Winston Churchill Memorial Trusts
| Founded | 1 February 1965 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Field Marshal Lord Alexander of Tunis |
| Focus | World peace and mutual understanding through projects requiring international travel |
| Location |
|
| Origins | Living memorial to Sir Winston Churchill |
|
Area served
|
UK, Australia, New Zealand |
| Method | Travel Fellowships |
| Endowment | UK£2.75 million (UK:1965) |
| Slogan | With opportunities comes responsibility. |
| Website | wcmt.org.uk churchilltrust.com.au dia.govt.nz |
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trusts are three independent but related living memorials to Sir Winston Churchill. They are based in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
The UK Trust was founded on 1 February 1965, the day after Churchill's funeral.Elizabeth II extended her Royal Patronage to the Trust in 1965.
The Trusts were founded to 'perpetuate and honour the memory of Sir Winston Churchill' by administering the award of Travelling Fellowships known as a Churchill Fellowship. While the three Trusts are independent, they have a similar approach, identifying potential themes each year and inviting members of the public to submit applications under these themes. The applications are vetted and a shortlist is created. People on this shortlist are then interviewed and the successful ones are awarded a Fellowship. The Trusts are not primarily concerned with scientists and scholars for whom opportunities for research and study already exist. The focus is to offer opportunity to 'men and women from all walks of life'.
An attempt in 1964 by then Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and George A. Drew to launch a fourth Trust in Canada did not come to fruition, in part due to the illness and death of the latter.
Today, they receive sufficient funds for four weeks of foreign travel and subsistence, and the majority of recipients plan a trip of this length. In Australia the average award is A$25000 and the Trust administers a number of additional 'sponsored' Fellowships.
The recipients organise their own travel and undertake their own research. Upon their return, they submit a report to the Trustees. Once their report is accepted, they are formally installed as Fellows and receive their insignia, consisting of a specially minted Churchill Medal, at a national award ceremony.
Applicants must be citizens of the respective country and the research must necessitate foreign travel.
An implication taken from the award of a Fellowship is that the recipient is a leader or has potential leadership in their field of endeavour, and that the Fellowship will strengthen their usefulness to society. They are encouraged to promote the Fellowships, encouraging others to apply, and thus perpetuating the memory of Churchill.
There are local Associations to which Fellows may belong, and which generally maintain links with the respective Trust headquarters.
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