The Wavertree Education Trust Limited

Charity Number: 1111771

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £433,078 (2024)
  • Annual Income: £461,825 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified (trustee discretion, meets twice yearly)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based with international reach (students worldwide)

Contact Details

Address: c/o National Stud Limited, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0XE

Phone: 01638 663464

Email: richard.attwell@thejockeyclub.co.uk (Trustee contact)

Website: www.wavertreetrust.org.uk

Student enquiries: students@nationalstud.co.uk or 01638 675922

Overview

The Wavertree Education Trust Limited (charity number 1111771) was established in 2005 as a grant-making charitable company to support education and training in the thoroughbred bloodstock and equine industry. Since its formation, the Trust has raised over £7 million to sustain the education programme at the National Stud in Newmarket, delivering British Horseracing Authority-approved training that makes graduates “immediately employable” in the global thoroughbred industry. The Trust operates through trustee discretion, meeting twice yearly to allocate funds. Key activities include providing revenue grants to the National Stud to subsidize training costs, offering bursaries for individual students, and capital investments in educational infrastructure. The Trust enabled construction of the Joan Westbrook Lecture Theatre through a major donation and support from the Niarchos Foundation, demonstrating its commitment to first-class educational facilities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Revenue Support for National Stud Education Programmes

  • Annual revenue grants to National Stud Limited to subsidize Level 1-3 residential training courses
  • Grants enable courses to be offered at minimal cost to students (international fees only £3,500 for comprehensive residential training)
  • Without Trust support, these programmes would operate at a deficit or not at all

Student Bursaries

  • Individual bursary support for students attending National Stud courses
  • Focus on Level 3 Stud Management course participants
  • Funded through partnerships with industry organizations including Horserace Betting Levy Board, Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and Racing Foundation
  • Additional bursary support from Alborada Trust, Gerald Leigh Trust, EB Moller Charitable Trust, John Pearce Foundation, Tattersalls, Watership Down Stud, and Tim Dunlop Memorial Trust

Capital Infrastructure Projects

  • Joan Westbrook Lecture Theatre (completed)
  • First-class student accommodation facilities
  • Educational infrastructure at the National Stud site

Priority Areas

  • Vocational education in thoroughbred breeding and stud management
  • Training for young people seeking careers in the bloodstock industry
  • Practical, hands-on training in horse husbandry
  • Level 1 (16-week access course), Level 2 (8-week specialist course), and Level 3 (26-week diploma) residential programmes
  • Apprenticeship support (Level 2 & 3 Equine Groom Pathway)
  • Public education about horse breeding and welfare

What They Don't Fund

The Trust has a very specific focus:

  • Activities outside the equine/thoroughbred industry
  • Training unrelated to horse breeding and stud management
  • Projects not connected to the National Stud's educational mission
  • Organizations outside the racing and bloodstock sector
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2024)

Richard Attwell, Chairman

  • Joined the Board in 2011, became Chairman in May 2019
  • Former Company Secretary and Financial Controller at Jockey Club Estates (2005-2021)
  • Contact: richard.attwell@thejockeyclub.co.uk, 01638 675925

William Sporborg

  • Joined the Board in 2016
  • Qualified chartered accountant (1986) with career in private capital, private equity, and venture capital
  • Former amateur jockey, Cambridge University graduate (Magdalene College)
  • Racehorse owner and Trustee of the Racing Foundation
  • Appointed to The Jockey Club Board of Stewards in 2023

Tessa Hetherington

  • Barrister and racing industry consultant
  • Completed Godolphin Flying Start programme
  • Spent seven years as Racing Manager to trainer Andrew Balding in Kingsclere
  • Now self-employed consultant providing research and advisory work in racing and bloodstock
  • Trustee of Godolphin Flying Start programme

Richard Fuller

  • Corporate affairs specialist

Nick Wingfield Digby

  • Veterinarian with equine expertise

Fiona Dowding

  • Educator with equestrian background

Mark Dean

  • Stud management professional

Brian Chandler

  • Chartered accountant

The Board comprises six trustees who serve without remuneration. The Trust employs no staff, operating entirely through trustee governance and partnership with the National Stud.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This Trust does not have a public application process. The Wavertree Education Trust operates on a trustee-discretion model, with grants primarily directed to the National Stud to subsidize educational programmes rather than through open competitive applications.

For Students Seeking Bursary Support:

Students interested in bursary assistance should apply directly to the National Stud's courses. Bursaries are allocated through the National Stud's education team in partnership with industry funders. Contact students@nationalstud.co.uk or call 01638 675922 to inquire about available bursaries when applying for Level 3 courses.

For Organizations:

The Trust's funding strategy is tightly focused on supporting the National Stud's educational mission. The trustees meet twice annually to review and approve grants, primarily continuing their established partnership with the National Stud.

Decision Timeline

  • Trustees meet twice yearly to make funding decisions
  • Timeline for individual decisions not publicly specified
  • Student bursaries are awarded as part of the National Stud course application process

Success Rates

Not publicly available, as the Trust does not operate an open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only/trustee-discretion model.

Application Success Factors

Since the Trust operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, the following insights are relevant for those in the equine education sector:

Alignment with Core Mission:

The Trust is laser-focused on "delivering tomorrow's equine staff today" through practical, vocational training. Any initiative must directly support education in thoroughbred breeding and stud management.

Partnership Model:

The Trust works through established partnerships, particularly with the National Stud. They fund organizations that deliver measurable educational outcomes rather than providing one-off project grants.

Industry Recognition:

Programmes must be approved by recognized industry bodies (British Horseracing Authority) and supported by major industry stakeholders (Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Horserace Betting Levy Board).

Long-term Sustainability:

The Trust prioritizes both capital infrastructure (Joan Westbrook Lecture Theatre) and ongoing revenue support, indicating preference for sustainable, long-term educational investments rather than short-term initiatives.

Student-Centered Outcomes:

Emphasis on making graduates “immediately employable” suggests the Trust values programmes with clear employment pathways and industry connections.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Highly Specialized Focus: This Trust exclusively supports equine education, specifically thoroughbred breeding and stud management training. Only organizations in this niche sector should consider approaching them.
  • Partnership-Driven Model: Rather than funding multiple small projects, the Trust concentrates resources on a deep partnership with the National Stud. They prefer sustained, institutional support over project-based grants.
  • Students Should Apply to Courses: Individuals seeking financial support should apply directly to National Stud courses and inquire about bursaries through the education team, not directly to the Trust.
  • Infrastructure and Revenue: The Trust funds both capital projects (buildings, facilities) and ongoing revenue support (course subsidies, bursaries), demonstrating commitment to comprehensive institutional development.
  • Industry-Connected Trustees: The Board comprises professionals with deep racing and bloodstock credentials, suggesting they value insider knowledge and proven track records in the sector.
  • No Public Application Process: Traditional grant-seeking organizations should note this Trust operates through trustee discretion and established relationships rather than competitive applications.
  • Strong Fundraising Capacity: Having raised over £7 million, the Trust serves as a conduit for major donors (Niarchos Foundation, Alborada Trust, etc.) supporting equine education, suggesting they have significant fundraising reach beyond their own asset base.

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References