William And Edith Oldham Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1050734

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M
Geographic Focus: Kent, Oxfordshire, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Medway

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £318,885 (latest available)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: Varies from small scholarships to major grants (e.g., £100,000 to Maidstone Museum)
  • Geographic Focus: Historic County of Kent, specifically Maidstone area, Barming and Teston parishes
  • Application Method: Email to clerk - no formal application portal

Contact Details

Email: clerk@weoct.co.uk

Phone: 7305152009

Website: https://williamandeditholdhamcharitabletrust.co.uk

Registered Charity Number: 1050734

Address: 2 Pembury Gardens, Maidstone, ME16 8AR

Overview

The William and Edith Oldham Charitable Trust was established on 12 October 1995 by Paul Oldham in memory of his parents, William and Edith Oldham of Barming, Maidstone, Kent. Paul Oldham, who served as a Maidstone Borough Councillor for 24 years and was Mayor of Maidstone from 1993 to 1994, provided investments and money to form an endowment whose income is distributed in grants to deserving causes. The trust holds significant assets with a total income of £3.4 million (including £3.24 million in donations and legacies) and total expenditure of £318,885 on charitable activities. The trust's most notable recent grant was £100,000 to Maidstone Museum for the “Lives In Our Landscape” archaeology gallery, which opened in June 2024. The trust focuses on three main areas: education in the Maidstone area and Wadham College Oxford, support for residents of Barming and Teston parishes, and promotion of Kent's archaeological and historical heritage.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs with set amounts. Instead, it makes grants across three main charitable objectives with varying amounts based on project needs:

  • Major Heritage Projects: Demonstrated by the £100,000 grant to Maidstone Museum for archaeology gallery (2024)
  • Educational Scholarships and Bursaries: For individual students at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls and Wadham College, Oxford (amounts not specified)
  • Community Support: For residents of Barming and Teston parishes (amounts not specified)
  • Historic Building Conservation: For churches and heritage sites in Kent (amounts not specified)

Priority Areas

Education:

  • Financial assistance for schools in the Maidstone area
  • Scholarships, bursaries, and prizes for students attending Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
  • Support for Wadham College, Oxford (maintenance, development, and student financial assistance)
  • Financial support for residents of Barming and Teston parishes pursuing higher education or employment training

Heritage and Archaeology:

  • Study of archaeology and history of the Historic County of Kent
  • Preservation of historic artifacts and archaeological finds
  • Support for Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery and other museums
  • Conservation of historic buildings, churches, and graveyards (notably St Margaret's Church, Barming)

Community Support:

  • Assistance for poorer inhabitants of Barming and Teston parishes
  • Development and maintenance of community facilities including libraries, schools, village halls, sports and leisure facilities, and medical centres
  • Support for local charitable organizations serving these parishes

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly documented. However, given the trust's clearly defined objectives, they are unlikely to fund:

  • Projects outside the Historic County of Kent (except for Wadham College, Oxford)
  • Causes unrelated to education, heritage/archaeology, or the specific parishes of Barming and Teston
  • National or international causes without Kent connections
  • Commercial ventures
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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by six trustees, with no trustees receiving remuneration or payments. The trust has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

Founder and Settlor:

Paul Oldham (1947-2025) - Established the trust in memory of his parents. He served as a Maidstone Borough Councillor representing Barming for 24 years until 2008 and was Mayor of Maidstone from 1993 to 1994. Mr. Oldham passed away in January 2025.

Administrative Contact:

Clerk to the Trust (contact: clerk@weoct.co.uk)

The trust's significant recent donation to Maidstone Museum demonstrates the trustees' commitment to major heritage projects. The Maidstone Museum project shows the trust's willingness to be a catalyst for larger initiatives - their £100,000 grant was matched by the Maidstone Museums' Foundation and supplemented by £389,000 from Maidstone Borough Council.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The William and Edith Oldham Charitable Trust does not have an online application portal or formal application forms. Applications are made by email to the Clerk.

Application Requirements:

When contacting the trust, applicants should include:

  1. Detailed project description
  2. Clear explanation of how the project meets the Charity's objectives (education, heritage/archaeology in Kent, or support for Barming/Teston parishes)
  3. Grant amount requested (can be specific or a general range)
  4. Information about partial funding if seeking part of total project costs
  5. Justification for why the scheme aligns with the trust's charitable objectives

Contact for Applications:

Email: clerk@weoct.co.uk

The trust considers applications based on how well they align with the public benefit guidance and the specific objectives outlined in the Trust Deed.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given that this is a small trust managed by six volunteer trustees, applicants should expect the process may take several weeks to months depending on the scale of the request and trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented. Applicants should contact the Clerk directly for guidance on reapplying if unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's demonstrated funding patterns and stated objectives:

Strong Alignment with Geographic Focus:

The trust has very specific geographic priorities - projects must be in the Historic County of Kent (with emphasis on Maidstone, Barming, and Teston), or related to Wadham College, Oxford. The £100,000 grant to Maidstone Museum demonstrates their commitment to major Kent heritage projects.

Heritage and Archaeological Significance:

Projects that preserve, promote, or study Kent's archaeological and historical heritage are strongly favored. The museum archaeology gallery grant shows they support projects that make history accessible to the public and preserve artifacts for future generations.

Educational Impact:

Support for local schools and students in the Maidstone area, particularly Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, and scholarships for Wadham College, Oxford. Projects that provide educational opportunities for young people or preserve educational resources are likely to succeed.

Community Benefit for Barming and Teston:

The trust has a specific mandate to support residents of these two parishes. Projects that improve community facilities, support vulnerable residents, or provide educational opportunities for parish residents align strongly with objectives.

Leverage and Partnership Funding:

The Maidstone Museum project shows the trust is willing to be a catalytic donor - their £100,000 was matched by other funders. Demonstrating that your project has attracted or will attract additional funding may strengthen applications.

Clear Connection to William and Edith Oldham's Legacy:

Given the trust was established in memory of the founders' parents who lived in Barming, projects with connections to local history, the Barming community, or causes the family supported may resonate with trustees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity is critical - ensure your project clearly serves the Historic County of Kent, particularly Maidstone, Barming, or Teston areas, or relates to Wadham College, Oxford
  • No online portal means relationship building - the application process is email-based and likely involves dialogue with the Clerk; be prepared for correspondence
  • Articulate public benefit clearly - trustees consider public benefit guidance when setting objectives, so explain how your project serves the wider community
  • Major grants are possible - the £100,000 museum grant shows they make significant awards for substantial heritage projects
  • Be specific about alignment - explain precisely how your project meets one or more of their three main objectives: education in Maidstone area/Wadham College, archaeology/heritage in Kent, or support for Barming/Teston parishes
  • Partnership funding strengthens applications - demonstrating matched funding or broader support may make applications more attractive
  • Be patient - this is a small trust with volunteer trustees; the decision-making process may not be rapid

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