Disability charity the Shaw Trust has moved its head office to the centre of Bristol to take advantage of the city’s “bustling economy” and “great transport links”. 

The charity is moving from its previous head offices in Trowbridge, where it has been located since 2012, and says it will continue to coordinate Shaw Trust’s charitable activity across Britain. The charity told Civil Society News that it was leasing the third floor of the property, but did not reveal how much for.

Last year, Shaw Trust became an approved academy sponsor, launching Shaw Education Trust to manage and run three academy schools in Staffordshire. The schools serve young people with special educational needs.

Roy O’Shaughnessy (pictured), chief executive of Shaw Trust, said: “We are delighted to be opening our new head office in Bristol. Shaw Trust has grown from a small village in Wiltshire over thirty years ago to become a national charity helping people across the United Kingdom.  

“We chose to move to Bristol because it is a vibrant city with a bustling economy, fantastic talent pool and great links to the rest of the United Kingdom. The move means that we remain in touch with our roots in the South West.”

Five year plan

He said that the charity has embarked on “one of the most important phases in its history”. Adding: “Our strategic vision sets out a five-fold increase in the number of people whose lives we transform over the next five years. Shaw Trust looks forward to expanding the amount of support we offer disabled and disadvantaged people to achieve their potential from our new headquarters in Bristol.”

Shaw Trust has been operating for the last 30 years, and has a turnover of over £107m a year, employing over 1,438 people across 200 locations.

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