Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust

The trust funds a range of causes including children and young people, education and skills, heritage, community development, and arts and culture. It supports adventurous and musical activities that broaden educational experiences, such as arts course fees, music programmes, youth theatre, and Scouting or Guiding activities. Heritage railway restoration receives special emphasis, alongside local initiatives that foster community cohesion. The trust also funds training, project delivery, capital works, and events. Geographically, it prioritises projects within an approximate 25-mile radius of Newton Abbot in Devon, though it occasionally supports work elsewhere in Devon or beyond. Beneficiaries include individuals, small charities, and community groups, with a preference for grassroots, volunteer-led organisations.

Applications are welcomed from UK-registered charities, community groups, and individuals. The trust prioritises projects that benefit people living in Devon, especially those within the Newton Abbot area. It favours small, volunteer-led organisations over large national bodies. There are no strict income limits, and the trust is open to both charitable and non-charitable groups as long as the work aligns with its aims. Individuals may apply for support for educational or personal development activities, particularly in adventurous or musical fields. The trust has no religious restriction.

The trust does not fund equipment purchases. It also declines financial assistance for first undergraduate degrees. Other types of project costs, such as training or event delivery, are generally considered.

The trust is funded by endowment investment returns and makes grants on a rolling basis. It welcomes unsolicited applications and supports a variety of costs including training, project delivery, capital works, and events. Grants are typically one-off and focused on specific projects or activities rather than core costs. The trust favours small, grassroots initiatives and works with individuals as well as organisations.