Our aims:

  • To match the Trust’s main funding through the work of a team of local fundraisers,
  • To set up and maintain a website which can become a platform for generating donations to the work of the Charity,
  • To explore opportunities for support from local Holmewood and Heath Businesses,
  • To look at how previous successful applicants to the Charity can have a role in fundraising.

Part of this promotional work will be to join in other social and celebratory events in the community to help to ‘spread the word’ about our work and to celebrate the ‘heroes’ who support us.

The Charity was set up in 1891 by the then Countess and Earl of Devonshire. They realised there was a need to support the children of families up and down the County who wanted to improve their future lives, and, therefore, the future lives of their families, by supporting them through education and training in preparation for a trade, profession or calling. Money was raised from the rents of a number of properties and parcels of land owned by the Family and was to be distributed in the City of Derby and the parishes of Edensor, Shottle and Postern, Pentrich, Peak Forest, Chatsworth, Ault Hucknall, Upper Langwith, and Heath. The work of the Charity in each of these areas was to be managed by the vicar, Churchwardens and ‘overseers of the poor’. 


In 2007 the Charity was modernised. This involved bringing the terms of the Charity into line with life as we know it today, selling off the property and land and investing the capital to give sound, adequate growth to be able to provide meaningful sums in the support of young people. These are now defined as being between the ages of 16 and 26 (inclusive), going into higher education (like colleges and universities) and into apprenticeships and similar courses and, in our case, living within the civil Parish of Heath and Holmewood. 


The current financial climate has seen a steadying-off of the return on the investments, leading the local board of Trustees to consider ways of boosting the annual income to provide more meaningful sums and thereby supporting an increasing number of young people, so in 2017 we aim to set up a fundraising arm to the charity.