Maple Leaf Trust

Maple Leaf Trust, established in 1986 by five Canadian women in London with roots in 1950s veteran support efforts, is the premier British charity serving the Canadian community in the UK. Its mission centers on fostering Canada-UK ties through community, remembrance, education, and philanthropy, stewarding entities like the Canada-UK Foundation, Canada Memorial Foundation, and Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund (CCSF). It prioritizes two exclusive themes: emergency relief and welfare for destitute Canadian WWII veterans and their dependants residing in the UK, often via partners like the Canadian High Commission, and scholarships advancing Canadian postgraduate students at British universities, honoring veterans' legacies while promoting bilateral goodwill.

Funding targets only individuals of Canadian origin or descent living in the UK—no organisations, charities, or projects qualify. Scholarships support tuition and living costs for postgraduates; veteran aid addresses urgent needs on a rolling basis. There are no income thresholds, entity types, or religious restrictions, but beneficiaries must prove Canadian citizenship and UK residency.

Scholarships offer £5,000 each (about 15 annually) via CCSF's online application (CV, references, study details), opening 5 January and closing midnight 6 March 2026, with interviews for shortlists; veteran support requires partner referrals, not public applications. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted.

Distinctively, the Trust excludes all other causes—no core funding, capacity building, capital, or unrestricted grants—focusing solely on these niches as the cultural-philanthropic hub for UK Canadians, reliant on volunteer-led events like the Maple Leaf Ball for sustainability.