St Monica Trust

Image of the outside of the Millstream building

Image of Chief Executive David Williams talking to a resident of Millstream who is smiling and holding a cup of tea.

Crowd of representative that helped make Millstream happen. They are stood in front of the Millstream building and waving and smiling.

Two Millstream residents are smiling. Both are older ladies, one is holding a glass of prosecco and the other is holding a small cake.

Yesterday, we celebrated Millstream’s Opening Ceremony, the final phase of The Chocolate Quarter retirement village in Keynsham. This is a truly special milestone, and we were thrilled to see so many people come together to mark the occasion. #Millstream #BristolRetirementVillage

Our charitable giving team supports older people in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We achieve this by providing financial assistance through our Individual Giving Fund.

Feedback like this demonstrates the importance of this work. Find out more: www.stmonicatrust.or...

Our charitable giving team supports older people in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We achieve this by providing financial assistance through our Individual Giving Fund.

Feedback like this demonstrates the importance of this work. Find out more: www.stmonicatrust.or...

Our charitable giving team supports older people in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We achieve this by providing financial assistance through our Individual Giving Fund.

Feedback like this demonstrates the importance of this work. Find out more: www.stmonicatrust.or...

Improving Connections Fund Grant Recipients The Improving Connections Fund was met with huge interest, and we were pleased to award over £200,000 to ten charities across our region: Alive…

The projects funded by our #ImprovingConnectionsFund have positively reached 999 older people, with even more impact to come through legacy and replication.
Find out more ⬇️

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟
Coniston Community Association launched Coniston Connects to support older residents in Patchway. Participants reported improved well-being, new friendships and a renewed sense of belonging.

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟

Alive Activities's Share and Repair Café created intergenerational spaces where older people could share skills, knowledge and lived experience, from crafts and cooking to tai chi, meditation and home maintenance.

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟

@TalkClub.Org expanded its work with men aged 55+, establishing 10 new peer-led groups — doubling its original target. Combining talking, listening, exercise and creative activities, the project helped increase social connection.

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟

Carers Support Centre launched a Befriending and Connection Service to reduce loneliness among older carers in South Gloucestershire.

Carers were matched with volunteers for weekly calls offering companionship and emotional support.

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟

St George’s Bristol expanded its Community Ticket Club, removing barriers for older people to access cultural events.

Community groups were welcomed to lunchtime concerts with free tickets, hot drinks, and space to socialise.

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟

Wellspring Settlement delivered seven creative workshop series in art, film and drama for people aged 55+, designed to reduce isolation and build meaningful connections.

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟

@reminduk.bsky.social delivered a series of well-being courses using creative, physical and reminiscence-based activities for people affected by dementia, responding to gaps in post-diagnosis support that often leave people feeling isolated.

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟

Bristol Dementia Action Alliance expanded its Dementia Aware Communities work across four villages to improve awareness, accessibility and inclusion for people living with dementia and their carers.

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟

Vision North Somerset reduced social isolation among visually impaired people aged 55+ through a wide range of inclusive activities, from swimming and lunch groups to gardening, pop-up hubs and mobile libraries.

🌟 #ImprovingConnectionsFund spotlight 🌟

Square Food Foundation expanded its Back in the Kitchen programme to create meaningful opportunities for people aged 55+ to reduce isolation through shared meals, skill-building and social connection.

Since its launch in August 2023, our Improving Connections Fund has supported 10 incredible projects aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation for people aged 55+.

Over the coming days, we’ll be sharing more about the impact of the fund.

Earlier this year we asked for your brightest, boldest ideas to help people live happy, healthy and more independent lives as they age.

Out of over 250 ideas, we're excited to share the top ten ideas selected. View the full list and next steps for 2026 👉 www.stmonicatrust.or...

💡 Innovation Forum 2026 – Save the Date.

We’re excited to share that our Centre of Innovation are planning our next Innovation Forum on 14 April 2026.

If you’d like to be involved, please complete our Expression of Interest by 16 January 2026 👉 forms.office.com/pag...

Ending our centenary year on a high! 🎄

Last night, our Cote Lane gardens became a magical Winter Wonderland to mark the festive season and reflect on 100 years of care. This event was our way of saying thank you to our colleagues and volunteers for their contribution.

Centenary St Monica Trust marks 100 years with centenary celebrations.The St Monica Home of Rest, as the Trust was known then, first opened its doors to residents…

As we enter the last month of our centenary year, we'd like to take you back to our summer centenary celebrations.

📹 Our centenary video brings together voices from across our community reflecting on what St Monica Trust means to them. Watch it here: www.stmonicatrust.org.uk/centenary

We’re closing our series of successful Core Funding grant recipients with two final, fantastic charities:

⭐ WE Care Home Improvements
⭐ West of England Rural Network

Each of these organisations is making a real difference in our community, and we’re so proud to support them.

Continuing our celebration of our Core Fund grant recipients, we’re shining the spotlight on two more incredible organisations we are supporting.

⭐ @bristolafterstroke.bsky.social
⭐ Swan Advice Network (in B&NES)

We’re inspired by their commitment and proud to help support their work.

Today we’re proud to introduce two more incredible organisations we have awarded Core Funding to.

⭐ Age UK Bristol
⭐ Age UK South Gloucestershire

We’re honoured to support these amazing organisations and the positive impact they’re making every day.

We’re thrilled to announce we have awarded seven incredible organisations Core Funding to support their vital work.

First up, we’re shining the spotlight on @aliveactivities.bsky.social. ⭐

Stay tuned over the next few days as we reveal the rest of the inspiring recipients!

It was wonderful to have @itvnews.bsky.social with us yesterday filming a story about Hundred Not Out, our centenary beer.🍺

Missed the feature? Hear from our residents as they share their pride in being part of this special project:
www.itv.com/watch/news/m...

Probably the best resident-brewed beer in the world - St Monica Trust St Monica Trust residents are raising a glass to the successful launch of their own beer.

🍺Unveiling our resident-brewed centenary beer, Hundred Not Out! 🍺

In collaboration with @aliveactivities.bsky.social and Wiper and True, this beer marks 100 years of St Monica Trust and was brewed from hops grown and harvested by our residents.

👇 Read more: www.stmonicatrust.org.uk/our-expertis...

💜 Tomorrow is @age-uk.bsky.social’s #SilverSunday – a national day to celebrate older people and tackle loneliness through free events across the country.

It’s a wonderful reminder of the importance of connection and community.

Find an event near you here: www.ageuk.org.uk/services/sil...

This week, residents from across our sites enjoyed visiting two local breweries, Left Handed Giant and @bristolbeerfactory.bsky.social!

We learnt more about the brewing process for our #HoppinessProject where we’re following our hops on their journey to becoming our special centenary beer.

An unforgettable charity dinner in aid of Weston Hospicecare 💜

With amazing food from Pullman Café and live entertainment, it was a great night of fundraising. Together we raised over £3676 to support free palliative care.

Thank you to everyone who made this night possible! 🙌

As part of our #HoppinessProject, our residents and colleagues worked side by side to harvest our hops. 🌿

The harvest was a wonderful example of teamwork, #connection, and #contribution.

We can’t wait to taste what’s brewed for our #centenary beer!

Photos by Guy Manchester, Hoppiness Brews.