The Wray Foundation was created in 1867 by the sister of the Rector of Leven, Canon George Wray. She bought a field in the village called “The Vineyards” (this field was where the current day street ‘The Vineyards’ is) which was let out and the rent raised was used for the upkeep of the school house. 

Anything remaining was used to buy coal for the school. The school and school house were eventually taken over, from the Church of England, by the County Council in the late 1950s and became today’s Leven Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School.

In the early 1970s the field was sold for £22,000 for building, the York Diocesan Fund tried to claim the proceeds, but Philip Theasby who was Headteacher at Leven then, traced the original deeds of the Trust, contacted the Charity Commissions and they decided that Miss Wray could have only meant the field to benefit the village of Leven. Six years later, in 1977, the modern trust was set up. It was to benefit persons under 25 years of age who have been resident in the area of the Ancient Parish of Leven for at least three years. 

The aim was to help with  

		the cost of books and equipment whilst at University or College
		assist with costs of tools or clothing for persons entering a trade or profession
		the award of bursaries, allowances or grants for educational visits abroad
		the study of music or other arts; and otherwise in promoting the education, including the social and physical education of applicants.

The £22,000 from the sale of The Vineyards was invested in stocks and shares. The interest from the investment funded the Trust’s work, which is administered by the seven trustees. (see the deeds to find out who they are.) 

The deeds detail how the income may be spent. A sum not exceeding one tenth of the income is received by the Parochial Church Council Sunday School; the Primary School benefits through the Trust from such sum as the Trustees think fit in providing special benefits of any kind not normally provided by the local education authority. Every organisation in the village where young people are involved have benefited over the years and these include the Youth Club, Playing Fields Association, Play School, Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Brownies, Judo Club, Mother & Toddler, Boys Football, Cricket and Tennis Clubs. Each year the Trust provides an Oxford Dictionary to all pupils leaving Leven School to continue their education at high school.

Each year the Trust helps about 70 people in the form of grants and has allocated, since 1977, about £100,000. We hope that through careful management the Trust will continue to assist the young people of Leven for many years to come. However it is apparent that whilst the Trust is spending a proportion of income the value, in real terms, of the original investment, is falling. The trust would welcome donations, sponsorship and bequests to enable it to continue its’ work. (please click here to find out how you may support the Trust)

An application form in .pdf format can be downloaded here.

An application form in MS Word format can be downloaded here.

Application forms are also available at the Post Office. Information about the Trust is available on this website and on the Post Office notice board. The Trust does require a letter of acknowledgement for every grant they make. 

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