Supporting the local community
The Trust distributes grants worth a total of more than £100,000 to more than 100 recipients each year and has a policy of distributing the majority of the grants to local organisations and charities in the Maidenhead area with the balance going to regional and national organisations.
The Administrator
Louis Baylis Charitable Trust
PO Box 4832
Maidenhead, Berkshire
SL60 1JQ
History of Louis Baylis and the Trust
The Louis Baylis Charitable Trust was set up by the charismatic Louis Baylis, who revitalised the paper after the Second World War and whose editorial policy championed service to the town.
In 1962 he created the trust to safeguard the paper as 'an independent family concern free from all outside influence'. He also wanted to ensure, as he wrote at the time 'its continuance as part of the civic and social life of the community it serves'.
Since it was formed the Trust has ploughed more than £6million back into hundreds of local charities, organisations and good causes, allowing them to improve the quality of many thousands of lives.
Everyone in the Maidenhead area will know someone who has benefited because of the Trust.
Closing date for grant applications - Friday, 8th November 2024
Charity Testimonials
Maidenhead Heritage Centre:
Maidenhead Heritage Centre became truly independent when the Louis Baylis Trust made its biggest ever loan grant to enable the purchase of a redundant pub in Park Street as the permanent home for the town's museum. "Without the support of the Louis Baylis Trust we would never have been able to create the best small museums in the area," says Chairman Richard Poad.
"Having a permanent home enabled us to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding bodies for capital grants, which enabled us to build a new visitor entrance last winter, and to install the superb 'Grandma Flew Spitfires!' exhibition with its fabulous simulator.
Norden Farm:
The Louis Baylis Trust has been a magnificent supporter and great friend to Norden Farm for many years. The Trust has shown its support to our annual outreach events which aim to bring the local community together by working with local schools, community groups and members of the public.
The Trust provided essential help for Norden Farm to purchase its cinema equipment enabling the live screening of national theatre productions as well as other national and international live music events.
Over the years the Baylis Trust’s support has played an important role at ensuring the work which Norden Farm is creating is able to reach out to the local community, and for that we are hugely grateful.
