The History of the Josephine Marshall Trust
The Josephine Marshall Trust exists because of the remarkable generosity and foresight of Josephine Badeha Elizabeth Amyoony Marshall (1934–2019), a Canadian teacher and lifelong advocate of education.
Josephine Marshall devoted her life to learning and teaching. Born and educated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she studied Music and Education at McGill University before returning to Nova Scotia to pursue a distinguished teaching career. Never content to stop learning, she later completed further degrees at Dalhousie University, including a Master of Arts.
Throughout her life, Josephine clearly recognised the transformative power of education. In her Will, she chose to leave the majority of her estate to the British Federation of University Women (BFUW), now the British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG), with the intention that her gift should provide scholarships for women in financial need.
An unexpected legacy
In 2019, shortly after Josephine's death, BFWG received notification from the Probate Court in Nova Scotia that it had been named as the principal beneficiary of her estate. After the completion of probate and the administration of the estate, the legacy—amounting to approximately £538,000—was transferred to BFWG in 2021.
The generosity of this gift presented both an opportunity and a responsibility. BFWG's Directors recognised that Josephine's wishes could best be honoured by establishing a permanent charitable trust dedicated solely to the purposes set out in her Will.
Establishing the Trust
Creating the Trust required several years of careful legal and administrative work.
Specialist legal advice was obtained to ensure that the Trust was properly transferred into English law and administered in accordance with the requirements of both the Will and the law of England and Wales. During this process, one provision in the original Will concerning eligibility had to be amended because it was incompatible with modern equality legislation. The Charity Commission approved the revised charitable purposes while preserving Josephine Marshall's central intention: to support women experiencing financial need in pursuing higher education.
Throughout this period, the legacy was kept entirely separate from BFWG's own funds, with dedicated banking, accounting and investment arrangements to ensure full transparency and responsible stewardship.
The Josephine Marshall Trust was registered as a charity in England and Wales in November 2024, and in 2025 BFWG members formally confirmed that BFWG would act as the Trust's corporate Trustee. Charity number: 1210858
Turning a legacy into opportunity
The Trustees have always intended that Josephine Marshall's gift should have a lasting impact. The Will specifies that the capital must be invested and the income it generates funds scholarships annually, ensuring that her generosity benefits future generations.
To make the best use of its expertise in postgraduate funding, BFWG entered into an agreement with its sister charity, Funds for Women Graduates (FfWG), which administers the scholarship programme on behalf of the Trust.
The Trustees identify an amount to be distributed annually and inform FfWG.
From Autumn 2026, awards will be made through the Josephine B. Amyoony Marshall Memorial Scholarship, forming part of the FfWG Foundation Grants programme.
How to apply for a Josephine B. Amyoony Marshall Memorial Scholarship
Awards are for women in financial need in their final post graduate doctoral year. The Josephine Marshall Trustees have developed a scheme for awards which is administered by FfWG, a linked Charity.
Full details can be found on the FfWG website ffwg.org.uk on how to apply for a Foundation Grant. The full eligibility criteria, the timing of when the application processes open and close, and the evidence required to support the application, are all listed.
The FfWG team assess applications and allocate to recommended applicants named awards, of which the Josephine B. Amyoony Marshall Memorial Scholarship, is one. The Josephine Marshall Trustees then have the final decision about whether the recipients are approved.
A lasting legacy
Josephine Marshall's legacy is much more than a financial gift. It is an investment in the education, ambition and achievement of women for generations to come.
Every scholarship awarded by the Trust reflects her belief that financial circumstances should never prevent talented women from fulfilling their educational potential. Through the Josephine Marshall Trust, her commitment to education will continue to change lives long after her own lifetime.