A very Happy New Year!
What an incredible start to the new year at the Sycamore Trust! We’re delighted to share some fantastic news that we received just in time for the Christmas break. As 2025 wrapped up, we learned that we’ve been awarded a generous £30,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation to support our core costs!
Securing funding in 2025 was a real challenge, and this grant is a huge boost that will enable us to continue delivering vital services and unwavering support to the incredible autistic community we serve.
The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family founded grant-maker supporting charities operating in a wide variety of sectors across the UK that make a positive difference within their communities.
Established by W. Garfield Weston in 1958 through an endowment of shares in the family business – now known as Associated British Foods plc – the Foundation continues to be guided by the Weston Family. The Trustees, each of whom are direct descendants of the founder, play an active, informed role in its work.
This successful model has ensured that our charitable donations have grown as the businesses have grown, enabling the Foundation to award grants totalling nearly £1.7 billion since its establishment. The most recent financial year 2024-2025 saw the Foundation give away almost £130 million to 2,967 charities.
Our CEO, Cheryl Kearney, shared her joy: “I was absolutely thrilled when I heard that we received such a generous grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation! This incredible support will allow us to maintain the essential services that so many families across Barking & Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge depend on. We are immensely grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation—this funding has truly made 2026 a joyful and hopeful new year for everyone at Sycamore Trust UK!”
