This has been another significant year in the continued development of the Harpenden Trust.
Our purpose : Supporting our local community
For over 75 years now, the Harpenden Trust has remained steadfast in its core purpose: supporting our local community.
We are committed to being a reliable source of assistance for anyone in our Harpenden community who requires help - regardless of their age or background. Often, a small amount of local practical support can make an immense difference. The underlying principle that guides us is simple: to be good neighbours. To local people, we offer readily accessible, practical support - whether through our range of core services and activities or by directing them to relevant local expertise for the support or advice they need.
Meeting local challenges
Our Care Fund and Community Fund play pivotal roles in supporting individuals and local organizations in various ways.
The Care Fund, fuelled by the annual Christmas Appeal, generous legacies, and dedicated volunteers, maintains its Home Visits program, providing essential support to those seeking assistance. Additionally, we host popular weekly Tea and Coffee mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, organise Seniors’ Outings, Family Outings, and deliver Christmas Parcels to 140 residents, spreading festive cheer. We also offer grants to those facing financial hardship, assisting with utilities payments and educational expenses, and provide transportation to Trust events. The popular annual Seniors Fair event continues to offer local residents an insight into and visibility of groups and organisations across our vibrant local community. The Care Fund’s impact continues to grow as awareness of our services spreads.
Our more recent Wellbeing initiative, an increasingly significant part of the Care Fund, has evolved rapidly. Our partnership with local GP surgeries and Mind in Mid Herts was the genesis of the “Harpenden Wellbeing Hub,” now visible throughout the town. Through a variety of partnerships and activities we seek to provide a rich array of activity to enhance local residents’ wellbeing. We’re making a tangible difference: from the Frazzled Café (offering a confidential space for those overwhelmed by modern life) to the Memory Lane Café (welcoming people living with dementia and their caregivers) and the Arts on Prescription program (leveraging the arts for health and wellbeing), to the Ribbon Cancer Support Group (in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support), to PD Buddies (in partnership with Parkinson’s UK) to the Compassionate Café (in partnership with Rennie Grove Peace), to the Intergenerational Choir, to launching a pilot group with Youth Talk (providing free confidential counselling to local 13-25 year olds). We continue to explore new ventures, including coaching sessions to empower individuals to move forward. All this activity is in addition to our longstanding Befriending service providing companionship to approaching 100 local residents.
The Community Fund, drawing from reserves established since 2008 through the Abbeyfield endowment, continues its impactful work. Notably, we’ve supported outdoor facilities across many Harpenden schools, assisted with repairs to community halls, contributed to Young Enterprise initiatives, provided assistance and equipment to Harpenden Rovers Youth FC and also local wildlife sanctuaries, all reinforcing our commitment to the local community.
We also continue to partner with the Harpenden Library to keep it open on Wednesday afternoons - a warm, judgement-free space for learning, reading, and accessing information.
Responding to wider community needs, we’re also excited at the acquisition of a new 16-seater Harpenden Trust Community Minibus. This valuable resource will be available to local Harpenden community groups - whether schools, societies, sports teams, churches, or other organizations - providing greater flexibility to enhance their services for local residents.
And into 2024 we have exciting collaborations developing with Citizens Advice and the Harpenden Film Society to name but two.
Determined to do more: Our community halls
A very visible development over the last year has been the enhancement of our buildings and community spaces.
At No.90 Southdown Road, behind the distinctive purple doors, our halls have always been abuzz with activity, as hirers offer an impressive array of activities, clubs, and classes to our residents. Recognising the vital role such spaces play in community life, we were thrilled to announce the acquisition of the Methodist Church Halls’ lease in Southdown back in January 2023. This strategic move ensured that this valuable community resource remained accessible to Harpenden residents for years to come. By combining the Southdown Halls (located above the Co-Op store at No. 130a Southdown Road) with our existing Harpenden Trust Centre (at No.90 Southdown Road), the Trust now boasts a total of six spacious halls and meeting rooms available for hire, ranging from 300 sq.ft. to 1,270 sq.ft. Beyond meeting immediate demand, this expanded space has also provided the Trust with room for our existing community initiatives and future endeavours. Today our halls have never been busier: we currently have 42 regular local hirers (running 67 classes per week), 10 regular community based hirers, and we have also held 60 parties over the last year together with 12 ad-hoc hirers’ events.
In June 2023, the “Well Bean Community Café” opened its doors. Every weekday morning, staffed by dedicated Trust volunteers, we offer a welcoming spot for residents to gather, connect, and enjoy refreshments - all provided without any financial obligation, being available to all on a donations only basis. We’ve also allocated space, alongside our café, free of charge to other local charities, fostering collaboration and community spirit. As our extensive refurbishment program nears its completion, we eagerly anticipate unveiling even more initiatives and welcoming everyone to our expanded facilities.
A heartfelt “Thank You” to our Volunteers
To all our Volunteers, Funders, and Supporters. Once again, in yet another year, we have witnessed an incredible team effort. The Harpenden Trust, as a voluntary organisation, owes its success to your unwavering dedication. Your generosity - both in time and experience – has been the cornerstone of all our achievements.
Without the kindness and selflessness of our many volunteers - over 500 local individuals this past year - the Trust simply could not fulfil its mission. Together, we form a collective team, and I hope that being part of the Trust is equally rewarding for each of you. The positive impact we’ve seen in the lives of so many local people is truly heartwarming. Sometimes, mere words fall short. Yet, in my annual Chairman’s Statement, I want to formally express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed. Each person has played a vital role:
• Main Trust Board Colleagues: Your commitment drives our vision forward;
• Care Fund and Community Fund Committees and Team Leaders: Your dedication ensures our programs thrive;
• Trust Office Staff: Your daily support keeps everything running smoothly;
• Care Fund Home Visitors: Your anonymous yet essential work touches lives;
• Harpenden Wellbeing Hub volunteers: Your contribution enhances the wellbeing of our local community;
• Our befrienders and Well Bean Café baristas: Your kindness brightens the days of local residents;
• Library Volunteers, Outings organisers, Minibus & Transport Teams: Your contributions benefit so many local people and groups;
• Property and Facilities Teams: Your work expands our footprint and services;
• Christmas Appeal Team: Your fundraising sustains our Care Fund;
• Audit, Risk, and Governance Committee: Your oversight ensures our integrity;
• Investment Committee: Your expertise secures our financial foundations;
• External Affairs Team: Your outreach spreads awareness;
• … and to all our other volunteers – without your time and expertise, the Trust would not be capable of making the difference that is does.
And an additional thank you to the residents of Harpenden, whose generosity during our Christmas Appeal this last year - raising over £55,000 - speaks volumes for the support of the Trust’s work.
Personally, it has been an immense privilege to continue to work alongside such wonderful local people, supporting our Harpenden community.
To all of you, thank you for your extraordinary kindness, your time, and the friendships we’ve built.
The Harpenden Trust continues to uphold its founding principles: “We’re here to help.”
With heartfelt appreciation,
Richard Nichols
Chair
(For the Year Ending 31 March 2024)
Link to Annual Report 2024 here.
27 September 2024
