Herefordshire Community Foundation has officially taken over management of the Friends of Ledbury and District Healthcare Fund following a £1.6 million trust transfer.

The significant endowment fund will generate income from investments to provide regular grants for local health and wellbeing projects. Funding will cover Ledbury and its surrounding district served by Ledbury Community Hospital, including Cradley and Castle Frome to the north, Much Marcle, Dymock and Kempley Green to the south, Eastnor and Colwall to the east and Putley and Tarrington to the west. 

The fund’s purpose is to ensure local patients get the vital support they need while helping to ease pressure on the healthcare workers caring for them. 

The trust supported Ledbury’s original Cottage Hospital in The Homend until in 2002, when it became Friends of Ledbury Hospital to support the work of the newly opened Ledbury Community Health and Care Centre. In 2015, the trust expanded its scope to encompass the Ledbury and wider District area. 

Bridie Sullivan, CEO of Herefordshire Community Foundation, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Friends of Ledbury and District Healthcare Fund to Herefordshire Community Foundation.

“This generous transfer reflects the Friends’ longstanding commitment to local health and wellbeing, and we are honoured to carry that legacy forward. The fund creates a lasting resource for the community, enabling us to support vital projects and improve local health outcomes for many years to come.”

Dr Robert Scholefield, retired GP and Chair of the trust fund, said: “The Friends of Ledbury and District Healthcare Trust has a proud history of supporting healthcare provision in our community. As our work reaches this new chapter, we are pleased to entrust these funds to Herefordshire Community Foundation. 

“We are confident they will honour the intentions of our founders and ensure this significant legacy continues to benefit local people long into the future.”

Applications for funding are now open. Herefordshire Community Foundation welcomes applications from local community groups, GP surgeries, and healthcare professionals submitting referrals on behalf of individuals.

To learn more about the fund, apply for a grant, or make a donation, visit the fund page at https://www.herefordshirecf.org/funds/friends-of-ledbury-and-district-healthcare-fund/

About Trust Transfers with HCF

If you manage a charitable trust that has become inactive, burdensome, or difficult to administer, Herefordshire Community Foundation can take on the day-to-day management—ensuring its original purpose and community impact are fully preserved. To find out more, visit https://www.herefordshirecf.org/ways-of-giving/trust-transfers/