The Round Table Trust

Travel grants can be awarded by the Round Table Trust to young people (aged 18-35) who undertake voluntary service projects overseas.

Awards are available for individuals and groups. Applicants have to satisfy various criteria in order to be considered (see below), not least of which is obtaining the endorsement of their local Round Table club. There is also a special award available to Round Table clubs themselves.

Prospective candidates should complete the relevant application form and present the details of their project to their local Round Table. Whether or not the Round Table members offer any financial assistance themselves, they can sponsor the young person's application by endorsing the application form and submitting a covering letter to this effect.

Application forms must be obtained from Round Table

• email: hq@roundtable.org.uk
• phone: 0121 456 4402

 

Completed applications should be posted, together with the letter of endorsement by a local Round Table Club, to the Chairman of the Trustees at The Round Table Trust, Marchesi House, 4 Embassy Drive , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1TP alternatively you may email the requested information to hq@roundtable.org.uk.

The terms of the Round Table Trust permits the Trustees to consider applications for awards in three categories:

The Individual Award

A contribution up to the full amount of travel costs is available for a young man or woman (between the ages of 18 and 35yrs) in visiting another country for a minimum period of three weeks to:

1. Take part in a community service project; or

1. Study the legal, social, environmental or natural aspects of that country.

 

Group Award

A contribution up to the full amount of travel costs is available for a group of young persons (preferably between the ages of 18 and 35) in visiting another country for a minimum period of two weeks to:

1. Take part in a community service project; or
2. Study the legal, social, environmental or natural aspects of that country.

 

Special Award for an Overseas Project

This award is not open to individuals, but only to constituent Tables of the National Association of Round Tables of Great Britain and Ireland.

1. An award for a project which is of an educational or charitable nature and which contributes to the furtherance of understanding amongst people of different nations and cultures.

 

Terms & Conditions

Awards will be subject to conditions, including:

• The application must be sponsored by a member Round Table of the National Association of Round Tables of Great Britain and Ireland.
• The applicant will be required to provide a written report of the visit or project on its completion, which may be published in print or on the Internet or otherwise used by the Round Table Trust, the National Association of Round Tables, or its constituent Round Table clubs to promote the Trust or the Round Table movement.
• The applicant will be required to visit the sponsor Round Table (and other Round Tables if possible) to give a verbal report.
• Applications must be completed and returned with a letter of support from the sponsor Round Table as soon as possible (and certainly prior to the date of departure) in order to be considered by the Trustees, who meet three times a year, usually in March, July and November.

 

An example of one young person's recent experience.

It’s not just Paddington’s Aunt Lucy in darkest Peru

Sophie from Oxford is studying Industrial Economics at university. Through Oxford Round Table she applied to the Round Table Trust for funding towards a 6 week trip to Peru where she would be involved in a local community service project.

The Round Table Trust was able to offer Sophie an additional £300 on top of the £500 already generously pledged by Oxford Round Table. Now safely home, here is Sophie’s report.

“The trip was run by Venture Co. who were very organised and I was extremely happy that all my initial thoughts as to them being an ethical and environmentally friendly company were correct. They carbon neutralised our flights and were also fair and organised, always taking into consideration local culture, the environment and safety. I would thoroughly recommend them as a company to any other traveller. On the 3rd of July I met up with the team of 11 people in my group. We immediately made friends, and the long-haul flight was great fun. We arrived in Lima the following morning and stayed overnight before flying to Cusco.

My trip to Peru was for 6 weeks, and the first part was to learn about the culture and language of the people who live in Cusco. I was enrolled in a Spanish school called Amigos which uses the money we paid it to give poor Peruvian children an education, hence they would be taught English in the morning and we would be taught Spanish in the afternoon. We stayed in a Peruvian’s home and also took a cookery and Salsa class to learn about the culture. As I am not a natural linguist I was really worried about this aspect of the project, but it went surprisingly well. My host family were very welcoming and having such a concentrated period of having to speak Spanish really helped to boost my confidence that I could learn Spanish, although I have grown a little rusty since coming back.

The second aspect was to travel by bus up into the hills to Tambohuailla, we camped for two weeks in the primary school play area. Here we were one of three groups building a community house for the locals who have such a peaceful but hard existence. The village stretched along the valley and it is important for them to be able to make local decisions as a group; the house should enable them to communicate and group together on local matters such as sending their kids to school, selling their produce, and transport to the nearest town.

Whilst we were there the whole group really enjoyed playing with all the kids, we brought them toys and food. I wished to really make a difference when I volunteered on my trip . The local people really appreciated the job we did, as after a hard day’s work we would walk to the hot spa and try to pay to go in; the locals would consistently refuse to take money from us as we were helping them out by volunteering. The house we built is in the picture above"

 

The Trustees get together up to four times a year to discuss applications received, and each is considered on its own merits. The Round Table Trust does not guarantee to make an award in every case, but will provide feedback to any unsuccessful applicants.

All applications will be acknowledged on receipt.

The Board of Trustees is made up of active members of the Round Table family and currently comprises:

• Andrew Hornby, Chairman
• John Handley, Hon. Secretary
• Adrian Gibbons, Hon. Treasurer
• Kevin Bentley
• Richard du Bois
• Brad Parkes
• Mark Newby