The South Square Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £422,251 (FY 2024)
• Total Granted: Over £6 million since 1979
• Students Supported: 3,250+
• Grant Range: £3,000 - £10,000 per student
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Application Method: No public application process (institution-based)

Contact Details

Website: www.southsquaretrust.org.uk

Phone: 07951 822916

Registered Charity Number: 1184905

Overview

The South Square Trust was founded in 1979 by Arthur Grimwade, then Director and Head of Silver at Christie's auction house, who had himself received a scholarship in his youth and wished to help others similarly. The Trust was named after the law firm's address to maintain Grimwade's anonymity during his lifetime. In 2018, the Mrs Helen L Grimwade Charitable Trust merged with the organization, and in 2019 it converted from an unincorporated trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Over 45 years, the Trust has granted over £6 million to support more than 3,250 talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing degree-level courses in fine and applied arts. The Trust operates exclusively through partnerships with selected arts institutions across the UK, providing scholarships assessed on talent and financial need.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The South Square Trust does not accept direct applications from students or unsolicited proposals from institutions. All scholarships are distributed through carefully selected partner institutions. Grant amounts typically range from £3,000 to £10,000 per student, varying by institution and program:

• Guildford School of Acting: £5,000 scholarship
• University of the Arts London (Central Saint Martins): £3,000 annual maintenance bursary for 2 years
• University of the Arts London (Wimbledon College of Arts): £5,500 Final Year Award for BA Theatre Design
• Royal College of Art: Full funding plus £10,000 towards living costs

Priority Areas

Dance - Supporting students at:

• London Contemporary Dance School (since 2006)
• Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance
• Rambert School of Ballet & Contemporary Dance
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Drama - Supporting acting, theatre design, and stage management students at:

• Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) - 2 students annually since 1998
• Royal Central School of Speech & Drama
• Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
• Guildford School of Acting
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama
• London Academy of Music & Drama (LAMDA)
• Wimbledon College of Art

Music - Supporting postgraduate students at:

• Royal College of Music (since 1998) - 1-2 postgraduate students annually
• Guildhall School of Music & Drama
• Royal Northern College of Music
• Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
• Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

Conservation - Supporting specialized conservation training:

• Courtauld Institute of Art (since 2017) - easel paintings conservation
• City & Guilds of London Art School
• Centre for Textile Conservation

Fine Arts:

• City & Guilds of London Art School
• Royal Academy Schools
• Royal Drawing School

Silversmithing - A particular passion area:

• Contemporary British Silversmiths (established new award in 2021 for Skills Training Programme)
• Bishopsland Educational Trust
• The South House Workshop Trust
• West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

Other:

• St Paul's School (particularly close association)
• Royal College of Art (Jewellery and Metal program)

What They Don't Fund

• Direct applications from individual students
• Institutions not already in their partner network
• Non-arts education programs
• Organizations outside the UK
• General grant applications from charities

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Christopher Paul Grimwade - Chair (appointed September 2019)

Angela Margaret Cork - Trustee (appointed November 2020)

Richard Alexander Brand Inglis - Trustee (appointed September 2019)

Geoffrey Cale Matthews - Trustee (appointed September 2019)

Also trustee of The Paulina Foundation

Andrew Charles Blessley - Trustee (appointed September 2019)

Also trustee of Creative Mentors Foundation

No trustees receive remuneration from the charity. The Trust operates with no employees receiving benefits over £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The South Square Trust explicitly states on their website: “We do not entertain unsolicited proposals for support” and “Unsolicited applications for grants are not accepted.”

Scholarships are awarded exclusively through their established partner institutions. Students cannot apply directly to the Trust but must instead inquire with their arts institution's financial aid office to determine if their school is a partner institution.

For Students at Partner Institutions

Students at partner institutions should:

1. Check with their institution's scholarship or financial aid office about South Square Trust scholarship availability
2. Complete the institution's internal application process
3. Selection is based on both talent and financial circumstances
4. Each partner institution nominates students to the Trust

For Institutions

The Trust's list of partner institutions changes only “from time to time as a result of research done by the Trustees.” New institutional partnerships are initiated solely through trustee discretion and research, not through external applications.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by institution as each partner institution manages its own internal nomination and notification process. The Trust distributes funds through the institutions, which then award scholarships according to their academic calendars.

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Values

Financial Need Combined with Talent: The Trust explicitly assesses students on both “talent and their financial circumstances,” prioritizing students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing degree-level fine and applied arts courses.

UK Focus: The Trust's founding objective centers on assisting “talented young people in the UK from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Degree-Level Study: Support is specifically for degree-level courses in practical fine and applied arts at accredited UK institutions.

Student Testimonials Reveal What Matters

A RADA scholarship recipient, Katie Cherry, shared: "The support of the SST has meant the world to me during my training. It's taken the pressure off and allowed me to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity fully without the worry every month of if I can make my rent!"

A Royal College of Music recipient stated: "The South Square Trust's support enabled me to study at the RCM, giving me access to training that shaped the composer I am today."

These testimonials highlight the Trust's impact on removing financial barriers to allow students to focus fully on their artistic development.

For Institutions

While the Trust does not accept unsolicited proposals, the pattern of their partnerships reveals they value:

• Established reputation in arts education
• Long-term relationships (many partnerships span 20+ years)
• Clear internal processes for identifying students with both talent and financial need
• Institutions across diverse arts disciplines

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Institution-focused, not applicant-focused: This funder only works through pre-selected partner institutions. Students cannot apply directly, and institutions cannot submit unsolicited proposals.
• Financial need is central: Scholarships explicitly target students from disadvantaged backgrounds, combining merit with financial circumstances in selection.
• Long-term partnerships: The Trust maintains decades-long relationships with partners (RADA since 1998, Royal College of Music since 1998, London Contemporary Dance School since 2006), suggesting loyalty and sustained commitment.
• Silversmithing holds special significance: Given founder Arthur Grimwade's background as Head of Silver at Christie's, the Trust shows particular interest in silversmithing and metalwork programs.
• Modest but meaningful awards: Scholarship amounts (£3,000-£10,000) focus on practical support for fees and living costs rather than full-ride scholarships, allowing the Trust to support more students.
• Trustee discretion drives everything: All decisions about institutional partnerships and funding changes result from trustee research, not external applications.
• Historical longevity matters: As a 45-year-old trust with consistent mission focus, they value stability and proven track records in potential partners.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council of England
• The Leverhulme Trust
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• JOHN LYON'S CHARITY
• THE HEADLEY TRUST
• John Ellerman Foundation
• Backstage Trust
• Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust
• The Cotton Industry War Memorial Trust
• THE FOYLE FOUNDATION
• THE GOLSONCOTT FOUNDATION
• CHELSEA ARTS CLUB TRUST
• Livery Companies
• Research England

References

1. The South Square Trust official website - Home. https://southsquaretrust.org.uk/
2. The South Square Trust - Our History. https://southsquaretrust.org.uk/our-history/
3. The South Square Trust - Who We Support. https://southsquaretrust.org.uk/who-we-support/
4. The South Square Trust - FAQ. https://southsquaretrust.org.uk/faq/
5. UK Charity Commission Register - The South Square Trust (Charity Number 1184905). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5144455
6. UK Charity Commission - Trustees of The South Square Trust. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5144455/trustees
7. The South Square Trust - RADA Partnership. https://southsquaretrust.org.uk/who-we-support/drama/rada/
8. The South Square Trust - Royal College of Music Partnership. https://southsquaretrust.org.uk/who-we-support/music/royal-college-of-music/
9. University of Surrey - South Square Trust Scholarships. https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries/south-square-trust-scholarships-2024
10. University of the Arts London - South Square Trust Scholarship Awards. https://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/fees-and-funding/scholarships-search/south-square-trust-scholarship-awards
11. Royal Central School of Speech and Drama - The South Square Trust Scholarship. https://www.cssd.ac.uk/fees-funding/scholarships-bursaries-awards/south-square-trust-scholarship