Mottisfont Parish Community Web Site

provided by Mottisfont Parish Council

Thomas Dowse's Trust

Thomas Dowse’s Trust is able to make grants to the schools or residents, who are under the age 25 years, of Broughton, Bossington and Mottisfont. Recent grants have been made for things such as school trips, music tuition, overseas educational trips, uniform, swimming lessons, transport to educational establishments, laptops and books. Successful applicants have received, on average, around £250.

History

Thomas Dowse’s Trust dates back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. By a deed dated 24th April 1601 Thomas Dowse ‘intrusted’ property for the maintenance of a Schoolmaster for ‘teaching the children of the inhabitants of the parish to read, write and cast accounts’. Today, whilst the provisions of the modern welfare state obviate the need for a teacher, the Charity still exists for the purpose of providing educational benefits for young people.

Process

The Trustees meet four times a year to consider applications for grants – usually in March, June, September and November. Any school, organisation or individual who wishes to apply to the Charity for grants may do so by completing an application form. The application forms are available at St Mary’s Church Broughton, Mottisfont Church, or from the Secretary to the Trust. The application form includes an indication of the sum required, and what it will be used for; the need to show that the application qualifies for a grant under the terms of the scheme; that efforts that have been made to raise funds in other ways; and the need to support your application favourably.

Eligibility

The Charity has a certain amount of funds available each year to make grants to schools, charitable organisations promoting the education of young people, and to individuals. The terms of the scheme make specific provisions:

  1. In or towards providing such specific benefits of any kind, not normally provided by the local education authority for any school in, or substantially serving, the area of benefit as may from time to time be agreed between the Trustees and the Governors of the School concerned after consultation with the said authority.
  2. In providing grants or other financial assistance to Charitable Organisations in the area of benefit established to promote the Education (including social and physical training) or persons under the age of 25 years who are, or who have a parent or parents, resident in the area of benefit.
  3. In otherwise promoting the education, including social and physical training of persons under the age of 25 years who have a parent/parents resident in the area of benefit and who are in need of financial assistant in one or more of the following ways, or in such other ways as the Trustees shall think fit:
    1. In awarding exhibitions or grants tenable at any Secondary School, College of Education, University or other institution of further education as the Trustees see fit;
    2. In providing financial assistance, outfits, clothing, tools, instruments or books to help such persons on leaving school university or any other educational establishment to prepare for, or to enter a professions trade or calling;
    3. In providing financial assistance for such persons to study music or other arts or to travel to further their education.

The area of benefit is defined as the Ecclesiastical parishes of Broughton with Bossington and Mottisfont.