 The doctrine of cy-pres is a form of variation of trusts; it allows the original purpose of the trust to be altered.The doctrine originated in ecclesiastical law, the name coming as a contraction of the Norman French "cy pres comme possible" (as close as possible), and is typically used where the original purpose of the charity has failed, and results in the trust purpose being altered to the nearest realistic alternative.Prior to the Charities Act 1960, this "failed purpose" situation was the only time when cy-pres could be applied; it required the original purpose to be impossible or impractical.