Press Release
EXMOOR TRUST APPEAL : TEN YEARS ON
The Exmoor Trust was founded just over ten years ago and has launched an appeal for funds to help sustain the rate of support given to many causes throughout Greater Exmoor. Since its first grant to the Exmoor Pony Society, the trust has dispensed over £128,000 with the larger grants being given during the Foot and Mouth period. Over the last five years grants have averaged an annual total of £3850 and the full list of grants is on their website www.exmoortrust.org.uk .
Susan May, Chairman of the Trust, said ' We have all noticed that bank and investment interest has dropped significantly but we are determined to protect our reserve to cover any future emergency bids for support. But calls for our help, both in the amount requested and the number of applications received, have increased. Unless we can restore our own income we will have to give smaller grants. We have seldom refused help over the past ten years as we are keen to give people and communities some form of hope and seed corn funding.'
This year the trust plans to follow up their successful Broadband for Exmoor in 2004. The focus is to highlight the need for Faster Broadband but also to examine the possibilities of getting Broadband to those beyond the range of current provision, especially to farmers. The symposium will be held after the General Election at Raleigh's Cross Hotel and the administrative cost of this type of event is considerable.
Edwin Beckett who is managing the Exmoor Trust 2010 Appeal said: ' This appeal is to restore the shortfall of investment income which will probably represent two to three year's worth of grants. This should enable our donations to meet forecast demand. Because Trustees are unpaid and our annual management costs are negligible, gifts to the Trust represent an excellent way of providing well scrutinized responses to needs across a wide range of community projects in Greater Exmoor. Although pensioners are also feeling the economic pinch, we hope that some people who have either retired to Exmoor or have a connection with the area will support this appeal.'
Anyone, or any organization, wishing to make a contribution should follow the information provided on the Trust's website or contact Edwin Beckett on telephone 01643841406.