HISTORY OF Robert Barton Trust
Glastonbury……known for The Abbey Ruins, Glastonbury Festival, The Tor, The Chalice, King Arthur and Guinivere, The Holy Thorne, The Goddess Conference, New Age, pilgrims and travellers….
Glastonbury has a very long history of attracting travellers and pilgrims to the town and immediate areas. The area has strong connections to Christian, Pagan and Druid traditions.
For travellers Glastonbury is hugely significant, both culturally and geographically. Many travellers perceive the Glastonbury area to be their spiritual home and, once here, have a strong desire to settle, to live and work in the area and to raise and educate their children here.
There are many physical, cultural and spiritual events and attractions that draw people to Glastonbury. These include Glastonbury Tor on the outskirts of town, Glastonbury Abbey, the Chalice Well Gardens, and the Holy Thorn on Wearyall Hill.
There is also a thriving ‘alternative’ culture which exists alongside the Christian culture in the town. The alternative manifests itself through the shops, cafes, arts music and personal/spiritual courses and events which take place throughout the year. There is an annual Goddess conference which attracts delegates from all round the world, the children’s festival every summer and of course the world famous Glastonbury Festival…….
In 1996 The Civic Trust regeneration Unit Study highlighted the problems of homelessness, vagrancy and poverty, the tensions between the young and old, ‘traditional’ and ‘alternative’ lifestyles and between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.
The Robert Barton Trust was established as a charity in 1996, it was initially established after the accidental and tragic death of a twenty one year old man Robert Barton. Robert's death galvanised a number of people into trying to find a positive solution to the homelessness, poverty, isolation and social exclusion faced by many people in Glastonbury.
Grants were established from Somerset County Council, Mendip District council, the PCT and social services and three small offices were rented above a shop in Glastonbury High Street.
The trust became a registered charity in March 1998 with the following mission statement:
‘’To provide information, practical help and support to people living in Glastonbury and the surrounding areas who have problems associated with accommodation, substance misuse, unemployment and their health as a result of these circumstances. In our work we will seek to compliment existing statutory and voluntary services already working in the field, and to provide positive support for self-help initiatives by our clients’’
By September 2001 the trust had secured funding to rent a converted warehouse in the centre of Glastonbury.
The Robert Barton Trust has been in existence for ten years during which we have filled a gap in service provision in the Glastonbury area. Many of our service users do not access any other services and we can assist people with housing, benefits, training and health. We also give people time and a safe supportive place where there can come and feel accepted, this in itself raises self esteem.
Glastonbury……known for The Abbey Ruins, Glastonbury Festival, The Tor, The Chalice, King Arthur and Guinivere, The Holy Thorne, The Goddess Conference, New Age, pilgrims and travellers….
Glastonbury has a very long history of attracting travellers and pilgrims to the town and immediate areas. The area has strong connections to Christian, Pagan and Druid traditions.
For travellers Glastonbury is hugely significant, both culturally and geographically. Many travellers perceive the Glastonbury area to be their spiritual home and, once here, have a strong desire to settle, to live and work in the area and to raise and educate their children here.
There are many physical, cultural and spiritual events and attractions that draw people to Glastonbury. These include Glastonbury Tor on the outskirts of town, Glastonbury Abbey, the Chalice Well Gardens, and the Holy Thorn on Wearyall Hill.
There is also a thriving ‘alternative’ culture which exists alongside the Christian culture in the town. The alternative manifests itself through the shops, cafes, arts music and personal/spiritual courses and events which take place throughout the year. There is an annual Goddess conference which attracts delegates from all round the world, the children’s festival every summer and of course the world famous Glastonbury Festival…….
In 1996 The Civic Trust regeneration Unit Study highlighted the problems of homelessness, vagrancy and poverty, the tensions between the young and old, ‘traditional’ and ‘alternative’ lifestyles and between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.
The Robert Barton Trust was established as a charity in 1996, it was initially established after the accidental and tragic death of a twenty one year old man Robert Barton. Robert's death galvanised a number of people into trying to find a positive solution to the homelessness, poverty, isolation and social exclusion faced by many people in Glastonbury.
Grants were established from Somerset County Council, Mendip District council, the PCT and social services and three small offices were rented above a shop in Glastonbury High Street.
The trust became a registered charity in March 1998 with the following mission statement:
‘’To provide information, practical help and support to people living in Glastonbury and the surrounding areas who have problems associated with accommodation, substance misuse, unemployment and their health as a result of these circumstances. In our work we will seek to compliment existing statutory and voluntary services already working in the field, and to provide positive support for self-help initiatives by our clients’’
By September 2001 the trust had secured funding to rent a converted warehouse in the centre of Glastonbury.
The Robert Barton Trust has been in existence for ten years during which we have filled a gap in service provision in the Glastonbury area. Many of our service users do not access any other services and we can assist people with housing, benefits, training and health. We also give people time and a safe supportive place where there can come and feel accepted, this in itself raises self esteem.