The Pargiter Trust Fund

The Pargiter Trust, a national family charitable trust established to support disadvantaged older people to be independent, healthy and socially included works in partnership with the Community Foundation for Surrey to deliver their Surrey grassroots grants programme.

The Honourable Isobel Cooper-Heyman founded the Pargiter Trust in 2005 to support older people. Isobel was a Trustee of The National Benevolent Fund for The Aged (NBFA) for a number of years and was a passionate campaigner, ensuring older people have the support they need to maintain independence and live healthy, happy lives. She founded the Pargiter Trust to continue her work alleviating social isolation and stress wherever possible for older people living in England and the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Pargiter comes from Isobel’s maiden name, the only daughter of Baron George Albert Pargiter, CBE and Dorothy Maude. Since Isobel’s death in 2009 her cousin, Suzanne Gardiner, has taken up role as Chair.

Through its mission to support disadvantaged older people to be independent, healthy and socially included, the Pargiter Trust is focused on grant making and support for innovation. The trustees work closely with Community Foundations and Charities, to support grassroots projects whose objects are compatible with the Trust’s mission; to benefit those disadvantaged and over the age of 65 to be independent, healthy and socially included.

We chose the Community Foundation for Surrey because they were local, offered us the opportunity to stay involved in the giving process and visit the projects we supported.

Sue Gardiner – Chair, Pargiter Trust

Example grants from the fund:

Music in Hospitals – £1,500

Music in Hospitals aims to bring joy through the therapeutic delivery of high quality live music to benefit the public by delivering music concerts across the UK, in order to raise the spirits, reduce distress and suffering, and to bring pleasure to sick and vulnerable adults, children and their families.

This funding supported the charity’s ’18 Concerts across Surrey’ project that benefited elderly people in healthcare facilities with the objective to enhance memory, improve communication, express feelings and assist with rehabilitation of elderly people who may be living with dementia.

Tea and Chat – £5,000

Tea and Chat (Making Connections) sessions provide a place for socially isolated older people to meet and experience companionship, socialisation and engaging activities, or to accompany a partner or friend with dementia as a carer. Carers can also join in with activities, and can gain confidence and a sense of wellbeing by re-joining their community after a bereavement.

This funding supported the continuation of project and helped reduce loneliness and social isolation amongst older people across Tandridge.