Old Possum's Practical Trust

Old Possum’s Practical Trust is a registered charity giving grants to support literary, artistic, musical and theatrical projects and organisations.

The Trust was established by Valerie Eliot with her personal funds in 1990 - 25 years after T. S. Eliot’s death in 1965 – and following the enormous success of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical ‘Cats’. The musical drew for its inspiration upon Eliot’s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ - a collection of poems written for children and first published in 1939.

As a registered charity Old Possum‘s Practical Trust has enabled Valerie to support charities and good causes according to the interests that she and T.S. Eliot shared, as well as her current interests.

The fund is managed professionally to provide enough funds to meet the donation needs of the Trustees each year. The Trust‘s mission is to manage the funds at its disposal to support literary, artistic, musical and theatrical projects and organisations.

Priority is given to requests that display enterprise in artistic endeavour and demonstrate high sustainability and contextual impact. Particular interest is taken in those projects that will have an impact on future literary work.

Special contributions made by the Trust to other related types of organisation reflect both the personal history of Old Possum‘s Practical Trust and the wishes of the Trustees. Support is more likely for those projects which best reflect the literary reputation and name of T. S. Eliot and the special interests of his wife.

The only method of application for grants to Old Possums Practical Trust, registered charity no. 328558, is by on-line application using this website. The Trust regrets that it can no longer accept applications by email, fax, letter or by telephone.

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