The Trust was founded in 1603. Today its makes loans to individuals setting up a business, or engaged in a trade or profession, who live within the areas of:
| Bedfordshire | Essex | Kent |
| Berkshire | Greater London | Surrey |
| Buckinghamshire | Hampshire | Sussex |
| Hertfordshire |
We give preference to those living in the City of Westminster.
Thomas Arneway was a resident of Westminster, engaged in money lending and property ownership, who died at the end of 1603. He instructed that part of his estate should be sold, and the proceeds used for the benefit of 'honest young men' who were eligible to receive loans up to £50 for up to two years. The rest of his estate was to finance loans to the poorer sort of occupier or trader so that they could pursue their 'honest vocations'.
This was the beginning of what - after many ups and downs - became the charity we know today, more than 400 years later.