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, 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 Ashley- Cooper, 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, Bournemouth and the Purbecks.”

The pandemic has had a huge impact on the finances of community organisations.

“When Covid struck, we recognised that there were lots of organisations in need and we were able to distribute just over £1 million to help,” Lord Shaftesbury said.

He added that the funds from the trust can be the glue that helps community projects to survive.

Lord Shaftesbury is a trustee of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and is patron of other charities, but he said his chairmanship of the Talbot Village Trust was his biggest charitable responsibility.

“Thanks to good financial management, the trust is in a good position and we intend to continue for the foreseeable future.

“I am very pleased to keep the vision of the Misses Talbot going. They would have been so pleased to know their work was continuing all these years later.”

No scheme is too big or too small to receive a grant as long as it is a capital project. To apply, log onto www.talbotvillageturst.org.