St Monica Trust Commits £1.2m to Help Disadvantaged Older People
The St Monica Trust is creating a £1.2 million fund to help improve the lives disadvantaged older people.
The announcement will be made at the Trust’s AGM next Wednesday as part of ambitious five year plan for Bristol-based charity.
The Trust’s Community Fund currently awards up to £500,000 annually to individuals, families and organisations across the region. Over the next five years the Trust intends to increase the amount it awards to £1.2 million per year.
Chief Executive of the St Monica Trust, David Williams said:
“The money will be awarded to groups working with disadvantaged older people in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset…
“The Community Fund will be used to tackle a number of different issues that affect the lives of older people in the region, such as reducing social isolation and energising the communities in which they live.
He continued; “Our aim is to create sustainable solutions to the issues that matter to older people, which means that the gifts and grants will go directly to those who will benefit from it most.”
As part of a key note address to the health and social care sector, the David Williams will also announce:
• The establishment of a Health and Social Care, Learning and Research Academy in conjunction with UWE
• Creating a ‘smart’ house to develop technologies that will benefit the lives of older people
• Establishing a South West care conference for health, social care and housing as a platform to share learning and best practice.
Executive Director of the National Care Forum, Vic Rayner, who will be the guest speaker at the Trust’s AGM said:
“As we move into a period of political uncertainty, it is absolutely critical that organisations such as the St Monica Trust show strong leadership in the health and social care sector. It is for this reason that I am delighted to be joining the St Monica Trust as they celebrate their AGM and consider their exciting plans for the future”
St Monica Trust runs four retirement communities – Cote Lane and Westbury Fields in Westbury-on-Trym, Monica Wills House in Bedminster and Sandford Station in North Somerset. The Trust’s fifth retirement community, The Chocolate Quarter is currently being developed at the former Somerdale factory in Keynsham and will open in summer 2017.
You can find out more about the St Monica Trust’s Community Fund by calling 0117 949 4003 or emailing community.fund@stmonicatrust.org.uk
