Mission
The John Smith Memorial Trust was established in 1996 as a non-political Charity, with the following OBJECTS:
"To advance education of the public in political sciences, in particular in relation to democratic systems of government, by (1) awarding grants to enable recipients to study political, judicial, constitutional and other relative institutions and procedures which are commonly established in democratic countries and to study the operation of such institutions and procedures upon the communities they serve;(2) provision of lectures, conferences, seminars, publications etc."
We promote these objects by bringing young people of clear and high potential to the United Kingdom to observe and experience our democratic systems, institutions and practices at first hand. We encourage the Fellows to form lasting friendships and contacts with each other, with Fellows from other years, and especially with those whom they meet and work with in the U.K.
The John Smith Fellowship Programme enables young leaders to see at first hand how, in the United Kingdom, we try to move towards the goals of social justice by pragmatic methods tested and endorsed by democratic practices. We do not try to preach to them how they should apply in their own countries what they have learned: we encourage them to challenge and criticise what they see in our society and to think for themselves how, if at all, the practices and systems they find worthy of respect can be modified and applied to their own situations.
Core funding for the Programme is provided by the Ministry of Justice. The British Council works with and under contract to the Trust in providing administrative and organisational assistance and services to our Fellowship Programme.
In addition our many sponsors and Fellowship hosts contribute to its value enormously. Our Trustees are personally involved in the Programme.