Queen Elizabeth Trust launched to support communities

A new independent charity has been set up on the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth to honour her commitment to public service. 

The Queen Elizabeth Trust is one of three related memorial projects to honour her legacy at local, national, and global levels. The others are a national memorial in St James’s Park and a digital memorial.

The King has accepted the Royal Patronage of the Trust, which is inspired by the late Queen’s stated belief that “everyone is our neighbour”.

The Trust will work hand in hand with communities, providing funding and targeted support to restore and sustain shared spaces at the heart of local life. 

The government has provided a one-off £40 million endowment, which will provide the initial funding needed to support local projects of public value and will act as a catalyst for future fundraising. 

Money could be spent on the development and transformation of underused buildings and green spaces as well as neighbourhood hubs in communities across the UK. Funding will also help communities ensure they have access to the skills and training they require to deliver local events. 

Sir Damon Buffini, Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, said: "I’m honoured and excited to have been chosen as the founding Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Trust to help guide its direction from the start. This is a real chance to support communities across the United Kingdom and bring shared spaces back to life: places where people of all ages and backgrounds can meet, connect, and belong. 

"I’ve seen first-hand the difference these spaces can make, creating opportunities, sparking connections, and giving people a sense of pride in where they live. At a time when so many feel disconnected, this work feels more important than ever. 

"As an organisation, we’re ambitious about what we can achieve, and our goal is to significantly increase our impact by attracting support from others. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves, listening and learning from communities, and seeing what we can make happen."

Lord Janvrin, Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, said: "I hope this new charity will encourage people to remember the life and service of the late Queen by recognising the importance she attached to strengthening that sense of engagement and belonging amongst local communities."