Blyth Watson Charitable Trust

The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust, established in 1998 from the estate of Mrs Hilda Blyth (née Watson) who died in 1997, is a UK-based grant-maker led by professional trustees with legal expertise. Its core mission is to advance human welfare by supporting humanitarian causes that relieve poverty, hardship, disadvantage, or risk of harm for individuals and communities, both in the UK and overseas. Rooted in responsive, targeted philanthropy, the trust emphasises prudent stewardship, public benefit, and flexible funding to alleviate suffering, enhance life chances, and sustain frontline charities, with a preference for smaller, local organisations delivering direct crisis intervention over large national bodies.

It prioritises health and social care initiatives, including hospices, medical support, aid for children and families in crisis, poverty relief, and efforts addressing social isolation or vulnerability. Recent grantees like Princess Alice Hospice, War Child UK, Batten Disease Family Association, Foundling Museum, and StepChange reflect a focus on unrestricted core funding to build organisational capacity and enable impactful local delivery, spanning humanitarian projects in England, Wales, and international aid routed through UK entities.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, ideally small to medium-sized with incomes under £2 million, operating UK-wide without regional limits. Unsolicited applications are welcomed year-round via email or post to Bircham Dyson Bell Solicitors—no form required, just a clear case, accounts, and alignment statement—with decisions at biannual trustee meetings in July (submit by end-June) and December (end-November), typically within six months.

Grants range from £1,000–£7,000, occasionally up to £15,000, with £50,000–£55,000 distributed per meeting across 30–35 awards. Exclusions include animal charities, capital/seed funding, and project-specific grants; its distinctive light-touch, trust-based approach favours pragmatic, high-impact relief for the disadvantaged.