The John Smith Trust
UK charity promoting soft power leadership programmes in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia with deep FCDO and British intelligence ties
| The John Smith Trust | |
|---|---|
| Type | Registered charity and private limited company |
| Logo | 
|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder(s) | Charles Falconer - Stephen Brown |
| Dissolved | Active |
| Registration ID | Charity number 1174898; Company number 07284602 |
| Status | MI6 contractor |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Location | |
| Area served | West Asia, former Soviet Union |
| Services | 'Soft power' AKA propaganda and subversion; promotion of British intelligence agendas in West Asia, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus |
| Registration | |
| Key people | Elizabeth Smith, Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill |
| Website | johnsmithtrust.org |
| Remarks | 'Soft-power' leadership training integrated with FCDO objectives and extensive British intelligence connections |
The John Smith Trust is a United Kingdom-registered charity (number 1174898) and private limited company (number 07284602) established in 2010 as a memorial to the late Labour leader John Smith. It runs fellowship programmes for emerging leaders from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, with a stated mission to promote good governance, the rule of law and democratic values.[1] The Trust has longstanding ties to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), British embassies and figures with British intelligence backgrounds, positioning it as a key soft-power instrument of UK foreign policy in post-Soviet states.[2]
The Trust condemned Russia's Special Military Operation in Ukraine in 2022 and has maintained close contact with its Ukrainian Fellows.[2]
Soft-power activities and FCDO integration
The Trust's core activity is a six-month hybrid fellowship programme for participants from 12 countries. Fellows receive monthly online sessions followed by a residential stay in the UK, including personalised professional meetings with senior British officials, visits to UK institutions and training in leadership and governance.[1] These programmes are funded and supported by the FCDO, which uses the Trust as a vehicle to build networks among future leaders in strategically sensitive regions.[2]
The Trust works directly with British embassies in the target countries and hosts fellows at Downing Street and the FCDO. This integration aligns the Trust's work with broader UK foreign-policy goals of democratic promotion and countering Russian influence.[2]
The Trust gives the following account of its evolution:
- Until 2011 the programme drew its fellows exclusively from the former Soviet Union (FSU). From 20122015 the Trust also worked in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on a programme funded by the UK Government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO/FCDO). From 2017 to 2019, the Trust ran two annual fellowship programmes for 12 FSU countries with the support of the FCO: one for 25 fellows from Wider Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine); and one for 25 fellows from Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). This steady stream of approximately 50 new fellows per year reinvigorated the Trust’s Alumni network. Since 2018, the Trust has also launched a programme of alumni events to harness and develop this renewed engagement. ‘Alumni Ideas Exchange’ events took place in Tbilisi in 2018, Bishkek in 2019 and (although originally planned to take place in Kyiv) online in March 2020. JST has put great effort into building the means for its Alumni network to connect, share and collaborate outside formal events. The intention has been to allow for greater connectivity between JST fellows, staff and the JST’s wider network of supporters, to increase JST’s ‘offer’ to its fellows and to allow JST to sustain its work and impact outside of programme periods. [3]
Connections to British intelligence and FCO/FCDO
The Trust maintains extensive links to British intelligence and diplomatic circles. Baroness Meta Ramsay (a career MI6 officer who served as Head of Station in Helsinki and played a key role in the exfiltration of Oleg Gordievsky) is an Advisory Council member and was a close friend of John Smith.[2] Chris Donnelly, a former Territorial Army Intelligence Corps officer, NATO adviser, Honorary Colonel in the Specialist Group Military Intelligence and founder of the Institute for Statecraft (which ran the now defunct [[Integrity Initiative), has served on the Trust's Advisory Board.[2]
Other board members with intelligence or security backgrounds include:
- Sir Mike Jackson (former Chief of the General Staff)
- David Charters (FCDO/international security)
- Craig Oliphant (OSCE and FCO experience)
- Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (former FCO Minister of State)
In May 2024 the Russian Prosecutor General designated the Trust an "undesirable organisation", alleging its fellowships serve as a recruitment front for MI6. The Trust denies the claim, stating its work is strictly educational.[2]
Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill (Chair) is reported to have declined an offer to join MI6.[2]
People
Trustees and Board
Current trustees/directors (as of 31 March 2026).[4][5]
| Name | Role | Appointed |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Margaret, Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill | Chair / Director | 17 March 2015 |
| Stephen Brown | Secretary | 15 June 2010 |
| John Thomas, Lord Alderdice | Director | 1 October 2018 |
| David John Charters | Director | 17 March 2015 |
| Ian James, Lord Duncan of Springbank | Director | 1 March 2022 |
| Stephen Patrick Gethins | Director | 1 October 2018 |
| Alexander David Just | Director | 1 July 2019 |
| Jeremy Craig Oliphant | Director | 17 March 2020 |
| Alison Mary, Baroness Suttie | Director | 10 May 2023 |
- Senior Advisor: The Rt Honourable Lord Boateng
Former officers/directors
| Name | Date of birth | Nationality | Country of residence | Correspondence address | Appointed | Resigned | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Margaret, Baroness Ashton of Upholland | March 1956 | British | United Kingdom | Accounting Solutions For Charities Ltd, 22 Bramshill Gardens, London, England, NW5 1JH | 7 June 2016 | 6 February 2018 | Director |
| Clare Charlotte Bebbington | June 1963 | British | United Kingdom | Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA | 17 March 2015 | 3 June 2016 | Director |
| Janet Mary Boston | July 1963 | British | England | Somerset House, Strand, London, England, WC2R 1LA | 12 December 2013 | 17 March 2015 | Director |
| Peter Anthony Charow | June 1954 | USA | England | Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA | 17 March 2015 | 15 May 2016 | Director |
| Charles Falconer | November 1951 | British | England | Somerset House, Strand, London, England, WC2R 1LA | 15 June 2010 | 15 May 2016 | Director |
| Michael David Jackson (General) | March 1944 | British | England | Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA | 17 March 2015 | 15 May 2016 | Director |
| David John Kilshaw Rigg | May 1948 | British | England | Accounting Solutions For Charities Ltd, 22 Bramshill Gardens, London, England, NW5 1JH | 1 September 2017 | 28 November 2018 | Director |
| Catherine Anne Smith | May 1973 | British | Scotland | 3rd Floor Suite, 207 Regent Street, London, England, W1B 3HH | 17 March 2015 | 18 September 2024 | Director |
| Richard James Wallace | May 1977 | British | United Kingdom | Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA | 17 March 2015 | 15 May 2016 | Director |
| Paul Wilson | December 1954 | British | England | Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA | 17 March 2015 | 15 May 2016 | Director |
Advisory Council and notable advisors
Advisory Board circa 2015
Baroness Meta Ramsay (Advisory Council; former MI6 officer) Chris Donnelly (Advisory Board; military intelligence background)
Lord Falconer of Thoroton | Lord Dubs | Lord Haworth | Annie Kelly | Professor Alena Ledeneva | Meg Luckins | Professor Mary McCullochDavid MuirDr. Elena NemirovskayaJohn NewbiginSir George ReidSir Malcolm Rifkind QC MPAngus Robertson MP Lord RoperDr. Armen SarkissianLord SkidelskySarah SmithBaroness Stern CBE.[6]
Staff
Circa 2008
- Professor Brian Brivati, Director
- Joanna Lamb, Deputy Director
- Emily Carr, Attachments Director
- Moira Haslehurst, Accounts Administrator
- Julie Utting, Administrative & Information Assistant[7]
Fellows
The John Smith Trust has built a network of over 500 Fellows from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.[8] Below is the full list of publicly listed recent Fellows (2025 and 2026 cohorts).
| Name | Fellowship Year | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Iaroslav Kryl | 2026 | Ukraine |
| Ivan Bondarchuk | 2026 | Ukraine |
| Sergii Diakonchuk | 2026 | Ukraine |
| Viacheslav Luchnykov | 2026 | Ukraine |
| Klavdiia Yatsyshyna | 2026 | Ukraine |
| Malika Mamadrizokhonova | 2026 | Tajikistan |
| Virginia Bilici | 2026 | Moldova |
| Narmin Jarchalova | 2026 | Azerbaijan |
| Nino Jibuti | 2026 | Georgia |
| Akylbek Bakytov | 2026 | Kyrgyzstan |
| Diana Charyyeva | 2026 | Turkmenistan |
| Nursultan Ixan | 2026 | Kazakhstan |
| Shokhrukh Avazov | 2026 | Uzbekistan |
| Valeriia Melnyk | 2026 | Ukraine |
| Erik Hovsepyan | 2026 | Armenia |
| Nonna Babayan | 2025 | Armenia |
| Gular Pashayeva | 2025 | Azerbaijan |
| Oleksandr Zhminko | 2025 | Ukraine |
| Solomiia Starosolska | 2025 | Ukraine |
| Maral Rejepova | 2025 | Turkmenistan |
| Umeda Sattorzoda | 2025 | Tajikistan |
| Myktybek Osmonaliev | 2025 | Kyrgyzstan |
| Emin Jabbarov | 2025 | Kazakhstan |
| Anastasiia Chernoshtan | 2025 | Ukraine |
Notable alumni include
- Vadim Mojeiko (2026 Fellow developing the Kaściuška Security Studies Institute in Belarus).[8]
- Mustafa Field - March 2015 "Vision and Voice" John Smith Trust/FCO conference report (6-8 March 2015), listed Mustafa Field (Iraq) in Group Two fellows with a 2014 Action Plan bio.[9]
Finances
The John Smith Trust (charity number 1174898) has the following reported income and expenditure (financial year ending 30 September):
| Year ending | Total Income | Total Expenditure | Percentage of income from the FCDO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 2020 | £424,670 | £506,930 | 95.5% | |
| 30 Sep 2021 | £234,940 | £249,810 | 92.8% | |
| 30 Sep 2022 | £248,570 | £226,080 | 100% | |
| 30 Sep 2023 | £368,470 | £351,430 | 100% | |
| 30 Sep 2024 | £635,386 | £542,563 | 100% | Latest available |
Intelligence funding
The John Smith Trust receives direct funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) The FCDO also supports The John Smith Trust, which 'offers fellowships to professionals from across Central Asia to develop leadership skills and gain insights into the UK political system, civil society and institutions.'[10]
The FCDO stated in evidence to Parliament in a section titled "Maximising UK soft power influence in Central Asian states":
- The JST runs fellowship programmes that give exceptional young professionals the chance to gain detailed insights into the values, ways of working and challenges faced by people and institutions in the UK. JST also creates opportunities for Fellows (alumni) in our network across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia, connecting them with UK counterparts in order to learn from each other’s work in the public, private and civil society sectors. In 2023, the JST has concentrated on nurturing and supporting the network of existing Fellows through online and in-person activities. Many alumni from these schemes from the Central Asian region have gone on to make a positive difference in their communities, for example contributing to legal, social, and parliamentary reforms, supporting rural entrepreneurs and assisting socially vulnerable groups.[11]
It is the implementing partner for the Central Asia Small Projects Programme (DevTracker GB-GOV-1-400222).
The FCDO has publicly confirmed support for the Trust’s work with Central Asian professionals, describing it as part of efforts to strengthen governance and rule of law in the region. No single exhaustive CSSF line-item exists; the funding is separate from the broader £3.4 million Central Asia CSSF allocation mentioned in related documents.
The funding comes from the UK Integrated Security Fund (formerly the CSSF). This is disbursed by the FCDO on behalf of MI6, but the UKISF is formally overseen by the Deputy National Security Adviser in the National Security Secretariat based in the Cabinet Office. The NSS is one of the eight organisations that comprise the intelligence community overseen by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.[12]
CSSF receipts
| Posted Date | Internal Voucher Number | Invoice Line Amount GBP | Supplier Name | Account Code/Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/08/2011 | 1023905 | £26,949.32 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account)/DG POLITICAL |
| 13-Oct-11 | 1028129 | £129,501.48 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account)/DG POLITICAL |
| 01/02/2012 | 1036406 | £42,805.20 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account)/DG POLITICAL |
| 18/09/2014 | 4,817,378 | £110,481.60 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 21/10/2014 | 4,845,311 | £36,848.07 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 24/12/2014 | 4,898,694 | £62,780.97 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 20/01/2015 | 4,919,812 | £57,192.96 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 16/02/2015 | 4,953,131 | £34,703.31 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 16/03/2015 | 4,993,186 | £30,214.31 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 11/06/2015 | 5,087,848 | £97,442.54 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 21/11/2016 | 845847 | £250,000.00 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 06/02/2017 | 896730 | £231,364.71 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 05/06/2017 | 913428 | £33,729.68 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 07/08/2017 | 921643 | £278,840.09 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 03/10/2017 | 928545 | £52,294.62 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 26/10/2017 | 931700 | £112,624.27 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 05/12/2017 | 937050 | £68,243.60 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 13/12/2017 | 938479 | £181,775.01 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 19/12/2017 | 939459 | £181,442.02 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 04/04/2018 | 9548310 | £70,231.38 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 26/07/2018 | 9695835 | £103,129.46 | John Smith Memorial Trust | - |
| 30/07/2018 | 9699257 | £43,726.65 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 09/08/2018 | 9713938 | £151,680.84 | JOHN SMITH MEMORIAL TRUST | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 11/10/2018 | 9812983 | £55,559.58 | JOHN SMITH MEMORIAL TRUST | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 17/10/2018 | 9823347 | £95,733.98 | JOHN SMITH MEMORIAL TRUST | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 16/11/2018 | 9872627 | £115,376.66 | JOHN SMITH MEMORIAL TRUST | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 13/12/2018 | 9922737 | £119,366.97 | JOHN SMITH MEMORIAL TRUST | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 25/02/2019 | 10047731 | £44,350.93 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account |
| 15/03/2019 | 10090043 | £72,037.16 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 15/03/2019 | 10089817 | £40,694.53 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 17/04/2019 | 10157009 | £104,892.94 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 10/07/2019 | 10280138 | £165,757.80 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 11/10/2019 | 10432097 | £66,026.45 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 11/10/2019 | 10432102 | £40,398.49 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 13/11/2019 | 10488571 | £149,100.48 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 15/11/2019 | 10493076 | £111,184.37 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 27/01/2020 | 10608091 | £95,685.44 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 06/03/2020 | 10681380 | £44,549.61 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 17/03/2020 | 10705288 | £30,749.66 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 30/03/2020 | 10728658 | £26,651.68 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 21/04/2020 | 10752259 | £48,295.80 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 10/11/2020 | 10959266 | £45,000.00 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 03/02/2021 | 11057871 | £45,000.00 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 29/04/2021 | 11172783 | £100,000.00 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 04/11/2021 | 11409376 | £66,399.04 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 19/01/2022 | 11515994 | £75,017.27 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 30/03/2022 | 11629207 | £86,411.52 | John Smith Memorial Trust | Programme Spend (Oracle Projects Control Account) |
| 14/04/2023 | 300,000,446,212,033 | £500,000.00 | The John Smith Trust | Project Management |
| 08/12/2023 | 300,000,677,969,715 | £53,418.07 | The John Smith Trust | Project Management |
| 01/03/2024 | 300,000,783,994,934 | £49,172.18 | The John Smith Trust | Project Management |
| 27/03/2024 | 300,000,820,080,816 | £141,542.46 | The John Smith Trust | Project Management |
| 22/11/2024 | 300,001,156,534,348 | £121,365.79 | The John Smith Trust | Aid |
| Total | - | £5,097,740.95 |
The Trust states:
- 'The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funds our Wider Europe and Central Asia programmes as well as our Fellows’ network. The FCDO helps us promote our programmes in fellowship countries and provides invaluable support to the programmes while they are running. We work with a range of partners across government, business and civil society whose contributions to our fellowship programmes are invaluable.'[13]
CSSF/UKISF funding since November 2024
| Receiver Organisation | Organisation Type | IATI Activity ID | Date | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE JOHN SMITH TRUST | N/A | GB-GOV-1-400222-401 | 25 Nov 2024 | £121,365 (not included in total as duplicated from data above) |
| THE JOHN SMITH TRUST | N/A | GB-GOV-1-400222-401 | 10 Feb 2025 | £46,464 |
| THE JOHN SMITH TRUST | N/A | GB-GOV-1-400222-401 | 27 Mar 2025 | £250,000 |
| THE JOHN SMITH TRUST | N/A | GB-GOV-1-400222-401 | 02 Apr 2025 | £82,170 |
| THE JOHN SMITH TRUST | N/A | GB-GOV-1-400222-401 | 23 Oct 2025 | £250,000 |
| THE JOHN SMITH TRUST | N/A | GB-GOV-1-400222-401 | 04 Nov 2025 | £79,740 |
| THE JOHN SMITH TRUST | N/A | GB-GOV-1-400222-401 | 06 Jan 2026 | £43,390 |
| Total | £751,764 |
See also
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office MI6 Institute for Statecraft Chris Donnelly Baroness Meta Ramsay
Resources
Contact details
- Website: johnsmithtrust.org
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Correspondence address: Accounting Solutions For Charities Ltd, 22 Bramshill Gardens, London, England, NW5 1JH (used by some directors)
- Facebook: facebook.com/johnsmithtrust
- X (Twitter): johnsmithtrust
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-john-smith-memorial-trust
- Instagram: instagram.com/johnsmithtrust
- Internet Archive holdings of johnsmithmemorialtrust.org
- Internet Archive holdings of johnsmithtrust.org
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 John Smith Trust, Homepage John Smith Trust, accessed 31 March 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 ??
- ↑ The John Smith Trust Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 30 September 2023
- ↑ Companies House, Officers of company 07284602 Companies House, accessed 31 March 2026.
- ↑ John Smith Trust, Board John Smith Trust, accessed 31 March 2026.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150204174018/http://www.johnsmithmemorialtrust.org/about-us/advisory-board.aspx
- ↑ http://www.johnsmithmemorialtrust.org/web/site/home/trust_staff.asp, accessed 12 May 2008
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 John Smith Trust, Fellows John Smith Trust, accessed 31 March 2026.
- ↑ https://charlwood-review.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/jst-rol-vv-policy-doc-2015-1.pdf.
- ↑ https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmfaff/488/report.html
- ↑ https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/121001/pdf/
- ↑ https://isc.independent.gov.uk/how-the-committee-works/
- ↑ https://johnsmithtrust.org/about/support/
- ↑ https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-1-400222/transactions