BARONETS TRUST

President:
Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt OBE

Chairman:
Sir James Scott Bt DL

Trustees:
•    Sir Michael Bunbury Bt KCVO DL
•    Sir James Pickthorn Bt
•    Sir Thomas Troubridge Bt
•    Sir Ross Yarrow Bt

Mission:  The Baronets Trust provides an opportunity for Baronets to make a material contribution to a better Britain by supporting and helping disabled and disadvantaged young people. 

Grant Making:  Grants made by the Trust are funded from a combination of the financial return from the Trust’s investment portfolio, which has been built up over many years, and annual donations from Baronets and others. To further the Trust’s activities, the Trustees thank current donors and invite all Baronets to contribute. Whilst one-off donations are gratefully received, it is hoped that donors will want to provide continuing support for the work of the Trust. A copy of our latest Annual accounts are available, on request, from the Secretary.

In 1985, a group of Baronets launched a charity, exclusive to members of the Baronetage. The intention was to provide an opportunity to Baronets to make a meaningful contribution to society. The opportunity to give collegially has struck a chord with an increasing number of Baronets and continues to do so today.

Grants were initially made to organisations and institutions for capital items, such as buildings and equipment. The Trust focused on medicine, primarily for the diagnosis and treatment of sick, disabled and disadvantaged children.

Early grants were made to a wide variety of organisations, including:
• the Children’s Trust at Tadworth, Surrey;
• the Children’s Unit at Edinburgh Hospital;
• the Children’s Liver Unit at Birmingham Hospital;
• Harefield Hospital;
• the Treloar Trust (providing equipment to enable children with severe speech impediment to communicate);
• the Radcliffe Children’s hospital, Oxford, to provide a hi-lo bath and hoist (known as the Baronets Bath);
• the Rockinghorse Appeal, Brighton, providing a protected outdoor play area, which consultants use to assess the treatment needs of patients in a less formal atmosphere than a Consulting Room;
• the Sea Shell Trust, Manchester, providing mobile hoists to allow the lifting of disabled children, in wheelchairs, onto their stage, thus allowing them to take part in drama presentations, from which they were previously excluded; and
• Stubber’s Adventure Centre, Upminster, Essex, to provide a specially designed sailing boat and sets of protective clothing for use by disabled and disadvantaged children and their carers, from the London area, to receive sailing tuition, thus enhancing their self-esteem.

In April 2010, the Trustees launched an initiative at a reception at 2 Temple Place, encouraging Baronets to support the Trust by providing a legacy in their Will. The reception was fully funded by specific donations from regular donors, the Bulldog Trust, and a corporate donor. Those who attended were very supportive of the idea but, of course, tangible results would only be known over time.

In 2010, the Trust’s focus sharpened as the Trustees sought to make sizable grants with a more tangible impact. Since 2011, we have supported three charities in a new focused way:

•    SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) received our support from 2011 – 2015, receiving £5,000 a year to provide remedial holidays for disadvantaged and disabled children of members of the Armed Forces.
•    From 2016 to 2020, the Shannon Trust gained our support, aiding prisoners in teaching other prisoners to read and write. Our grants started at £5,000 but increased to £10,000 during the period.
•    From  2021 to 2025, the Cirdan Sailing Trust, which specialises in enabling groups of young people, particularly the disadvantaged, to experience the challenge and adventure of life at sea on large sailing vessels, was supported with 5 grants of £10,000 per year. 

In 2026, the Trustees have decided to support 2 charities each for a period of 5 years:

•    Green Frog Holidays - an Ofsted-regulated charity that supports young people with learning disabilities to have extraordinary holidays.
•    British Exploring Society - their mission Is to grow and celebrate a diverse, inclusive community of young people with the skills, resilience and determination to make lasting positive decisions in their own lives, and to deliver community benefit and positive environmental change.