Dacorum Map

About Dacorum Community Trust

Dacorum Community Trust was established in 1976 with the purpose of providing support for people experiencing hardship in the Dacorum area.

Today, the Trust has evolved into a local crisis charity helping local people when they have nowhere to turn for practical help. We regularly provide items, that include energy and supermarket vouchers, beds and cots, large and small white goods. We do not issue cash and we are unable to pay debts.

As a small, independent charity we can act quickly to resolve practical crises so that people can get back on their feet and on with their lives.

The Trust is extremely flexible and will consider any practical request when someone is in a crisis. For instance, in the past we have contributed towards house removal costs in an emergency and have issued travel passes for job interviews. We have even bought items like work boots when they were needed by a local resident so that he could get back to work to support his family.

Our clients come to us with a combination of issues, including homelessness, domestic violence, mental and physical ill-health, addiction, debt, benefit delays, or other circumstances of extreme poverty.

All clients are asked to complete an application form and provide proof of identification, income, and expenditure. We then meet with the client, virtually at present, to establish how we can provide the most effective practical assistance. As well as resolving an immediate crisis, we also refer and signpost our clients to the wider community for additional support.

We collaborate with local public and voluntary sector agencies to ensure we are reaching the people who most need our help. Over 85% of our clients come from public and voluntary sector referrals.

All monies raised by Dacorum Community Trust are used only to support the people of Dacorum.

 

Meet the Team

Dena Tyler

Dena has been with the Trust since 2017, latterly as the Trust manager. For many years before then, she was a supporter of the Trust and its work. Dena has been able to transfer her management and community engagement experience in public services to working in her current role.

Lydia Flack

Lydia has worked with the Trust since 2015. Following a successful career within the commercial sector, she decided it was time to give back to her local community. The Trust has become a passion for Lydia and she considers it a privilege to work for a local charity that changes people’s lives.

Rosemary Hall

Rosemary has worked for Dacorum Community Trust since 2017 as our Grants and Finance officer. She thoroughly enjoys supporting the Trust and helping clients recover from crisis situations. It gives her immense pleasure to support, and most importantly, listen to clients that are struggling to make ends meet.

Barbara Higgs

Barbara began volunteering at The Trust over 10 years ago. She enjoys helping people and making a difference in her local community. In 2019, she won the Mayors Everyday Hero Award and said, “the award isn’t just for me, but all the amazing people who make up our team at the Trust”.

Mark Peart

After an extensive business career, Mark has been working full time for Hertfordshire charities over the last 10 years. He joined the Trust in 2019 bringing with him a wide range of experience. Mark is proud to be supporting local people and to be working with such an inspirational team of staff and trustees at the Trust.

Rosie Ware

Rosie is a client support officer and also helps to design and develop the charity’s website and social media channels. Rosie comes from a design background, having studied illustration and graphic design at London Met. She began volunteering for the trust in 2019 and combines her joint passions for helping people and design.