The Hawks' Charitable Trust

 The Trust was established in January 1996 with a relatively small endowment capital donated by some of the members to provide grants to current Cambridge University students, male and female, whose sporting activities were being inhibited by financial constraints.  A very generous bequest from David Jennens (Clare College 1947-51, Rowing) increased dramatically the size of the endowment capital in 2003, and the capital fund now stands in excess of £550,000, enabling a disbursement in 2007 of £22,000 (capital being conserved for the growth of the fund).  The Trust is now the single largest charity devoted to funding sport in the University.

There are 5 Trustees, all Hawks - they are Christopher Pratt (Chairman), Sir Roger Tomkys, John Marks, Guy Brennan and Tim Ellis.  Since 2007, to ensure joined-up thinking, the Awards Committee has been joined by Dr Joan Lazenby of the  Ospreys.  Information has, since the inception of the Trust, been exchanged with the managers of the Eric Evans Fund, which is the only (and quite small) fund run by the University itself.  The Trustees’ policy currently is to provide a larger number of modest awards rather than a very limited number of larger sums. Applications have to be endorsed by a University Senior Member to confirm financial need; grants are normally only awarded in sports of Blue or Half-blue status, taking into account if need is equal, the level of sporting excellence and the academic level.

In 2008 a sum just short of £21,000 was awarded to over 80 students. There are usually well over 100 applicants. Awards are made in amounts ranging from £100 and £750. The top four £750 awards  are named for major benefactors of the Trust, being David Jennens (Rowing 1949-51), Sir Adrian Cadbury (Rowing/Skiing 1949-52), Bob Barber (Cricket/Athletics 1954-57) and Sir Arthur Marshall (Athletics 1922-26). This policy will continue and expand as account of further contributions allow.

Applications are normally submitted by a date which is defined in the middle of the Lent term and advertised to all colleges and sports clubs.  The trustees make their decisions before the end of that term. Each year the awards are announced in the University Reporter and either at the end of the Lent Term, or early in the Easter Term, a reception is arranged at the Hawks’ Club at which the awards are made.

The future? There is little doubt of the value of these awards to the individuals who receive them, nor, to judge from the number of excellent applications, the fact that they are necessary in the current student financial climate. The Fund is now by far the largest in the University to provide help to sportsmen and women and the Trustees are convinced that prudent management will allow the total level of the awards to be increased steadily over the years. Certainly this is the aim, for there is even less doubt about the success of those to whom awards have been given than their need; their names have featured in summer and winter Olympics, World, and European Championships and Commonwealth Games, as well as myriad international and national competitions across the sporting world.

In addition to expanding the current range of support to individuals the Trustees would wish in the future to:

• Make occasional much larger individual awards (where for example, major international potential can be identified).
• Support Clubs or Teams on a general basis.
• Consider supporting the establishment or development of sporting facilities.

To do this we need considerably more capital , and attracting that is a fundamental objective.

In addition to its current activities the Trust can facilitate the transfer of funds should any Hawk have a particular project, within the charitable objectives, that he wishes to endow.

Donating to the Trust

If any member of the Club wishes to hear further about the policies of the Charitable Trust or feels that they would like to contribute any sum, large or small to the Endowment, via gift or legacy please contact Chris Pratt, the Hawks’ Company Secretary, who also chairs the Trust and will be delighted to provide further information. Appropriate forms are also available on this site.  It is certainly a very worthwhile cause and because it is a charity (registered no 1052904), the Chancellor of the Exchequer adds to every donation made by Gift Aid and subtracts legacies from estates before inheritance tax.  For further information see here.