Jessica Mathers Trust

The Jessica Mathers Trust, established in 2007 by the family of thirteen-year-old Jessica Mathers following her tragic death, transforms personal bereavement into compassionate action. Rooted in lived experience, its mission supports individuals and communities facing profound life challenges—particularly homelessness, premature bereavement, vulnerable adolescence, and family disadvantage—while fostering community development in Deptford, South East London, and environmental sustainability. With values of practical compassion, remembrance, and long-term relationship-building, the Trust offers agile, values-driven funding to grassroots efforts, managing 'Jessica's Heart' as a local community hub and prioritizing trauma-informed, hyper-local resilience over competitive processes.

It funds targeted initiatives like homelessness outreach (e.g., Bench Outreach), grief therapy (e.g., Good Grief Project, Brake), suicide prevention for youth (e.g., Papyrus), mentoring for at-risk young women (e.g., Ashdon Jazz Academy), respite holidays for bereaved or ill families (e.g., Alice's Escapes), domestic abuse support, skills training, and environmental projects. Beneficiaries include those bereaved by road accidents or suicide, vulnerable children/youth, women at risk, disabled people, and multi-disadvantaged communities, with activities spanning front-line services, core costs, and occasional international aid (e.g., Malawi orphans).

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups, with a preference for small organizations (typically under £500,000 turnover); while geographically focused on Deptford/Lewisham, it funds across England and rarely abroad if aligned with core themes. No income thresholds or religious restrictions apply, but unsolicited applications are not accepted—trustees proactively identify and approach aligned partners.

Grants range from £1,000–£10,000 (mostly £2,000–£6,000) on a rolling basis via informal trustee meetings, supporting projects and select core costs but excluding large capital or multi-year grants. Its distinctive, invitation-only model emphasizes trusted relationships and Deptford solidarity, differentiating it as a personal, memorial-driven funder for bereavement, youth vulnerability, and homelessness at the grassroots level.