Our work falls into five broad themes — education, elder support, welfare, environment and community empowerment. Within each, we run programmes co-designed with the residents and frontline workers they serve. Below is the full list.
Bridge to SixthCare-experienced young people · ages 13–19
A six-year mentoring partnership with care-experienced young people, beginning in Year 9 and continuing through GCSEs, A-Levels and into the first year of university or apprenticeship. Bus fares, books, uniform grants and one trained adult who stays.
412
Young people
7
Local authorities
94%
A-Level completion
Story BoatsPrimary literacy · Kennet & Avon Canal
Two converted narrowboats serve as floating libraries, visiting 32 primary schools along the canal each fortnight. Children climb aboard for thirty minutes of one-to-one reading with a trained volunteer.
10,200
Children visited
32
Partner schools
2
Working narrowboats
Sunday DoorsBefriending and home support · 65+
Trained volunteers visit older neighbours each Sunday — for tea, errands, a walk, a hot meal. We match for fifteen years, not fifteen weeks. Our average partnership lasts 4.2 years.
6,240
Neighbours
42
Villages & towns
4.2y
Avg. partnership
Quiet WheelsCommunity transport · rural west
A fleet of fourteen minibuses driven by 240 trained volunteers, taking older people to GP appointments, hospital visits and weekly luncheons in places where the bus has long since stopped running.
52k
Journeys / yr
14
Vehicles
240
Volunteer drivers
Warm WelcomesCommunity kitchens, warm spaces, casework
A network of 38 community kitchens and warm rooms across the South West, each with a trained welfare adviser who can help with benefits, fuel debt or housing applications — no appointment needed.
38
Kitchens
24,100
Hot meals / winter
1,940
Households helped
Open HouseRefugee welcome · Bristol & Bath
In partnership with Bristol Refugee Welcome and Borderlands, we provide settling-in support: English classes, GP registration, school enrolment, friendship and casework for newly arrived families.
280
Families
17
Languages
94
Volunteer tutors
River KeepersChalk stream restoration · Wessex catchment
A 34-year partnership with tenant farmers, anglers and schoolchildren to restore chalk streams, plant native riparian woodland and revive populations of brown trout, water vole and otter.
186km
River restored
62
Farms involved
11
Schools partnered
Hedgerow TrustHedgerow planting & laying · Somerset
A grant programme for farms restoring or laying traditional hedgerows. We also fund apprenticeships for the next generation of hedge-layers, working with the National Hedgelaying Society.
84km
Restored hedgerow
18
Apprentices
27
Farms
Neighbour FundResident-led micro-grants
Panels of local residents review and award grants of £500–£5,000 for community projects in their own neighbourhood. The Trust acts as administrator, not gatekeeper.
£1.2m
Awarded / yr
340
Projects / yr
76
Resident panels
First StepsCapacity support for new charities
A two-year capacity-building programme for newly registered charities under £100k turnover. Mentoring, governance support, pro-bono finance and design — at no cost.
86
Charities supported
23
Pro bono mentors
2yr
Default duration
We accept applications in writing, by phone, or in person at any of our offices. Three application windows a year: March, July and November.
