William Wates Memorial Trust

The Trust funds work in youth, sport, arts, culture, education, skills, and mental health. It supports core costs, project delivery, salaries, training, and equipment for organisations working with children and young people in London and the South East of England. The Trust prioritises projects that continue to have impact after its support has ended, sustainability of support for young people long after specific projects come to an end, and skill-building over short-term activities. For example, it prefers a coaching qualification over weekly football sessions. This focus on lasting change and capacity building shapes the types of initiatives it backs.

Registered charities and social enterprises can apply, provided they are rooted in their communities and have a proven track record of working with children and young people. The Trust prefers organisations whose income is not heavily reliant on public service contracts or commissioned work, ideally with less than 60% of turnover from such sources. It looks for groups that demonstrate a clear commitment to the priority groups and themes outlined above.

The Trust does not fund capital works or building projects. It also tends to avoid organisations whose income is heavily reliant on public service contracts or commissioned work, though this is a preference rather than a strict exclusion.

Grants are typically multi-year, supporting ongoing work rather than one-off events. The Trust funds core costs, project delivery, salaries, training, and equipment. It welcomes unsolicited applications and seeks partnerships where its support can create lasting change for young people.