Beatrice Laing Trust

Resourcing church and community night shelters through Housing Justice. Photo courtesy of Housing Justice

Important Notice

The Trustees of the Beatrice Laing Trust are currently reviewing and refocusing their grant-making priorities. While they undertake this review, they have taken the decision to close to fresh applications for a period from 6th April 2026. All applications currently in process or posted before 5th April will be considered in the normal way, and existing grantees should be reassured that all pledges and multi-year grants will be honored.

If you are thinking of applying to the Laing Family Trusts after 5th April, please only do so if your project definitely meets the criteria of one of the other three Trusts administered from this office. Please review the ‘What we Fund’ section of our website for further information and if you are in any doubt please contact the office on 020 8238 8890 or info@laingfamilytrusts.org.uk to discuss your application before submitting.

As soon as the Trust is ready to reopen to applications, a notice will appear on the website, alongside the refreshed grant-making priorities.

Purpose

The Beatrice Laing Trust was established in 1952 by Sir John Laing for:

• the advancement of the evangelical Christian faith, at home and abroad
• the relief of poverty

Areas of Giving

The Trustees' priority areas of giving are:

1. To support new church building, extension or redevelopment projects, with a particular emphasis on churches using their physical resources to communicate Christian faith and respond to needs in their local community. Please note that we do not provide funding towards Church restoration or repair including church roofs, spires, organs, bells, wall paintings etc.

2. To support organisations offering practical services to those who are disadvantaged and vulnerable, with a particular emphasis on Christian organisations seeking to express their faith through practical action to help:

• the homeless
• the elderly
• ex-offenders
• former Servicemen and women

3. To support organisations providing practical services to people with physical, mental and learning difficulties, predominately through:

• special schools seeking to make provision for those with increasingly complex needs
• support in the transition from childhood to adulthood and in accessing training and/or meaningful employment opportunities

4. To support small-scale overseas development projects, aimed at building the capacity of local partners to provide long-term solutions to problems in the developing world, principally through Christian organisations working in the Anglophone countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia to:

• improve educational opportunities
• build sustainable livelihoods

Please note that we only fund overseas projects through charities registered in the United Kingdom.

Level of Funding

The level of funding available varies. Grants typically range between £2,000 and £10,000, but the trustees have the capacity to make a number of larger grants each year.

Annual Report/Accounts

The Trust's latest annual report and accounts provide examples of recent grants. (Please note that the link will open a new window on the Charity Commission of England & Wales website)

Trustees

Paula Joan Stephanie Blacker (Chair)
Christopher Maurice Laing
Charles William David Laing
Alexandra Catherine Beatrice Jane Gregory

Charity Number

211884

If you are thinking of applying for funding, please first read the How to Apply guidelines and Exclusions which are common to all the Laing Family Trusts.