William Edwards Educational Charity
Stay updated on changes from William Edwards Educational Charity and other funders
Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.
Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £461,666 (2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Not publicly available
- Geographic Focus: Kenilworth, Warwickshire
Contact Details
Address: c/o Heath and Blenkinsop Solicitors, 42 Brook Street, Warwick, CV34 4BL
Phone: 01926 492407
Email: law@heathandblenkinsop.com
Contact: Mr J M P Hathaway (Solicitor/Clerk)
Overview
The William Edwards Educational Charity (registered 26 March 1963) is a historic local grant-making trust with origins dating back to 1723, dedicated to promoting education for young people in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The charity was established following the death of surgeon Dr William Edwards in 1723, who made provision for the funding and support of schools in Kenilworth and Hatton. With an endowment of approximately £10 million, the charity had an income of £324,517 and annual expenditure of £461,666 in the 2024 financial year. The charity provides educational support for individuals under 25 who live in Kenilworth, have parents living in Kenilworth, or attend/attended schools in Kenilworth. The charity's mission is to provide educational benefits not usually covered within schools' annual budgets, helping to cover education fees and supplementary educational costs. The charity typically donates over £300,000 to schools annually and regularly aids more than 200 people each year with individual grants. The charity is managed by 9 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programmes
The charity operates two primary funding streams:
- Individual Student Support: Education fees and costs for qualifying individuals under 25
- School Equipment and Resources: Funding for schools in Kenilworth for educational benefits not covered by regular school budgets
The charity has made significant contributions to educational infrastructure projects, including donating £250,000 to the learning resource centre at Kenilworth School, which has been named after the charity in recognition of this donation.
Priority Areas
- Education fees for students under 25 in Kenilworth
- Educational equipment and resources for Kenilworth schools (including minibuses, computers, and learning resources)
- Supplementary educational benefits beyond standard school provision
- Support for students attending university, college, or sixth form
- Educational costs not covered by regular school budgets (including uniforms, books, undergraduate degrees, and postgraduate bursaries)
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals over 25 years of age
- Individuals with no connection to Kenilworth (must live in, have parents in, or attend/attended school in Kenilworth)
- General operational costs already covered by school budgets

Ready to write a winning application for William Edwards Educational Charity?
Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save hours and increase your success rate.
Governance and Leadership
The charity is governed by 9 trustees who serve without remuneration. The charity operates through Heath and Blenkinsop Solicitors in Warwick, with Mr J M P Hathaway serving as the solicitor/clerk to the charity. No trustees receive any payments or benefits from the charity, and the organisation has no trading subsidiaries or employees earning over £60,000.
How to Apply to William Edwards Educational Charity
How to Apply
The William Edwards Educational Charity does not have a public application process with published guidelines or an online portal. Applications are handled through the charity's solicitors.
To apply, contact:
- Mr J M P Hathaway (Solicitor/Clerk) at Heath and Blenkinsop Solicitors
- Phone: 01926 492407
- Email: law@heathandblenkinsop.com
- Address: 42 Brook Street, Warwick, CV34 4BL
Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate:
- Connection to Kenilworth (residence, parental residence, or school attendance)
- Age under 25
- Educational need not covered by standard school/college budgets
Decision Timeline
Decision timelines are not publicly available. Applicants should contact the charity directly for information on processing times.
Success Rates
Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.
Reapplication Policy
Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Unsuccessful applicants should contact the charity directly to inquire about reapplication.
Application Success Factors
While specific application success factors are not publicly documented, the charity's stated objectives suggest that successful applications will:
- Demonstrate clear connection to Kenilworth: Applicants must live in Kenilworth, have parents living in Kenilworth, or attend/have attended a Kenilworth school
- Be under 25 years of age: This is a strict eligibility requirement
- Identify educational costs beyond standard provision: The charity exists to provide benefits “not usually provided within annual budgets,” so applications should clearly identify how the requested funding supplements existing support
- Show genuine educational need: Applications should demonstrate how the funding will directly support educational advancement
- Be clearly articulated: Given the lack of formal application process, clear and professional communication with the solicitors handling applications is important
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- This is a historic charity (established 1723) with a locally-focused mission exclusively serving the Kenilworth community
- No formal online application process exists - all applications go through the charity's solicitors
- The charity has substantial resources (endowment of ~£10 million, £461,666 annual expenditure) for a local educational charity
- Dual focus on both individual student support (~200 individuals annually) and institutional grants to schools (£300,000+ annually)
- Age restriction (under 25) is absolute - no exceptions appear to be made
- Connection to Kenilworth must be demonstrated through residence, parental residence, or school attendance
- The charity funds “extras” beyond standard educational provision, not core educational costs typically covered by schools/colleges
- The charity supports a wide range of educational needs from uniforms and books to postgraduate bursaries
Similar Funders
These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:
- The Leigh Educational Foundation
- Round Table Charitable Trust Fund
- The Alan Edward Higgs Charity
- The Charity Of Thomas Oken And Nicholas Eyffler
- Nicholas Chamberlaine's School Foundation
- Sir Francis Nethersole's School Foundation
- Coleshill Grammar School Endowment Foundation
- The Rowlands Trust
- The Warwick & Budbrooke Churches Community Outreach Pool
- Coventry Building Society Charitable Foundation
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
References
- Charity Commission Register of Charities: William Edwards Educational Charity (528714), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=528714&subid=0, accessed 26 March 2026
- Kenilworth Nub News: “The historic Kenilworth charity offering educational support for local youngsters,” https://kenilworth.nub.news/news/local-news/the-historic-kenilworth-charity-offering-educational-support-for-local-youngsters-284806, accessed 26 March 2026
- Kenilworth Weekly News: “Charity open for Kenilworth education fees,” https://www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk/news/charity-open-for-kenilworth-education-fees-1-6598375, accessed 26 March 2026
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know