The Difference We Make

Gloucestershire Gateway Trust

Watch this video to hear about the success of Gloucester Services, the benefits it has brought to the area and the amount it has raised for local charities. Mark Gale, the Founder also explains how pivotal The Summerfield Trust’s support was.

Heavens Valley

The grant from the Summerfield Charitable Trust has been truly transformative for the Heavens Valley CBS.

After detailed negotiations, it became clear that our vision aligned closely with the ethos of the Trust. Their support has enabled us to repay the two generous individuals who stepped in with bridging loans to secure the land. As part of those loans, a ‘charge’ was held over part of the land as security. Thanks to the grant, that charge has now been released, and the entire 102 acres of Thrupp Farm — including the much-loved Heavens Valley — is permanently secured for the community.

Importantly, the grant is also helping us plan for the future. We can now employ two part-time staff: one dedicated to community engagement, and another working with our land management team to coordinate conservation activities and volunteer working parties.

It also opens the door to essential projects, including developing a plan for conservation grazing, securing the perimeter of the site, undertaking tree safety work, and commissioning ecological surveys so that we can better understand and care for the rich natural environment we now steward.

We are deeply grateful to the Summerfield Charitable Trust. Their grant has enabled us to move from being a campaign group to becoming a strong, lasting community organisation, ready to care for this special place for generations to come.

Rob Green, Heavens Valley CBS

Big Space Appeal and Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity

This huge pledge from the Summerfield Trust alongside all of the amazing individual fundraising efforts and support from businesses, schools and community groups so far demonstrates just how much this new cancer care centre means to the people of Gloucestershire.

“People have already taken this appeal to their hearts and we cannot thank everyone enough for their support. Every amount of money large or small helps us move that little bit closer towards getting spades in the ground next year.

Arlene McGlynn, Philanthropy Manager, Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity

ITSA Digital Trust

With grateful thanks to the Summerfield Trust for their generous support of our Gloucestershire Digital Inclusion Programme. Over the past six years, The ITSA Digital Trust has helped more than 40,000 vulnerable and low-income community members access technology in areas of high digital deprivation. Our Programme continues this work by refurbishing and redistributing donated laptops each year to disadvantaged individuals and community groups. 

Underserved communities’ benefit through greater access to technology together with enhanced confidence, educational opportunities and social inclusion. We are also protecting the environment by reducing e-waste through sustainable IT reuse.

Geoffrey Newsome, CEO, The ITSA Digital Trust

The Music Works

The funding and support from The Summerfield Trust has been valuable in helping establishing our Gloucester Studio Hub, creating a vibrant and safe space for over 4,000 young people across Gloucestershire, providing opportunities for young people to have a voice, explore their creativity, develop their talents, and build meaningful connections with peers and mentors.

Malaki Patterson, CEO and Artistic Director

The Butterfly Trust

Thanks to the grant from the Summerfield Charitable Trust, we’ve been able to keep the Butterfly Fund open for families grieving the loss of a child in Gloucestershire. Losing a child is devastating, but the financial strain that follows such a loss puts enormous pressure on the families we support. The Butterfly Fund is a one-off grant for any family who cared for a life-limited child and now needs support with funeral costs, memorials, household bills, or whatever is most needed during this difficult time. Thank you Summerfield Charitable Trust for helping give Gloucestershire families the space to grieve.

Lynsey Matthews, Family Services Manager

The Soldiers of Gloucester Museum

We are hugely grateful to the Summerfield Trust for their generous support of the Museum over many years. In 2009, their grant helped us transform access to our collection through a vital IT upgrade, opening up our archives to researchers, families, and schools across Gloucestershire. More recently, in 2020, their funding enabled us to create new display units for our Sacrifice and Courage exhibition, ensuring that this powerful story of service and remembrance could be shared with visitors in a fitting and engaging way. Thanks to the Trust’s support, we continue to honour Gloucestershire’s soldiers and preserve their legacy for future generations.

Matthew Holden – Chief Executive