Lord Shaftesbury talks about his work for Talbot Village Trust Exclusive by Marilyn Barber newseditor@mags4dorset.co.uk When, in the 19th century, Miss Georgina Charlotte Talbot and Miss Mary Anne Talbot moved to Bournemouth to live in the fashionable East Cliff, they could never have envisaged that a trust they set up subsequently would, more than 170 years, later be able to distribute £1 million a year to deserving causes. Lord Shaftesbury – whose estate is in Wimborne St Giles – has recently become chairman of the Talbot Village Trust, and has spoken exclusively to Viewpoint about why he became involved. But first, let’s give a little background to this unique organisation. The sisters had become aware of the poverty in the area and, in 1850, Georgina bought 465 acres of land to provide paid agricultural work for local people. By 1862, the estate included six farms and 16 cottages, seven almshouses,
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a school and a church. As a result of a careful investment programme, and the gradual sale of farmland for redevelopment, the trust has been able to grow into one of Dorset’s principal benefactors. Lord Shaftesbury said the 16 cottages are still rented out to local people in need, and when one becomes available they assess applications. He said: “The rents are subsidised and the village has remained intact.” What made Nick AshleyCooper, who succeeded to the title of the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury in 2005, become involved with the trust? “It is a Dorset based charity and it has such a strong connection to the local area,” he said. “It is a privilege to be able to help so many different organisations.” He said that when the trustees make their decisions – and they have two rounds
of applications each year – they look at the ethos of the charities. “We fund a diverse range of charities focusing on education, community and the church in East Dorset, Christchurch, Poole, Lord Shaftesbury Bournemouth and the Purbecks.” chairmanship of the Talbot The pandemic has had Village Trust was his biggest a huge impact on the finances charitable responsibility. of community organisations. “Thanks to good financial “When Covid struck, we management, the trust recognised that there were is in a good position and lots of organisations in need we intend to continue for and we were able to distribute the foreseeable future. just over £1 million to help,” “I am very pleased to keep Lord Shaftesbury said. the vision of the Misses Talbot He added that the funds going. They would have been so from the trust can be the pleased to know their work was glue that helps community continuing all these years later.” projects to survive. No scheme is too big or Lord Shaftesbury is a too small to receive a grant trustee of the Bournemouth as long as it is a capital Symphony Orchestra project. To apply, log onto and is patron of other www.talbotvillageturst.org. charities, but he said his
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