News
November 2008
Feature article: Taking risks and being canny
The guiding principle of The Pilgrim Trust is to support projects which take an innovative approach and will gain the most from a timely injection of money. As a result its Trustees are prepared to use funds imaginatively and at times take risks especially when they can see a project that has the potential to develop.
One such project is Birth Companions. It is a small charity started by Sheila Kitzinger , providing practical and emotional support for women who face giving birth during detention. The service was entirely run by volunteers until 2004 but in response to growing demand the decision was taken to employ a small staff to co-ordinate the team of volunteers. Initially The Pilgrim Trust agreed to give a grant of £15,000 towards the core costs but has now committed to supporting the service for a further two years with a grant of £10,000. The Trustees were impressed with how a relatively modest grant had enabled the charity to make such an impact. Not only had Birth Companions strengthened their existing infrastructure but they had also become involved in some pioneering work in terms of both service provision and of increasing awareness of the isolation of women who face pregnancy and childbirth whilst in prison.
When appropriate The Pilgrim Trust fund is used creatively to help applicants leverage sums from larger organisations. A good example of this has been the Vivat Trust. An initial grant of £15,000 was used by the Vivat Trust as match funding and to develop various option appraisals. In value terms, the Pilgrim Trust's £15,000 enabled the Vivat Trust to raise over £50,000 from a variety of sources and in so doing helped to move buildings off the buildings at risk register.
The Lichfield Angel was unearthed in 2003 when investigations under the floor at the eastern end of the Cathedral revealed a stone carving of an angel. Experts realised that the carved panel dated back to 800AD and was possibly part of the original Saxon shrine to St Chad. The Pilgrim Trust, convinced of the significance of the carving, agreed to fund preliminary assessment and research. The grant was made even though there was no guarantee that the Angel would later find a public audience. In 2007 the Angel went on temporary display at the Cathedral and in 2012 will be permanently housed.
© Dean & Chapter of Lichfield Cathedral (photo: David Rowan)
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