The National Archives Trust’s Foundational Supporters

September 19 2024

The National Archives Trust is pleased to announce the establishment of the National Archives Trust’s Foundational Supporters, a group of some of our most generous funders who have each made exceptional inaugural gifts to help establish new programmes and initiatives which expand engagement with our nation’s archival heritage.

The Trust would like to thank the following Foundational Supporters for their generosity: Joanna & Graham Barker, the Bisset Trust, the Clore Duffield Foundation, the John S Cohen Foundation, GRoW @ Annenberg, Simon Lough and Marc and Rachel Polonsky.

To find out more about the Trust’s Foundational Supporters and how you can become involved please contact Eleanor Leahy,  Head of Philanthropy, at Eleanor@nationalarchivestrust.org.uk

The National Archives Education Bursary Scheme launches with support from The National Archives Trust

July 12 2024

We are delighted to announce the launch of The National Archives Education Bursary Scheme, an important new initiative to support educational visits to The National Archives in Kew.  

Recognising that many schools face financial barriers to accessing school trips, the bursary scheme will offer £500 to schools wishing to take part in educational workshops at The National Archives.  

Workshops provide a unique opportunity for learners of all ages to get ‘hands-on’ with history. From iconic records such as Elizabeth I’s signature to the Empire Windrush passenger list, students experience the excitement of seeing a real piece of history in a facilitated session. With expert guidance from history educators, students investigate the past using documents in the collection and develop their skills in evidential understanding. 

Education workshops at The National Archives are free and so bursaries can support costs including travel or teacher cover, so that many more students are able to access exciting learning experiences. 

Applications for the bursary scheme are made to The National Archives and will open at 9am on Monday 2 September 2024 and close at 5pm on Friday 13 September 2024. To check eligibility, schools should visit The National Archives’ website for updates and to apply when applications open. 

The National Archives Education Bursary Scheme has been developed and is supported by The National Archives Trust, with contributions from Francesca Barnes, the Bisset Trust, Epsom College History Department, Dr P. Kay and Ms A. Jackson Kay, Simon Lough, the Maurice & Vivien Thompson Charitable Trust and Kit and Anthony van Tulleken. 

The bursary scheme relies on the generosity of those who share our commitment to providing more opportunities for schools to access our nation’s archival heritage. To contribute towards the programme, please click here to donate online. 

Welcoming New Trustees to the Board of the National Archives Trust

June 1 2023

We are delighted to announce the recent appointment of eight exceptional individuals to the National Archives Trust Board of Trustees:

• Kamini Banga – Chair of the Banga Family Trust
• Anita Bhalla OBE – Chair of Birmingham City University, Chair of B:Music, Governor of
  the RSC and Chair of WMCA Leadership Commission.
• Emma Haywood – Director and Principal Consultant, Bloomworks Legal
• Claire Horton CBE – Director General of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Marc Polonsky – Managing Trustee of The Polonsky Foundation
• Shailesh Solanki – Executive Editor of Asian Media Group
• Peter Stewart –Director of the Townscape Consultancy
• Dr Karin von Hippel – Director-General of the Royal United Service Institute

Each new Trustee possesses a unique set of skills and expertise, acquired through years of dedicated work in their respective fields. From journalism to architecture, law to philanthropy, their diverse backgrounds perfectly align with the Trust’s commitment to support The National Archives in delivering world-class education and engagement activities, ensuring people of all ages can access the rich archival heritage of the UK.

The appointment of our new Board members, who join to form the charity’s board of twelve Trustees, signifies an exciting new chapter in the journey of the National Archives Trust.

Please stay tuned for future updates as the Trust embarks on its next phase to support the work of archives across the country.

For more information about the National Archives Trust Board – please visit the ‘Our People’ page