News Archive 2018

Key Trust Grant for Barton Centenary Square Project

December 2018

Friday 28th September was a bright, sunny day with the beginnings of Autumn in the air, the sort of day that most of us love. All of us except the photographer, as everyone was squinting into the sun and there were shadows everywhere, but I think you can see he still managed a good job.

This was the day many villagers and others involved in the Centenary Square Project gathered to see the ribbon cut and The Square returned to its former glory. Despite most of us moaning about the traffic disruption and chaos caused during the work, all agreed that the end result looked really good, something that would last for many years as a focus for the village and as a lasting commemoration of the centenary of the end of the first World War. It is a fitting tribute to the 37 Barton men who gave their lives for us all to live in the freedom we have today. It was appropriate that the sprightly Mrs Ruby Hall, the oldest resident in Barton under Needwood at 100, cut the ribbon of red poppies. The Square was now ready, for Armistice Sunday on 11th November.

Barton and Dunstall Key Trust were pleased to support the project with the biggest grant we have ever made, far outside our agreed maximum award and comfort zone. Trustees agreed this was a particularly significant project for the village and used their discretion for a one-off grant to cover all the paving, the new benches and lectern.

Chairman Jacqui Jones is pictured with fellow trustee Rev Andrew Ridley presenting the cheque to Alison Jones, Parish Councillor. They are also admiring the benches and lectern with trustee, Margaret Fitchett and chairman of the Parish Council, Sue van Daesdonk.

Key Trust Grant Supports Remembrance of Barton and Dunstall World War 1 Casualties

November 2018

Barton War Memorial Group, formed to research the history of the 39 men of Barton & seven from Dunstall who died serving during and in the years immediately after WW1, has published an attractive, informative book and launched a Website thanks to a £4,000 grant from the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust.

We Remember the Men of Barton & Dunstall 1914 - 1918 book and associated Website follows much appreciated displays of the Group's material in the Parish Church, Barton Library & John Taylor High School.  It makes an important part of our community's history available for family history researchers, young people particularly in this 2018 WW1 Centenary year, and the families of those who died fighting for their Country.

Extensive detailed research undertaken by the team led by Jill Rogers, who initiated the project, that includes Lesley & Bob Grewer, Rosemary & Duncan Fergusson and Foster Rogers are in the well illustrated book recording fascinating stories of the men, their families and a little about their lives. Copies will be given to each of the families involved and deposited at Barton and other local libraries, our schools, the National Memorial Arboretum, local museums and the County Records Office.

On sale at H&H Spalding's bookshop in Barton,  proceeds from which will be used for the on-going costs of maintaining the Website.

Leadership Award Winners Recognised at John taylor High School

September 2018

Ewan Leadbeater, who plans to study Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Gloucestershire is the 2018 winner of the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust’s annual award for Leadership at  John Taylor High School and received the £250 award at a recent glittering Presentation Evening at which the school’s outstanding students received their annual awards.  Runner -up Jared Evitts received £150.

Recognising the best of the school’s six House Leaders the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust Award for Leadership was presented to Ewan Leadbeater, Rosliston House Leader , who received the Key Trust’s Leadership Award perpetual trophy, together with a cheque for £250, & his name has been inscribed on the Trust's Honours Board  displayed at the school for students, parents, staff & visitors to see.

Ewan, who is set to study Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Gloucestershire, has obtained a scholarship for his Rugby refereeing. With boundless enthusiasm for Rosliston House he has demonstrated his skills and maturity by being passionate about his role, an amazing Sixth Form leader and  a role model for younger students.   'I am extremely proud & privileged to be recognised by the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust for the work I've done over the past two years at John Taylor High School including leadership in many varied ways from coaching Year 7 Rugby teams to organising and driving charity events for Rosliston House' commented Ewan.

Runner-up Jared Evitts, Marchington House leader, who received £150,  is a consummate professional and enthusiastic  speaker at the school's Open Evenings where he inspired new students and parents with his experiences at John Taylor High School. James Twynham , head of John Taylor High School, said 'Ewan is a worthy winner of the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust Award for Leadership recognising the critical role our House Leaders play in the vibrancy of the school and encouraging others to strive for excellence in this key attribute for their personal development'.

'John Taylor High School's Presentations Evening is a thoroughly uplifting event showing the enormous talent encouraged and development that culminates in the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust Leadership Awards when the winners are announced' said Jacqui Jones the Trust's chairman.

Scouting Brothers Set For World Jamboree in America Next Year

August 2018

Brothers and Burton Explorer Scouts Ben and Tom  Revill from the new Barton Manor residential development off Efflinch Lane in Barton are set to spend three weeks in West Virginia at the 2019 World Scout Jamboree and each has been assisted with a £500 grant from the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust.

Having been on a Jamboree selection camp the brothers and John Taylor High School students, who moved from Belgium to Barton in 2016, have been offered places within Staffordshire's contingent for the 24th. World Scout Jamboree of some 50,000 scouts from across the world being held at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia from 22 July to 2 August 2019  

Each of them have to raise £3,700 for the trip and have started fundraising  including playing the piano and saxophone at care homes, bag packing at supermarkets and car washing.

Benjamin said  'This'll be a unique international experience where I'll develop my leadership skills and try lots of completely different activities'.  Younger brother Thomas added  'It'll be a great experience working with people from all around the world on a three week camp learning new skills and living with an American family for one of those weeks'.

Summing up the benefits to its participants Staffordshire Scouts leadership states ' We have made a commitment to ensure that we not only deliver a fantastic international adventure for our contingent but that we will also champion youth engagement ensuring that we provide young people with opportunities to shape the Jamboree experience. Not only this, we want to ensure that we are providing development and training opportunities for every member of the contingent so that they are able to recognise that they have gained new skills and confidence through being a member'.

Emergency Repairs to Dunstall Church Floor Boosted by Key Trusts £5,000 Grant

July 2018

Within the Church of England every church building must be inspected by an architect or chartered building surveyor approved by the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) every five years. This regular system of review is designed to ensure that 16,000 church buildings are kept in good repair.

The resulting 'quinquennial report' is one of the key documents which assists the Parochial Church Council (PCC) in the care and repair of a church building, for which it is legally responsible. It gives a snapshot of the repair needs of the building, and lists the repairs required according to their priority. 2016's report on  St. Mary's beautiful church in Dunstall required an urgent inspection of part of the floor that had dipped slightly.

When some of the floorboards were removed it was discovered that the whole of the floor frame and joists were rotten and collapse was imminent.  Replacement became an urgent priority and the church was closed for 3 months whilst pews were removed, floorboards lifted and new timber installed in large areas of the floor.  All at a cost of £18,000 including industrial cleaning of the building afterwards. This sum being way beyond the resources of Dunstall's PCC one church warden raised an amazing £6,000 running in a half-marathon and a further £7,000 was given generously by an anonymous benefactor. The £5,000 balance has been provided as a grant from the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust.

Mick Perkins, one of Dunstall's churchwardens said 'With ever increasing maintenance work on the church because of its age we want to keep the building well maintained and safe for people to worship in and for our many visitors to admire as the church is open every day'. 'We're enormously grateful to the Key Trust for helping us in our hour of need' he added.

Barton Girls Supported by Key Trust Grant Bound for Lifetime Experience on World Challenge in Tanzania

June 2018

John Taylor High School students Katherine Sharkey & Lucy Waddell are bound for Tanzania this summer on a World Challenge expedition thanks to £500 grants from the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust. The Barton girls are part of a group from John Taylor High School that will be living in Northern Tanzania, trekking through the jungle, climbing mountains and helping to improve education facilities in a community where resources are quite different from those in Britain.

'It'll be a great experience for me to gain knowledge of other cultures, expand my skills and develop a wider appreciation of the world' said Lucy Waddell'. Katherine Sharkey added 'I'm really excited to be going and experiencing  life in Tanzania,  living for three weeks in a community not as fortunate as ours - it'll be a terrific experience'.

Julie Skinner, trustee of the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust. seen with Katherine & Lucy said 'We encourage applications from individuals of any age who live in our communities to apply for grants of up to £500 for extra-curricular or personal development experiences and projects and we're delighted to support the girls with grants towards the £3,900 cost each has raised to pay for this trip'.

Lifetime Experience in Peru Supported by Key Trust Grant

May 2018

Nineteen year old Ben Green from Barton was supported last year with a £350 grant from the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust to help with his travelling expenses to take part in a community project in South America gaining valuable life experiences of working in a foreign country together with volunteers of other nationalities.

During his visit to Peru Ben was based on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, he  helped build greenhouses for local farmers, taught English in local schools and visited the village communities on the lake's extraordinary floating reed islands.

'Highlight of my trip was the four day trek from Cusco to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas,  and the time spent learning about their culture and lifestyle' sad Ben. 'I'm so grateful to the Key Trust for their support for this enormously rewarding lifetime experience that's contributed greatly to my personal development' he added.

Jim Black, trustee of the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust. seen with Ben Green,  said 'We encourage applications from individuals of any age who live in our communities to apply for grants of up to £500 for extra-curricular or personal development experiences and projects'.

New Trustee for Key Trust

April 2018

A new trustee, Cllr Susanne van Daesdonk, has joined the Barton under Needwood and Dunstall Key Trust.

Susanne is Barton born and bred, attended all the schools in the village and has been involved in many village organisations and activities.  She studied for a degree in computer science right at the start of the computer revolution and worked in the IT and outsourcing industry for over 30 years.  Susanne has been a Parish Councillor since 2015 including the role of Chair, is secretary of the local RBL branch and is also a front of house volunteer at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas where she deals with all sorts of people from the young to the very old.  Her ever growing Anglo-Dutch family are scattered all over the world and even her dogs are from Spain. 

Trust's Grant Helps Create Toddlers Play Area at Barton's Holland Sports Club

April 2018

Barton under Needwood’s popular Holland Sports Club, home to village sports including football, tennis, rugby, netball, cricket and tug of war has received a grant of £7,574 from the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust helping to establish a secure toddlers play area as part of the club's development plan.

Dick Titley, chairman of the Holland Sports Club development committee explained 'At Holland Sports Club we offer activities for 5 year olds upwards but many families who visit the club have difficulty in entertaining their younger siblings'. 'We want parents to see and use our splendid Club as an excellent, safe, village venue for the whole family and now for the first time thanks to the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust and other funders, Holland Sports Club has a dedicated area for toddlers. We are confident it will encourage even more families to see us as their favourite venue and that it'll be a valuable element of our exciting development plan' he added.

Major grants were also received from East Staffordshire Borough Council's (ESBC) Communities Fund and the National Lottery. ESBC Councillor Julia Jessel said ' It is good for Barton that again both the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust and ESBC's Communities Fund contributed to helping improve village amenities'.

Jim Black, trustee of the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust, pictured at the opening of Holland Sports Club's toddler play area said 'We’re delighted to support Holland Sports Club and will be pleased to receive applications from individuals of any age who live in Barton and Dunstall for grants of up to £500 and from village organisations for up to £10,000'.

Trust Grant for Dunstall Traffic Calming Measures

March 2018

Dunstall, one of East Staffordshire’s most tranquil and attractive rural communities within a short walking distance of Burton on Trent, is now sporting signs and village 'gates' designed to alert road users to the village and reduce their speed in residential areas.

Speeding traffic on the long straight road from Barton Gate to the New Inn crossroads at Needwood is alerted to Dunstall's dangerous crossroads by speed advisory signage now being complemented by Welcome to Dunstall signage and planters at the Parish boundary. Similarly clear village signage and boundary gates will alert drivers to the hazards on the roads running through Dunstall's attractive village centre.

Andrew Brown, chairman of Dunstall Parish Council explained 'Dunstall village has no speed or weight restrictions and our roads are governed by national speed limits. Road users don't always realise there's a difference between a stretch of country road and the narrow winding roads through the village itself. There are no pavements and frequently it is dangerous for visiting cyclists and horse riders and for residents to walk through Dunstall'.

'One day we hope that our campaign will be successful for a much needed weight restriction and reduced speed limit to deal with the increase in traffic from the planned massive residential & industrial developments and the new school being constructed between us and Burton' added Andrew.

Now, thanks to significant grants from East Staffordshire Borough Council's Community Fund, Councillors Community Fund and the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust, Dunstall Parish Council's limited resources for the community's 250 parishioners have been augmented to fund the £9,000 village gateway project.

Key Trust Supports Barton Guides Camping with a £1000 Grant

January 2018

Guides at the 2nd. Barton Guides unit can now camp in comparative comfort thanks to a £1,000 grant from the Barton and Dunstall Key Trust that's funded new tents, an Events shelter and essential camping equipment.

Going strong since the 1970's the 2nd Barton Guides (the 1st Barton Guides no longer exists) the Barton Guides has a thriving unit of around thirty girls aged between 10 & 15 meeting regularly on Tuesdays at St James' church hall in Barton.

Part of the Needwood Division of Guides , that includes units at Kings Bromley, Alrewas, Yoxall & Fradley, the 2nd Barton Guides have previously borrowed equipment for their camps but now with their own camping gear they can enjoy greater freedom and look after their own kit.

Guide Leader Dawn Marshall, who's been in the Guides since joining the Brownies said 'Its wonderful to have our own equipment so that, thanks to the Key Trust, the girls can really enjoy this year's big International camp at Abbotsholme that'll see over a thousand guides gathering from all over the world.  It only happens every four years and its a tremendous opportunity for our girls to make friends overseas'.

Seen helping Guide Leaders Dawn Marshall, Kath Reid and assistant leader Diane Grice with the 2nd Barton Guides putting up their new equipment for the first time Rev Andrew Ridley trustee of the Key Trust said  'We’re delighted to support the 2nd Barton Guides with a £1,000 grant for new camping equipment and will be pleased to receive applications from individuals of any age who live in Barton and Dunstall for grants of up to £500 and from village organisations for up to £10,000.  Details and an application form are available at www.bartondunstallkeytrust.co.uk  and at Barton Library.'