Weds 23rd July 2025
The presentation this week was given by Beth Rice (CEO) and Emma Isworth (Trustee) of The Mildred Trust based in Tenterden. It is a local charity supporting families in need in the surrounding rural communities.
Emma and Beth explained that the charity originated in 2003 as a result of a legacy left to St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden for the purpose of granting financial help to local families and individuals in need. It remained low key, but calls on the Trust ballooned in Lockdown in 2020 from poorer families in rural areas now isolated with primary school children no longer having access to school dinners. The Trust set up a free food bank, The Old School Larder, comprising donated healthy produce , but it was also necessary to buy in food to meet the demand in this difficult time from families and both the old and young.
After the lifting of Lockdown, it was found that the need was still there, even from families where both parents were working, but their low income made it difficult to feed their children. The Trust decided that they needed to expand to meet the demand and become more effective. To do this, they needed to convert from being volunteer led, to expert led. This was achieved by the appointment of Beth Rice as CEO who has considerable senior level experience in this sector, particularly in seeking out and obtaining grant funding.
The transformation has been hugely successful with the opening of the Community Shop in Appledore in March 2025 from which 205 residents have already benefitted. The Old School Larder and Community Fridge now in Tenterden Leisure Centre saw 958 residents benefit between April and July 2025 including 382 children. Plans are now afoot to open further community shops in Wittersham and High Halden. Customers pay £1.50 for every £5.00 worth of items up to the value of £20.00.
The Trust has also running activities to help poorer families and their children. These include pond dipping, puppetry and cooking demonstrations together with recipe bag giveaways and school uniform accessory giveaways.
Donations, both food and financial make up a very important part of the functioning of The Mildred Trust and are vital to its work and continuing success.
The presentation concluded with a lively question and answer section and Emma and Beth were warmly thanked.
