The Association's Trust Fund

The Association's Trust Fund (known as the Old Centralians' Trust) was established as a charitable body in 1965. The Trust has combined aims, firstly of providing assistance to engineering students in financial need through no fault of their own, and secondly of giving support of a more general nature to assist students - either individually or collectively - with extra-curricular enterprises and activities. The scope of the latter includes for travel and work experience projects undertaken during the long vacation.

Since 1965 well over one hundred students have been helped financially in the face of personal hardship; in most cases the Trust's assistance has made possible the completion of studies where these would otherwise have had to be abandoned.

On the wider front, we assist the 'Pimlico Connection', which organises and promotes undergraduate student tutoring in local schools; we also provide funding each year to help students gain research experience during the summer vacation through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (known as ‘UROP’).

The Trust also provides a total of 14 accommodation bursaries, across seven departments, designed to enable students who are active in college social or sporting affairs to obtain term-time accommodation within easier reach of college. These bursaries are awarded on an annual basis, based on recommendations made by Senior Tutors and Departmental Heads.

The life of the College is supported by providing grants to various clubs. We have in the past provided funds to overhaul and refurbish the College's vintage car mascot Boanerges, provided the Boat Club with a new boat and with a five-year annual grant, and have also helped the C&G Union to acquire computing equipment.

A number of student groups have been assisted in making technical and sporting visits overseas, including highly successful Rugby and Hockey tours.

Assistance has also been given to student-organised and led expeditions with a wide variety of objectives, from climbing remote peaks to carrying out valuable original research.

The Trust Fund depends on donations and legacies from members of the Association. Please see the linked pages, and contact the Association Office if you would like to contribute or help in any way.