Skyrme Hart Charitable Trust

The Skyrme Hart Charitable Trust, established under a trust deed on 23 July 1983 and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (number 1024979), is a grant-making charity dedicated to advancing classical music and musical education in the UK. Managed by two trustees from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, with investments via CCLA, it embodies the founders' commitment to fostering excellence, sustainability, and access in classical music infrastructure. Its distinctive approach emphasizes long-term relationships with select high-calibre institutions, prioritizing due diligence, formal reporting, and direct engagement to support musical talent pipelines, youth education, orchestral performance, and cultural heritage preservation.

The Trust funds projects and core costs for classical music initiatives, including scholarships, youth programmes, and heritage efforts linked to cathedrals and music schools. Recent grantees like the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Academy of Music, Yehudi Menuhin Music School, Britten Pears Arts, and Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation reflect its focus on children, young people, and communities benefiting from elite music provision, with an emphasis on regional enrichment and national impact.

Eligible applicants are limited to invited UK-registered charities and academic institutions, preferably medium-to-large organizations in Dorset, Gloucestershire, or nationally in England; it shows no strict income thresholds but favors established music entities. Grants typically range from £5,000 to £50,000 (averaging £20,000–£30,000). As a closed programme, it rejects unsolicited applications, relying on trustee discretion, invitations, and recommendations without public deadlines or application forms. It excludes individuals, capital projects, and non-England activities, uniquely differentiating itself through its invite-only model and concentrated support for classical music's educational and cultural legacy.