Who We Are

The Reid Trust was founded in 1868 in connection with Bedford College for Women for the promotion and improvement of women’s education.

Every other year, the Reid Trust makes a number of awards of up to £1500 each to women who wish to undertake further training or research in the UK.

This site contains information about the grants available and an application form to complete. Please read the FAQ and privacy policy carefully before you apply.

The Trust has recently placed its historical documents in the Archives of Royal Holloway College. These papers go back to the mid 19th century and tell the story of the Trust's support for the education of women over three centuries. 

You can access the Reid Trust collection here.

We are proud to continue this work.

The Shared Colours of UK Women's Suffrage and Bedford College

The college colours were green and grey, said to be those of Minerva. Purple was added in 1938 to represent the university; the resulting colours were, by chance or design, similar to those of women's suffrage in the United Kingdom. 

 Update

The 2023 application cycle closed on Friday 26 May 2023. Please note that applications and references submitted after the closing date will not be taken into consideration. The next round of awards is scheduled for 2025.