The United Kingdom Falkland Islands Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £12,000-£15,000 (through Shackleton Scholarship Fund)
• Total Income (2023-24): £36,633
• Decision Time: Approximately 10 weeks (notification by early June for 31 March deadline)
• Grant Range: £500 - £4,000
• Geographic Focus: Falkland Islands and South Atlantic region
• Application Deadline: 31 March annually

Contact Details

• Website: www.ukfit.org
• Email: exec.sec@ukfit.org
• Phone: 07973677078
• Patron: HRH Princess Alexandra
• Scholarship Fund Website: www.shackletonfund.com

Overview

The United Kingdom Falkland Islands Trust (UKFIT) was formed in 1981 and is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 282786). The organization aims to assist the Falkland Islands' population by providing specialist advice and contacts to support the economic and social development of the Islands. The Trust encourages economic development and sustainable agriculture together with good environmental management, promoting scientific research into subjects such as climate change, soil health, forestry, and crops suitable for the Falklands. The Trust is also responsible for administering The Shackleton Scholarship Fund, which was established in 1995 to commemorate Sir Ernest Shackleton and his son Edward, Lord Shackleton. Since its establishment, the fund has raised more than £400,000 and awarded approximately 90 scholarships. The organization leverages the specialist skills and contacts of its UK-based consultants alongside trustee dedication to achieve its mission.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust administers funding through The Shackleton Scholarship Fund, which offers two distinct scholarship programs:

1. Academic Scholarships: £500 - £4,000

• For graduates to visit the South Atlantic for research into natural or social sciences
• Covers diverse subjects including place names, English language as spoken in the Falkland Islands, Falklands society, fresh water fish, willows, grasses, geology, tree-growing, and other topics
• Funds can cover travel expenses (to and within the Islands), course fees, equipment, or analytical costs
• Cannot be used to cover salaries
• Application deadline: 31 March annually
• Rolling basis after approval (scholarships can be taken up at any point after June notification)

2. Quality of Life Scholarships: £500 - £4,000

• For people whose visits to or from the Falkland Islands benefit the region and enhance quality of life for Islanders
• Previous recipients have included top-class sports coaches (swimming, golf, fly fishing, shooting, horsemanship), musicians, and artists
• Requires an on-island sponsor who supports the project and submits the application
• Application deadline: 31 March annually

Total Annual Funding: Approximately £12,000-£15,000 distributed annually across both programs. A total of £333,301 has been granted from the foundation of the Shackleton Scholarship Fund to 5 April 2021.

Priority Areas

• Research into natural and social sciences relevant to the Falkland Islands
• Sustainable agriculture and environmental management
• Climate change and soil health research
• Forestry and crops suitable for the Falklands
• Cultural enrichment and quality of life enhancement for Falkland Islanders
• Sports coaching and skills development
• Music and arts programs
• Educational development

What They Don't Fund

• Salaries (explicitly stated for Academic Scholarships)
• Projects not directly connected to the Falkland Islands or South Atlantic region
• Projects without clear benefit to the Islands' population

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Trust has a Board which, according to the Charitable Trust Deed, shall have no more than ten and no less than three trustees. As of recent records, there are eight trustees who represent a mix of people from various walks of life, including Falklands residents. The Board of Trustees meets three to four times per year.

Current Trustees:

• Nigel Robert Haywood (Chair)
• Andrew Stewart Moffat (Chartered Surveyor)
• Annie Jeanette Bailey
• Colin Roberts
• David Francis William Pickup CB
• Hugh Alexander Normand
• Paula Jennifer Louise Fowmes
• Richard Sawle

Trustees are recruited and selected by the board for their interest in the Islands and for the expertise and enthusiasm they bring in furthering the objects of the Trust. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Patron

HRH Princess Alexandra serves as the Trust's patron.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Academic Scholarships:

Application forms can be downloaded from www.shackletonfund.com/academic.php. Applicants submit applications directly through the Shackleton Scholarship Fund website.

Quality of Life Scholarships:

Application forms can be downloaded from www.shackletonfund.com/quality.php. These applications MUST be submitted by an on-island sponsor who supports the project. The sponsor submits the application on behalf of the applicant.

Decision Timeline

• Application Deadline: 31 March each year
• Notification of Awards: Usually by early June (approximately 10 weeks)
• Scholarship Commencement: Scholarships can be taken up at any point after notification

Success Rates

Since the fund's establishment in 1995, approximately 90 scholarships have been awarded, with annual distributions totaling about £12,000-£15,000. This suggests that approximately 3-4 scholarships are awarded per year on average. Specific application numbers and success rate percentages are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants should contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

While the Trust does not publish specific application advice, the following factors can be inferred from the program structure and priorities:

For Academic Scholarships:

• Clear research objectives relevant to the Falkland Islands or South Atlantic region
• Demonstrated academic credentials and research background
• Realistic budget that covers travel, accommodation, course fees, equipment, or analytical costs (not salaries)
• Research topics aligned with Trust priorities: natural sciences, social sciences, environmental management, agriculture, climate change, soil health, or forestry
• Projects that will benefit the Falklands community through knowledge generation

For Quality of Life Scholarships:

• Strong support from an on-island sponsor (mandatory requirement)
• Clear demonstration of how the visit will enhance quality of life for Falkland Islanders
• Track record of excellence in the relevant field (sports coaching, music, arts, etc.)
• Practical and achievable project plans
• Cultural, educational, or skills development focus

Historical Examples of Funded Projects:

• Caracaras in the northwest Falkland Islands (£3,000 academic scholarship)
• The vocal communication system of southern sea lions (£3,000 academic scholarship)
• Girl Guides participation in Bermudan International Camp (£3,500 quality of life)
• Rachel Cooper, Guy Buttery & Shane Cooper music workshops (£3,500 quality of life)
• Ball hockey coaching by Canadian coaches

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Fixed Annual Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 31 March each year; plan well in advance
• Quality of Life Requires On-Island Sponsor: If applying for a Quality of Life scholarship, you must secure an on-island sponsor who will submit the application on your behalf
• Modest Grant Amounts: Awards typically range from £500-£4,000, so budget requests should be realistic and focused
• Falklands-Specific Focus: All projects must have direct relevance to and benefit for the Falkland Islands and its population
• Two Distinct Programs: Understand the difference between Academic (research-focused) and Quality of Life (cultural/skills enrichment) scholarships and apply to the appropriate program
• No Salary Funding: Academic scholarships explicitly cannot cover salaries; budget accordingly for travel, fees, equipment, and analytical costs only
• Lean Organization: With limited annual giving (£12,000-£15,000), competition is likely significant; applications must be compelling and well-aligned with Trust priorities

References

• UK Falkland Islands Trust Official Website -
• Shackleton Scholarship Fund Website -
• Charity Commission Register - Charity 282786 -
• Royal Geographical Society - Shackleton Scholarship Fund Information -
• Instrumentl - Shackleton Quality of Life Scholarship Programme -
• Instrumentl - Shackleton Academic Scholarship Programme -
• MercoPress - Falkland Islands: Shackleton Fund delivers research scholarships -
• Charity Choice - Falkland Islands Trust -