The Charity was founded in 1995 from funds provided by members of the Barker-Mill family in memory of their father and grandfather. The Trustees have wide powers to make donations but, as a general rule, look to local organisations and individuals needing support. “Local” may be interpreted as meaning roughly the areas where the family have owned land for many generations. These are on the western side of Southampton out to Totton as well as Ashurst, Colbury, Hounsdown and Marchwood. However, the Trustees welcome applications from the less affluent areas of Southampton and its surrounds. Only in exceptional circumstances do the Trustees make donations to national charities and then only if the donation will benefit people in Hampshire.

The following are just a few of the local organisations that have benefited from donations made by the Charity since 1995:

Wessex Children’s Hospice Trust, Romsey Good Neighbours, The Society of St James Southampton, Naomi House Children’s Hospice, Forest Forge Theatre Company. It has given substantial funding to several local groups of Scouts and Guides in some cases enabling them to rebuild their “huts” or provide completely new buildings. Schools which have benefited include Beaulieu Primary, Lyndhurst Infants, Shepherds Down, Nursling Primary and Hounsdown School.

Among others the Charity has funded building works at Colbury Memorial Hall, Christ Church Colbury and St Boniface Church, Nursling, all of which have personal associations with the Barker-Mill family.

Colbury Memorial Hall


Colbury Scout Hut


Nursling Scout Hut

Donations have been made to individuals to enable the purchase of essential items such as a laptop for a wheelchair-bound student, a special bed for a severely disabled young boy and assistance with fees at a special school.

The total amount donated since 1995 now exceeds £1 million.

Applications should be addressed to the Charity’s Administrator Trustee, Chris Gwyn-Evans c/o Longdown Management Ltd. He prefers an initial approach to be made by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it