Monastry of the Visitation Charitable Trust

The Monastery of the Visitation Charitable Trust, established in 1967, was a Roman Catholic charitable entity dedicated to advancing the faith through support for the Monastery of the Visitation in Waldron, East Sussex. Rooted in the 17th-century Visitation order's ethos of mercy and care, its mission focused on maintaining the chapel, sustaining monastic religious life, relieving poverty, aiding the sick or poor—especially children, youth, and elderly connected to the church—and funding aligned Catholic agencies. This reflected core values of spiritual advancement, compassionate relief, and localized church outreach, with grants emphasizing tangible support for faith-based and welfare needs within the Catholic community.

It funded religious activities like chapel upkeep and monastic operations, direct aid to vulnerable individuals, poverty relief, health support, and grants to small Catholic or voluntary organizations tied to the Waldron parish. Beneficiaries were primarily those in East Sussex with strong monastic or local Catholic links, including grassroots groups and individuals in need.

Eligible applicants were limited to UK-registered charities and community groups in East Sussex, with a Christian-only (Roman Catholic) restriction; no unsolicited applications were accepted, and there were no strict income thresholds, though preference went to small entities. Grants typically ranged from £500 to £10,000, decided annually at trustee discretion without open calls or deadlines.

Distinctive for its narrow, monastic-focused identity and exclusive East Sussex/Catholic scope, the trust avoided broader projects, non-religious causes, or external areas. It ceased operations in February 2025 after transferring funds to Grace and Compassion Benedictines, ending all grant-making.