (now the Federation of Drama Schools), though the complete list of currently selected schools is not publicly disclosed.
Decision Timeline
- Trustees meet at least twice per year to assess and select from student nominations submitted by drama schools
- Specific meeting dates and notification timelines are not publicly available
- Students are notified through their drama schools
Success Rates
Success rate data is not publicly available. Given that approximately 22 bursaries are awarded annually and only selected drama schools may nominate one student each, the process is highly selective but structured differently from open application processes.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable, as students cannot apply directly. Drama schools may nominate different students each year according to the Trust's guidelines.
Application Success Factors
Since this Trust operates on a nomination-only basis, success depends entirely on drama school selection processes. However, based on publicly available information, the following factors are emphasized:
Selection Criteria Used by Trustees:
- Talent emerging during training: The trustees specifically look for students whose acting abilities have become evident during their programme of study
- Financial hardship: Students must be experiencing genuine financial need during their final year
- Final year status: Only students entering or in their final year of studies are eligible
- Positive impact potential: As stated by trustees, they consider “the positive impact financial assistance can make to those whose talent emerged during training”
For Drama Schools Making Nominations:
- Schools should nominate students who genuinely demonstrate both artistic promise and financial need
- The nomination represents a significant endorsement of the student's potential
- Schools are limited to one nomination per year, making internal selection highly competitive
Recent Recipients as Examples:
- Suzanne Van Maurik (LAMDA, MFA Professional Acting, 2023)
- Erin Stewart (Drama Studio London, MFA in Professional Acting)
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
Important Note: This Trust does not accept applications from organizations or direct applications from students. The following information is relevant for drama schools and students seeking to understand the programme:
- Not a public funding opportunity: Individual students cannot apply; only nominated drama schools may submit candidate names
- Highly selective institutional partnerships: The Trust works with a limited number of drama schools selected by trustees
- Final year focus: The critical eligibility requirement is that students must be in their final year of study
- Dual criteria: Both artistic promise and financial hardship must be demonstrated
- Industry-experienced trustees: Selection decisions are made by trustees with significant performing arts industry knowledge
- Established legacy: The Trust honours Sir John Gielgud's contribution to British theatre by supporting the next generation of actors
- Contact for institutional enquiries: Drama schools interested in the programme should contact the Trust via ianb@smythbarkham.co.uk or 0207 299 3560
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References
- UK Charity Commission Register, The Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust (Charity Number 800045): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/800045
- Fundraiso.com, The Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust financial data: https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/the-sir-john-gielgud-charitable-trust
- LAMDA, “LAMDA Bursary Award Winners”: https://www.lamda.ac.uk/news/lamda-bursary-award-winners
- Drama Studio London, “MFA actor awarded the John Gielgud Bursary Award”: https://www.dramastudiolondon.co.uk/mfa-actor-awarded-the-john-gielgud-bursary-award/
- Bath and North East Somerset Council, The Sir John Gielgud Charitable Trust information: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/86680
- UK Charity Commission, Trustees information: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/800045/trustees