About St Monica Trust

About the charity

The St. Monica Trust was founded by the late Henry Herbert Wills and Dame Monica Wills of Bristol in 1919. Six years later the magnificent St. Monica Home, built in beautiful parkland on Cote Lane, adjacent to the Durdham Downs was completed.

Originally established as a Home of Rest, the Charity has gained a reputation for providing high-quality nursing and residential care as well as maintaining a vibrant community life for its residents.

During the 1980s, the Trust expanded its services to offer sheltered accommodation in a brand new building, Westfield House, and in the renovated St. Monica Court, which was originally the nurses’ accommodation when the home was first built.

The Community Support Scheme, which has also been a part of the Trust’s activities since its inception over 80 years ago, provides financial support for people living within the wider community of Bristol and the surrounding counties. Short-term grants and gifts are awarded to people who need help in a crisis, or a specific item, which will improve their quality of life. The scheme also helps projects and organisations that support people in need.

As the Charity moves into the new millennium, further expansion has allowed the Trust to continue to meet the needs of older and disabled people in a changing society. Work is now complete on a brand new retirement village, Westbury Fields, which is home to more than 200 occupants across a range of retirement/sheltered accommodation, very sheltered housing and a care home with longer term beds, a short-term care service and specialist dementia wing. An extensive range of communal facilities and regular social events encourages a sense of community similar to that which can be found at Cote Lane.

Also, developments at St. Monica, Cote Lane, include a further 71 retirement/sheltered apartments as well as expanded recreational facilities. The chapel, which has become an integral part of life at St. Monica, continues to provide its valuable service to residents from both sites. There are also a range of recreational facilities, including a swimming pool, health suite, shops, hairdresser, restaurant and bar, plus a brand new arts and crafts facility.

The Trust’s endowment is managed by Bristol’s Society of Merchant Venturers and the Council of Trustees is made up of members of the local community. There are a number of sub-committees via which the day-to-day operations are managed. These are:

Finance and General Purposes Committee
Care and Human Resources Committee
Community Support Committee

Whilst many of our residents have the means by which to fund their own accommodation and care at St. Monica, for some the financial burden can be greater than their circumstances will allow. In some of these cases, the Trust may consider giving financial assistance to prospective residents. It is also hoped that by creating a range of flexible options, many people may find St. Monica more accessible than they had first imagined.

By bringing further developments to fruition, it is hoped that the St. Monica Trust will not only meet the changing needs of older and disabled people, but it will also be able to help a greater number of people with a wider variety of needs.

Conference facilities and room hire

The St Monica Trust has a number of facilities available on both sites in Westbury-on-Trym, which can be booked by outside organisations for seminars and conferences. Space is available for up to 160 delegates. There is easy access from the M5 at Cribbs Causeway and on-site parking.

Cote Lane
The main building at Cote Lane is Oatley House, a stunning listed building set in 22 acres of gardens and parkland adjacent to the Durdham Downs.

For larger functions the main hall in Oatley House can accommodate up to 160 delegates. Lunch may be taken on a mezzanine level overlooking the main Oatley House restaurant. There are full theatre facilities including stage and sound system, as well as overhead projection and the availability of a data projector. Alternatively, our fully-equipped training room for up to 40 people is a useful venue for smaller groups. The room has its own tea and coffee facilities, a data projector and overhead projection which can be used in boardroom style or as a lecture theatre.

The main Oatley House restaurant, which seats around 120 people, may be booked at a set rate per person for functions during the evening. St Augustine’s, the magnificent chapel at Cote Lane is also available for special services. (We are not licensed for weddings.)

Westbury Fields
Westbury Fields is a new development in Westbury-on-Trym, at the heart of which lies an impressive cricket pitch. The main building on this site is Sommerville, which is home to a modern, self-contained conference room accommodating up to 70 people. This facility may be used in boardroom or theatre-style layout and comes with audio visual equipment and a data projector if required. Our catering production team are able to provide lunch and other refreshments to suit.

The cricket pavilion (maximum 40 people) is a slightly smaller venue, which can be arranged in various styles to suit your requirements. Audio visual equipment and full catering are available.

Value for money
Both of our sites are close to the M5 at junction 17 and offer on-site parking. All our facilities are available on a full day, half day and hourly basis. We offer very competitive rates and there is a negotiable rate for charities which makes the St Monica Trust an ideal choice of venue.

For more information
Please contact Tracey Skidmore on 0117 949 4043 tracey.skidmore@stmonicatrust.org.uk.

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