The Bill Sargent Trust
Registered Charity No: 1042611
WHY THE TRUST WAS FORMED
The Bill Sargent Trust carries out research on housing and related issues. It seeks to influence policy with the outcomes of the research.
The Trust was established to commemorate one of the founders of Portsmouth Housing Association, the late Reverend Bill Sargent.
Bill Sargent died in 1989. As a priest in the Church of England, he has worked passionately for social justice and he willingly worked with anyone who shared the same goals.
Following his death, Portsmouth Housing Association set up a memorial fund and this led to the setting up of the Bill Sargent Trust, to take forward the promotion of public awareness through action research and campaigning.
The Trust is funded through grants from Portsmouth Housing Association, grant making bodies and supportive individuals.
MEMORIAL LECTURES
| 2001 | Archbishop of York – Dr David Hope ‘The Church‘s engagement with social issues’ |
| 2003 | Ted Cantle ‘Community Cohesion in Britain’ |
| 2005 | Bob Paterson ‘Combating Financial Exclusion both locally and nationally’ |
| 2008 | Panel: Professor David Carpenter, Carole Damper, Sarah McCarthy Fry MP, Lord Oakeshott, David Willitts MP ‘How should we tackle poverty in the Portsmouth Area? |
Poverty Debate Panel - 9th September 2008
RESEARCH PROJECTS
The Trust has recently completed a research project on "The Role of Housing Associations in Supporting their Residents to find Employment and Training". Click here to download full report .
The trust also plans to hold an enquiry into the extent to which local communities are adversely impacted by the ways in which surplus MOD land is disposed of.
In November 2006, the Trust published ‘The Impact of Credit on the Financially Excluded. This research project evaluated the impact of lending by South Coast Money Line and Portsmouth Savers Credit Union on people who experience financial exclusion.
Previous research projects have covered:
- Living in Temporary Accommodation in Portsmouth;
- Hidden Deprivation in Southsea;
- The Extent of Youth Homelessness in SE Hants;
- Community Development on Rowner Estate Gosport;
- The SE Hants Housing Market;
- The Needs of Asylum Seekers in Portsmouth;
- Financial Exclusion among Housing Association Tenants.
HOW THE TRUST WORKS
The Trust operates with close support from Portsmouth Housing Association, now itself a member of The First Wessex Housing Group.
The Trustees are Mark Mitchell, Ben Stoneham, and Nigel Baldwin. The Trustees are currently seeking to appoint additional Trustees.
The Trust welcomes proposals for local research projects on housing homelessness, poverty and related issues.
The Trust is also grateful for financial contributions to its funds.
For information about Bill Sargent, prominent local Portsmouth Churchman, social activist and founder of Portsmouth Housing Association please follow this link to the attached short summary of a longer biography. Contact us if you would like to buy a copy of his full biography.
For further information please contact the secretary:
Geoff Phillpotts,
Bill Sargents Trust
Peninsular House
Wharf Road
Portsmouth PO8 9HB
Tel: 023 9289 6793
E-mail: geoff.phillpotts@firstwessex.org
