The Kerrison Trust in Thorndon, near Eye, to sell off land and properties

An East Anglian charity is selling land and properties so it can focus on continuing its support for young people across Norfolk and Suffolk.

The Kerrison Trust in Thorndon near Eye, which was established in 1856 and gives grant funding to many organisations, is set to sell 60 hectares of land and 16 residential properties that it is custodian of in the village.

The charity is set to appoint agents to help it with seeking a commercial buyer for the assets.

A spokesman for the charity’s trustee board, said: “The core objective of the trust is to help young people in need of care and support, living in Norfolk and Suffolk.

This is something the trust has done to great effect, making more than £362,000 of grants to individuals and organisations over the last six years, and it’s a source of support and aid which is never more important than in this period of increased strain for many families and communities.

“The trust has relied on property holdings to provide the principal source of funding for its activities, with the rental income from residential properties enabling it to make grants to many worthwhile causes.

“However, with the increasing costs of repairs and upgrading, we have now concluded that the purposes of the trust would be best served by selling the whole of the estate of land and properties at Thorndon. This will enable it to centrally focus on assisting young people in need.”

The tenants of the 16 residential properties are being advised and supported by the trust as It is not yet known whether a purchaser might choose to maintain the tenancies of all occupied properties, or whether the buyer may require the buildings and land to be fully vacant.

The trustee spokesman said that the trust will be making every effort to keep tenants up to date on any progress and will, as appropriate, seek to keep the local community informed on the sale.

The spokesman added: “We are acutely aware of how sensitive those in and around the Thorndon community will feel about this decision, and, whilst our principal focus must be on the trust’s tenants, our intention going forward is to keep people abreast of developments.

“We know that right now our work in helping young people in Norfolk and Suffolk is so very important, and it is right that this should be our priority, given this was the ultimate purpose of our trust.”

In recent years, The Kerrison Trust has funded such organisations as The Greenlight Trust, 4YP, Future Female Society, and UEA.