Who are we?

The Gwendoline Anderson Charitable Trust was established to offer assistance with funding higher education for the people of Stokenchurch and the surrounding area. The Charity supports beneficiaries from Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and East Oxfordshire and is specifically targeted at individuals who are suffering financial hardship.

We are not a large charity, but we aim to help as many beneficiaries as we can in each academic year. The trust is governed by a board of trustees, who assess each application received individually and seek to offer support both financially and in a pastoral sense whenever we can.

The trust generally operates to provide financial support, either by covering the cost of tuition, accommodation, travel or equipment. This can be paid directly to third parties or, where appropriate, to beneficiaries in the form of a monthly payment throughout the academic year. Where grants are agreed, they will be for the full duration of your course and you do not need to reapply each year. You will however be expected to provide evidence of your attendance and grades at the end of each academic year.

What do we do?

The trust provides financial assistance to beneficiaries in higher education. Historically this has included paying towards accommodation costs, tuition fees, purchasing equipment or topping up monthly finances to enable students to focus on their studies.

I owe so much to the Gwendoline Anderson Trust I don’t know where to start! I had big dreams but due to where I grew up and the situation I was in I felt like everything was so far out of reach. Thank to this trust I had the money to go to university, and the experience changed my life. I met forever friends and went on to do my masters afterwards. Now I have a job I love. I also got to enjoy my life at uni and not scrimp and save like I had done my whole life. Student life will always be student life but I was comfortable and I’d never felt that before. My whole family are grateful to this trust and the amazing trustees who made me feel so at ease, understood, and supported throughout.

Student helped

I am extremely grateful to the Gwendoline Anderson Charitable Trust for believing in me and supporting me in getting my degree. With the financial help I was provided, not only was I able to study at the university of my choice and make the most of campus life, but I was also motivated to work harder due to the investment in my education. I am happy to say I have now graduated and am enjoying the early stages of my career.

Student helped, Your Content Goes Here

Our History

The Gwendoline Anderson Charitable Trust was established from the estate of the late Gwendoline Olsen. Mrs Olsen. Gwen was a lifelong resident of Stokenchurch in Buckinghamshire and her family ran a successful furniture factory. As a result she had a strong tie to the area and was a great believer in the power of education to allow people to better themselves. She wished to give back to the community in which she had spent so much time and therefore directed that a charity should be established from her estate, on her death, that would benefit the people of Stokenchurch by funding the costs of higher education. Gwen died in 2009 (not long before her 90th birthday) and the Gwendoline Anderson Charitable Trust was established in accordance with her wishes.

To date, the trust has helped local students with funding for a variety of courses including university undergraduate degrees, vocational training in the arts, education and agriculture and post-graduate courses.