The Erica Lawson Charitable Trust
English charitable trust (1159415) set up to relieve current and former Israeli soldiers and their families; it funds Beit Halochem UK from a £5.7 million property portfolio inherited from Erica Lawson
| The Erica Lawson Charitable Trust
| |
|---|---|
| Logo |  Beit Halochem Haifa (2021). The trust names Beit Halochem UK, which funds Beit Halochem centres for disabled Israeli veterans, as the organisation that "suits our needs" |
| Type | Charitable trust (unincorporated) |
| Founded | 1 December 2014 (registered; trust deed 25 November 2014) |
| Registration ID | 1159415 (Charity Commission) |
| Status | Registered (reporting up to date) |
| Headquarters | First Floor, 67 Victoria Road, Horley RH6 7QH |
| Area served | Brighton and Hove (register); Israel (objects) |
| Services | Grants for the relief of current and former Israeli soldiers and their families |
| Registration | England and Wales |
| Key people | David Williams; Cy Williams; Georgina Ying Ying Lim; Jonathan Alexander Godsall |
The Erica Lawson Charitable Trust (register name Erica Lawson Charitable Trust) is an unincorporated charitable trust created by a deed of 25 November 2014 and registered with the Charity Commission on 1 December 2014 (charity 1159415).[1] Its sole object is "the relief of current and former Israeli soldiers and their families, including the widows of Israeli soldiers who have died in the course of their service". It received the estate of Erica Lawson as a legacy of about £7.85 million in 2020. It now holds a portfolio of rented properties, whose income funds grants. Its grants have gone mainly to Beit Halochem UK, which lists the trust among its "Founder Benefactor" supporters.[2][3][4]
Objects and activities
The objects in the trust deed are "the relief of current and former Israeli soldiers and their families, including the widows of Israeli soldiers who have died in the course of their service, who are [in] conditions of need due to their poverty or financial hardship, sickness, disability or other disadvantage through the provision of grants to individuals in need and/or charities or other organisations working to relieve such needs".[1]
The register gives Brighton and Hove as the area of operation, lists grant-making to individuals and organisations, and records that the charity owns or leases land or property. It is not recognised for Gift Aid. It says that one or more trustees "receive payments or benefits from the charity".[1]
The trustees' reports for 2021 to 2025 say: "we have located an organisation that deals directly with a Charity in Israel which looks after the interests of Injured Israeli Soldiers. The organisation (Beit Halochem UK) has an office in London and its headquarters are in Israel." The reports say the trustees plan to visit "the facility in Israel" and are "actively seeking additional, potential beneficiaries but consider for the short term that Beit Halochem suits our needs for the Trust".[2][3]
Trustees
| Trustee | Appointed | Left | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Williams | 12 July 2018 | – | Director of Cynicklee Limited and Cavendish House Property Management Ltd (Companies House: born October 1947) |
| Cy Williams | 25 August 2023 | – | Sole current director of Catreus Limited; director of Cynicklee Limited and Cavendish House Property Management Ltd (Companies House: born December 1973) |
| Georgina Ying Ying Lim | 25 August 2023 | – | Director of Cavendish House Property Management Ltd (Companies House: born September 1992) |
| Jonathan Alexander Godsall | 1 October 2023 | – | |
| A William De Cruz | – | died 25 July 2026 | Listed in the 2025 accounts as serving during the year |
| Huck Gee Lim | 11 August 2014 | – (died) | Named as a former trustee; father of Georgina Ying Ying Lim (2025 accounts); director of Cavendish House Property Management Ltd until 25 August 2023 |
Sources: register full print (current), archived register full print of January 2021 (David Williams and Huck Gee Lim), accounts for 2025, and Companies House officer lists.[1][5][3][6][7][8]
The independent examiner is Darren Harding ACA FCCA DChA of Richard Place Dobson Services Limited, 1–7 Station Road, Crawley RH10 1HT.[3]
Finances
| Year to 31 December | Income | Total charitable expenditure | of which "charitable distributions" |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | £7,876,922 (legacies £7,852,597) | £240,846 | – |
| 2021 | £112,996 | £89,761 (restated; originally £209,761) | £25,000 |
| 2022 | £121,467 | £185,567 | £75,000 |
| 2023 | £164,974 | £252,871 | £100,000 |
| 2024 | £199,763 | £162,931 | £95,000 |
| 2025 | £238,979 | £175,744 | £90,000 |
Charitable expenditure also includes property costs, trustees' travel, rent, insurance and governance. In 2025 property costs were £51,192 and travel £11,936.[2][9][10][11][3] The 2022 accounts restated 2021 because "the charity paid a deposit of £120,000 for the purchase of a new investment property, which was expensed in error".[9] Before 2020 the trust reported to 2 July, with income of £5,000 (2015), £10,000 (2016), nil (2017 and 2018) and £10,000 (2019).[5]
Assets. At 31 December 2025 total funds were £6,920,499. These comprised 18 investment properties valued at £5,677,737 (four bought in 2025), debtors and cash. The properties were valued "on the basis of purchase price". Income is mainly rent (£207,230 in 2025), with loan interest (£21,100) and investment income.[3]
Related parties. The accounts disclose:[10][11][3]
- a loan of £120,000 in 2023, and a further £60,000 in 2024, to Catreus Limited, "repayable with interest at 2 years"; "One of the trustees of the charity is the sole director of Catreus Ltd". The debtors note shows a "loan to related party" of £163,385 at the end of 2025. Companies House lists Cy Williams as Catreus's only current director, at the trust's Horley address.[8]
- rent for office premises paid to Cynicklee Limited (£6,500 in 2023 and 2024; nil in 2025), of which C Williams and D Williams are directors.
- rental income from Cavendish House Property Management Ltd (£9,533 in 2025), whose directors include C Williams, D Williams and G Ying Ying Lim.
- a loan of £425,000 made by Erica Lawson in 2016 to the former trustee H G Lim, over 25 years at 2% interest. It passed to the charity with her estate and "has now been passed over to his daughter Georgina Ying Ying Lim upon his passing", which "was approved by the current trustees".
- reimbursement of trustees' travel and meeting expenses (£16,427 in 2025) and of property costs (£9,533). One trustee "collected rent totalling £75,000 on behalf of the charity".
The 2025 balance sheet shows debtors of £608,533, but the debtors note totals £591,918. The accounts do not explain the difference.[3]
Funding in Israel
The accounts do not name grant recipients in a table. The trustees' reports name Beit Halochem UK as the organisation they fund, "for the short term".[3] Beit Halochem UK raises money for the Beit Halochem rehabilitation centres for disabled Israeli veterans, run by the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization. Its supporters page lists "The Erica Lawson Charitable Trust" at its top donor level, "Founder Benefactor".[4] The "charitable distributions" line in the expenditure note was £25,000 in 2021 (PDF p.13), £75,000 in 2022, £100,000 in 2023, £95,000 in 2024 and £90,000 in 2025 (PDF p.12 in each); the notes do not name the recipient.[2][9][10][11][3]
Support for the Israeli military
The trust exists to support members of the Israel Defense Forces. Its objects are limited to the relief of "current and former Israeli soldiers and their families" and the widows of soldiers who died in service.[1] Its accounts for 2021 and 2022 label charitable spending "Israeli Soldiers".[2][9] The money identified goes to welfare and rehabilitation of injured soldiers through Beit Halochem UK, not to military equipment or operations. Charitable distributions totalled £385,000 in 2021–2025.[3]
| Finding | Grading |
|---|---|
| Objects confined to current and former Israeli soldiers and their families (register).[1] | High |
| Recipient: Beit Halochem UK (trustees' reports; BHUK supporters page).[3][4] | High |
| Location: Beit Halochem centres in Israel; no centre beyond the Green Line is named in the trust's accounts. | Not established |
Prior scrutiny
Web searches found no press coverage, complaint or Charity Commission action concerning the trust. The register shows "Charity reporting is up to date (on time)".[1]
Other registers and records
- No match on the Scottish Charity Register (export of 14 October 2026) or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland file (20 October 2026).
- 360Giving holds no records under GB-CHC-1159415.[12]
See also
- Beit Halochem UK
- UK Friends of the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers
- Israeli Scouts Western Europe
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Charity Commission, Erica Lawson Charitable Trust (1159415): full print Register of Charities, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Erica Lawson Charitable Trust, Annual report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021, from the Charity Commission register, downloaded 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Erica Lawson Charitable Trust, Annual report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, from the Charity Commission register, downloaded 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Beit Halochem UK, Supporters bhuk.org, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Register entry 1159415, full print (capture of 7 January 2021) UK Government Web Archive.
- ↑ Companies House, Cavendish House Property Management Ltd (14125046): officers, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, Cynicklee Limited (01329718): officers, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Companies House, Catreus Limited (06890344): officers, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Erica Lawson Charitable Trust, Annual report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022, from the Charity Commission register, downloaded 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Erica Lawson Charitable Trust, Annual report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023, from the Charity Commission register, downloaded 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Erica Lawson Charitable Trust, Annual report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024, from the Charity Commission register, downloaded 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 360Giving API: GB-CHC-1159415 360Giving, queried 21 October 2026.