Heather Hancock DL, Chair, and Keith Halstead, Executive Director of The Royal Countryside Fund attended the launch of the Trust at the British Museum this morning, where His Majesty The King and the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, outlined the vision and mission of the new charity.

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 initial funding in the form of a one-off £40 million endowment, to support local projects of public value and will act as a catalyst for future fundraising.

The Queen Elizabeth Trust will ensure Her late Majesty is remembered for her unique ability to bring people together across generations and from all walks of life.

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.

The focus of the Trust was shaped through extensive conversations with community groups, charities, and leaders across the four nations. The Royal Countryside Fund was honoured to be involved as one of the royal charities advising the Trust. Heather Hancock, Chair of The Royal Countryside Fund said: “Queen Elizabeth was a dedicated countrywoman at heart, so The Royal Countryside Fund has been delighted to work with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee in bringing the creation of a new charity to fruition, through sharing our knowledge and experience of supporting rural communities across the UK.

“Once firmly established, we hope there will be opportunities for the new Queen Elizabeth Trust and The Royal Countryside Fund to collaborate on making a practical and long-term difference to the lives of rural people, putting Queen Elizabeth’s values into action for present and future generations.”

Find out more about Queen Elizabeth Trust at www.queenelizabethtrust.org,  on Instagram (@queenelizabethtrust) and X (@qetrust).