Duckworth Trust set to leave Pump House in Barbourne

The Duckworth Trust is leaving the Pump House in Barbourne, Worcester.

The environmental charity - the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust - based at the Pump House in Gheluvelt Park since 2001, will leave at the end of this year, trustees have announced.

A spokesperson for the trust said 'despite running a popular café at the Pump House, we have been unable to cover the costs of being in the building'.

Over the past two years, the trust has been looking at alternatives on how to run the café and building.

MISSED: Cecil Duckworth. Photo by Richard Eaton (Image: Richard Eaton)

A spokesperson said: "But unfortunately, we have not found a solution. Consequently, the trustees have concluded that the best opportunity for the trust to survive and continue doing good work in the city is to vacate the Pump House.

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"We aim to continue running the café and holding events and supporting volunteers for as long as possible but expect to leave the building by the end of the year.

We want to thank all the staff at this difficult time, who have done so much over the years to support the DWT."

The trust was established 25 years ago by Cecil Duckworth who founded the environmental charity, the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust.

Over the years the trust has worked with volunteers to remove litter and graffiti, created community gardens and play areas, run a resource exchange that reduced waste going to landfills, 'and much more'.

The trust still owns and manages Chapter Meadows for the benefit of the people of Worcester.

The endowment left by Cecil Duckworth to continue the work of the DWT is coming to an end.

Last year they had to close the Worcestershire Resource Exchange, mainly due to cost pressures.

Since 2001, they have been based in the Pump House Environment Centre, leasing the building on a peppercorn rent from the city council.

Despite running a popular café at the Pump House, they have been unable to cover the costs of being in the building.

Beatrice Duckworth: "My husband, Cecil, always had an interest in the environment. When he was walking around the factory, he would pick up used paper cups and any odd bits of rubbish.

"It was the same when we went for a walk, he would pick up any litter from the roadside and when he retired, he set up the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust with a view to helping the environment, which has been operating from the Pump House since 2001.

"The lease for the Pump House is up for renewal and Cecil's endowment has also come to an end and it is with great regret that we, the Trustees, feel we should leave the Pump House We would like to thank all our staff and all our volunteers for all their help and support. We could not have achieved what we have without you."