The Somerford Keynes Village Charities

George Soley Foyle died in 1839, leaving a bequest of £200 to be invested by the Minister of Somerford Keynes, Wiltshire (now Gloucestershire), directing that the interest and dividends should be divided amongst “such poor and indigent persons resident in the parish of Somerford Keynes as the Minister shall think proper”. In 1857 Joseph Mill provided an endowment “for the provision of blankets or clothing at Christmas for poor families in the parish of Shorncote”. Three further charitable endowments followed and all five were consolidated into a single Charity in 1967, its objects being to provide grants of money or gifts for the benefit of poor residents of the parish of Somerford Keynes with Shorncote.

The trustees today typically award annually grants of between £50 and £200 to households which identify a need. Applications can be for a wide range of purposes, e.g. supporting an individual’s education needs, such as for text books or school uniform when starting school; repair or replacement of essential but unaffordable household items; heating costs and general household bills.

The trustees are chaired ex officio by our Rector, Revd Trevor Kemp, with four other villagers as trustees. Two are nominated for terms of four years by Somerford Keynes Parish Council; two are co-opted every 5 years by the other trustees. They are currently:

Revd David Austin

            Mrs. Ellie Tracy

            Mr. John Hayward

            Mr Graham Shearn

Enquiries and Applications for financial support for or on behalf of residents of the parish of Somerford Keynes with Shorncote will be considered in the strictest confidence by the trustees. Please see our Privacy Statement.

Please address enquires to Revd. David Austin either in person, or telephone 01285 862102; email [email protected]