William Palmer College Educational Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £257,911 (FY 2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £345,956 (FY 2024)
• Charity Number: 310860
• Founded: 1706
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified (provides prizes and financial assistance)
• Geographic Focus: Ancient Parish of Grays Thurrock (Grays Thurrock, Grays North, and Stifford parishes), Essex
• Age Restriction: Under 25 years

Contact Details

Address: William Palmer College Educational Trust, USP College Palmer's Campus, Chadwell Road, Grays, Essex RM17 5TD

Phone: 01375 370121

Email: palmerstrust@uspcollege.ac.uk

Website: Information available at https://www.uspcollege.ac.uk/about-usp/our-history/william-palmer-college-educational-trust/

For Current USP College Students: Contact your Progress Coach or Nickie Hillebrandt, Student Services Manager

For Those Who Have Left School: Write to the Clerk to the Trustees at the address above

Overview

The William Palmer College Educational Trust is one of the UK's oldest educational charities, established in 1706 by merchant William Palmer, who inherited the Manor of Grays in 1638. Originally founded “to teach ten poor children of the Parish to read and write and cast accounts and instruct them in the Latin tongue,” the Trust continues its educational mission over 300 years later.

The Trust is regulated by the Charity Commission in accordance with the Charities Act 1992, 1993, and 2006 and Trustee Act 2000, operating under schemes dating from January 23, 1980, with subsequent amendments through July 27, 2017. With an annual income of £257,911 (FY 2024) and expenditure of £345,956, the Trust continues to support education for young people in the Grays Thurrock area and students of USP College Palmer's Campus. Recent changes to Trust boundary restrictions now enable funding for disadvantaged pupils residing within the three Grays parishes: Grays Thurrock, Grays North, and Stifford, as defined by the Chelmsford diocese.

The Trust is closely associated with USP College (formed from the merger of Palmer's College and Seevic College in 2017) and maintains strong governance links with Thurrock Council.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates under a two-part funding model as defined in its governing scheme:

1. Prizes and Special Benefits (One-Third of Annual Income)

• Annual prize-giving ceremonies awarding hundreds of students
• William Palmer Prize for students achieving minimum AAA at A-level and/or DDD at BTEC National Diploma or 144 UCAS points or above
• William Palmer Achievement Award for outstanding effort in the first year, recognizing resilience and dedication to improve grades
• Additional prizes and special benefits not normally provided by local educational authorities

2. Educational Support (Residue of Annual Income)

• Exhibitions (grants) tenable at colleges of education, universities, or other institutions of further education approved by trustees
• Financial assistance for students preparing for or entering professions, trades, occupations, or services
• Support for outfits, tools, books, payment of fees, travelling, or maintenance expenses
• Financial support for extra-curricular activities or trips where families are requested to pay toward costs
• The Trust “generously give a substantial amount each year to the students in prize money and help with financial assistance in other areas”

Priority Areas

Eligible Beneficiaries Must Meet ALL of the Following:

• Be under 25 years old
• Be in need of financial assistance (free school meals and/or pupil premium allowance are examples of sufficient proof)
• Meet ONE of the following geographic/institutional criteria:
• Residents of the Ancient Parish of Grays Thurrock (specifically the three Grays parishes: Grays Thurrock, Grays North, and Stifford), OR
• Attending or have attended USP College Palmer's Campus for at least two consecutive academic years

Priority Support Areas:

• University and higher education progression (students progress to institutions including Oxford, King's College London, and Southampton)
• Further education and vocational training
• Professional and technical education
• Academic achievement recognition
• Financial barriers to educational participation

Schools with qualifying pupils who live within the Trust boundary area can apply for financial assistance on behalf of their students.

What They Don't Fund

The Trust has specific geographic and age limitations:

• Individuals over 25 years old
• Those outside the Ancient Parish of Grays Thurrock who have not attended USP College Palmer's Campus for at least two consecutive academic years
• Educational expenses normally provided by local educational authorities (for the prizes and special benefits portion)

Ready to write a winning application for William Palmer College Educational Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Trust is governed by 9 trustees, with the board including representatives from various appointing bodies. Known trustees include:

• Brian Robert Little (Chair)
• Denise Rimke Wakeling
• Ritchie Naylor
• Clifford Carter
• Clare White

Thurrock Council Representatives:

• Councillor George Coxshall
• Councillor Cici Manwa

Note: One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for providing services to the charity.

Volunteers

The Trust engages 10 volunteers to support its activities.

Regulatory Status

The Trust is regulated by the Charity Commission and operates under schemes and amendments spanning from 1980 to 2017. The administration is governed by specific rules contained in these schemes, giving trustees full power to make rules for awarding exhibitions and benefits, including determining value, tenure periods, and candidate qualifications.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The application process varies depending on your current status:

For Current USP College Students:

• Contact your Progress Coach, or
• Contact Nickie Hillebrandt, Student Services Manager

For Current School Students:

• Your school administrator may assist you with an application
• Schools with qualifying pupils who live within the Trust boundary area can apply for financial assistance from the Trust on behalf of students

For Those Who Have Left School:

• Write to: The Clerk to the Trustees, William Palmer College Educational Trust, USP College Palmer's Campus, Chadwell Road, Grays, Essex RM17 5TD
• Email: palmerstrust@uspcollege.ac.uk
• Phone: 01375 370121

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Prize-giving ceremonies typically occur annually, with the 2023 ceremony welcoming leavers from summer 2023 and the previous year, suggesting awards may be made on an annual cycle.

Success Rates

Approximately 300 award winners were recognized at the 2023 prize-giving ceremony, demonstrating substantial support for eligible students. However, specific application numbers and success rate percentages are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Given the annual nature of prize-giving ceremonies and the ongoing support available to USP College students throughout their studies, reapplication appears to be permitted.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's documented priorities and governing scheme:

1. Demonstrate Financial Need

• The Trustees explicitly state they will consider applications for pupils who are in financial need
• Receipt of free school meals and/or pupil premium allowance by the school or college are examples of sufficient proof of financial need
• Clear documentation of financial circumstances is essential

2. Meet Geographic or Institutional Eligibility

• Residence in the Ancient Parish of Grays Thurrock (Grays Thurrock, Grays North, or Stifford parishes), OR
• Current attendance or at least two consecutive academic years at USP College Palmer's Campus
• Be under 25 years old

3. Academic Achievement and Effort

• The William Palmer Prize recognizes students achieving minimum AAA at A-level and/or DDD at BTEC National Diploma or 144 UCAS points or above
• The William Palmer Achievement Award recognizes effort, resilience, and dedication to improve grades
• As Louis Stouchbury, a 2023 award winner, stated: he was “shocked to be an award winner,” noting it recognized “the progress he made and the effort he put in throughout the year”

4. Educational Purpose

• Applications should clearly articulate how funding will support educational progression
• Support is available for university, college, further education, and vocational training
• Assistance can cover outfits, tools, books, fees, travelling, or maintenance expenses

5. Follow Appropriate Application Route

• Current students should work through their Progress Coach or Student Services Manager
• School students should engage their school administrator
• Those who have left school should write directly to the Clerk to the Trustees

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Historical Legacy: This 300+ year-old Trust maintains strong commitment to supporting young people in Grays Thurrock area with deep community roots and long-standing educational mission
• Dual Focus: The Trust balances academic achievement recognition (prizes) with practical financial assistance for educational progression
• Financial Need is Central: Demonstrating financial need is a core eligibility requirement; free school meals or pupil premium allowance provide sufficient proof
• Geographic Specificity: Strong focus on the Ancient Parish of Grays Thurrock, though USP College Palmer's Campus students from outside the area who have attended for two consecutive years are also eligible
• Age Restriction: Strict under-25 age limit applies to all beneficiaries
• Relationship with USP College: The Trust works closely with USP College Palmer's Campus; current students have streamlined access through college staff
• Flexibility in Support: Beyond prizes, the Trust can support various educational costs including books, tools, fees, travel, and maintenance expenses
• Recent Expansion: Changes to Trust boundary restrictions have expanded eligibility to include all three Grays parishes, potentially increasing accessibility for disadvantaged pupils

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Thomas Wilson Educational Trust
• The William Price Charitable Trust
• Tower Hamlets and Canary Wharf Further Education Trust
• Southover Manor General Educational Trust Limited
• The Albert Dawson Educational Trust
• The Spalding Memorial Educational Trust
• Thetford Educational Foundation Trust
• The Portal Trust
• The Ewelme Exhibition Foundation
• Thornton-Smith and Plevins Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - William Palmer College Educational Trust (310860): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/310860
• USP College - William Palmer College Educational Trust Overview: https://www.uspcollege.ac.uk/about-usp/our-history/william-palmer-college-educational-trust/
• Thurrock Council - Outside Bodies - William Palmer College Educational Trust: https://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/mgOutsideBodyDetails.aspx?ID=411
• Your Thurrock - “USP College: Hundreds of students awarded for achievements”: https://www.yourthurrock.com/2023/09/21/usp-college-hundreds-of-students-awarded-for-achievements/
• Thurrock Nub News - “Plaque marks centuries of benefit to the borough from the legacy of William Palmer”: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-history/plaque-marks-centuries-of-benefit-to-the-borough-from-the-legacy-of-william-palmer-274394
• Financial information from Charity Commission records for financial year ending July 31, 2024