Magdalen & Lasher Educational Foundation
The Magdalen and Lasher Educational Foundation was established in 1906 as an adjunct to the already established “Magdalen and Lasher Charity”.
The aim of the Foundation is to support educational institutions and individuals in Hastings.
In 2022 the assets and funds of the William Parker Foundation charity came under the auspices of the Magdalen and Lasher Educational Foundation and are now managed by the M&L Trustees, although the funds are discrete. The William Parker Foundation monies are used specifically to fund grants to the ARK Academy and its students.
School Grants
At present the Magdalen and Lasher Educational Foundation annually invites all state schools in Hastings to make applications for major (£5,000+) or minor (up to £5,000) grants towards the cost of undertaking projects and activities for the educational benefit of students for which funding would not otherwise be available. The scheme is now in its fifteenth year, and the Trustees have so far awarded five ‘Major’ Grants (in excess of £5,000 each) amounting to £45,600 and 17 ‘Minor’ Grants each of £5,000 or less, totalling £58,349.79. The Charity has awarded just over £1.3m under the Major and Minor Grants scheme since it began in 2009.
Bursaries
The Foundation awards bursaries of up to £1,500 each to students who have undergraduate places at universities. Applications are invited through the local 6th Form Colleges (ARK Alexandra and Bexhill College) as well as from individuals who are resident in the Borough or attended schools in the Borough.
Applications should:
- be received by the end of April for the year in which the course will commence.
- be supported by a reference from 6th form tutor or a UCAS reference.
Bursaries are normally paid in three instalments of £500 each in years one, two and three. In the case of four-year degrees, the final payment is made in the fourth year.
Trustees may also consider applications from students embarking on post-graduate or further first degree courses.
Individual Grants
The Foundation may award grants to assist with courses at further education colleges, including for vocational courses.
Any such application should:
- be made at least one month prior to the commencement of the course
- wherever possible be supported by a reference from a sponsor or tutor
- include full details of the course fee with a letter of acceptance on to the course where applicable
- include details of why the applicant is taking the course and their plans on completion.
- the majority of individual grants are awarded between May and September.
- applications received after that may have to be refused if the budget has been spent.
If you would like to apply for an Individual Grant, please download both of the forms listed below, complete them and return them to the address stated together with all relevant accompanying papers.
Grants to organisations other than schools
The Foundation may award grants for other educational projects in the Borough. Applicants should include an outline budget and detail the expected project outcomes.
The Batley Hibbert Fund
In 2010 two residents of Hastings, Miss Norma Batley and Mr Derek Hibbert, independently made substantial bequests to the Magdalen and Lasher educational Foundation to support musical education in Hastings. Through their generosity the Trustees are able to make grants (currently totalling about £15,000 per annum) to individuals and associations in Hastings to further the practice and development of music. The Trustees have taken a broad interpretation as to what qualifies as “musical”.
Finance
The Trustees have an annual budget for all grants based on the income from the Charity’s investments. This limits the amount of grants that can be awarded in any one year. Against that background each application is viewed on its individual merits.
Finance details will be requested for all individual applications. Grants and bursaries are usually only awarded to students from families earning below the median UK household income (currently £35,000). Qualification for free school meals would normally be accepted as evidence of meeting the financial criterion.