The Avon Trust logoThe Avon TrustEst. 1962 · Charity 219050
Guides · Toolkits · Research

What we have learned, openly shared.

Everything we publish is free, Creative Commons licensed, and written by the people doing the work. Use it, adapt it, and — if you can — let us know what you changed.

Toolkit · 42 pp

Starting a Sunday Doors group in your village

Everything we wish we had known in 1962. Safeguarding policies, training scripts, recruitment letters and budget templates.

Download PDF (3.2 MB)

Research · 28 pp

Six years of Bridge to Sixth — what the data says

An independent evaluation by the University of Bristol School of Education. Findings on attendance, attainment and aspiration.

Download PDF (1.8 MB)

Guide · 12 pp

Resident-led grant panels — a practical guide

How to run a Neighbour Fund-style panel in your own community. Includes templates and the difficult conversations we had to have.

Download PDF (1.1 MB)

Policy briefing · 18 pp

Rural transport poverty in the South West

A briefing prepared for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rural Services, drawing on three years of Quiet Wheels data.

Download PDF (920 KB)

Toolkit · 36 pp

Hosting warm rooms — a practical handbook

For churches, village halls and community centres. Food safety, signposting, debt advice referrals, and the warm room "rules" we wish someone had warned us about.

Download PDF (2.4 MB)

Application pack · 8 pp

The Neighbour Fund — apply for a grant

All you need to apply for a £500–£5,000 grant from your local resident panel. Three windows a year: March, July and November.

Download pack (PDF + DOCX)

Guide · 22 pp

Designing a long-arc mentoring programme

The decisions behind Bridge to Sixth — match length, supervision ratios, what we measure, and how we say goodbye well.

Download PDF (1.6 MB)

Field guide · 60 pp

River Keepers field guide

Species ID, water testing methods, riparian planting recipes and access agreements for chalk-stream restoration in southern England.

Download PDF (5.8 MB)

Reading list · 1 pp

Twelve books on community work

The books we keep on a shelf in the office and return to most often — from Hilary Cottam to Wendell Berry.

View reading list

"The most valuable thing one charity can give another is its honest notes. We are trying to leave more behind us than logos."

Esther Lacey · Director of Programmes