MANAGEMENT of a fund set up by a well-known family to improve the lives of the Ilminster community has been transferred to the Somerset Community Foundation (SCF).

The Trustees of The Gooch Charitable Trust (Ilminster) have transferred stewardship and administration in a bid to ensure the future of the funds and the positive impact on the Ilminster community will last for generations to come.

The fund was set up by Archie Gooch, co-founder of optical engineering firm Gooch & Housego (G&H).

His daughter, Heather Virgin, said: “My father, along with Les Housego, had been evacuated from London to work at Standard Telephones and Cables.

“There he met his wife, my mother Nancy, and settled in Ilminster.

“Archie and Les set up their business Gooch and Housego (G&H) after the war in 1948. G&H grew rapidly and was eventually floated on the AIM stock market.”

An active and respected member of the Ilminster community, Archie wanted to show his appreciation to the town where he set up his business all those years ago.

“My father decided that he wanted to give something back to the community that had supported and welcomed him all those years ago, and so we set up The Gooch Charitable Trust (Ilminster) in 1998,” Heather said.

Now, Heather and fellow Trustees have decided to transfer stewardship of the Trust to SCF to ensure administration is as efficient as possible and the funds go further in their intended purpose of positively impacting the Ilminster community.

Kelly Hall, philanthropy director at SCF, said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with the Trustees of the Gooch Charitable Trust on this Trust transfer process.

“It’s just wonderful that they’ve considered so carefully the future of the charity and proactively sought a solution that will ensure these funds can continue benefitting the Ilminster community for generations to come.

“I’m so pleased that the Trustees will remain involved in the Fund now that it’s managed by SCF, and we very much look forward to making the first grants.

“Local charitable trusts are an invaluable source of funding for our communities. But running a Charitable Trust means a great deal of administrative and regulatory responsibility.

“Trying to make sure funds are spent efficiently and ensuring they make the biggest difference possible can often be challenging – and that’s where we can help.

“By transferring a Trust to SCF, Trustees can ensure their charity can continue to carry out its objectives for many years to come.”

In line with Archie’s wishes, money is set aside each year for the repair and upkeep of the fabric of St Mary’s Church in Ilminster, with all other funds then made available for wider use in the town.

Any community groups or charities benefitting Ilminster residents can find out more about applying for a grant – money that does not need to be paid back – from the fund by visiting www.somersetcf.org.uk/grants-funding/details/the-gooch-charitable-fund.