The Ashley Family Foundation

The Ashley Family Foundation (formerly The Laura Ashley Foundation) is an independent family Trust Fund set up in 1986.

To get a clearer idea of the scope of funding please refer to our funding history.

Ashley Family Foundation Press Release

17 May 2011

We have changed our name from The Laura Ashley Foundation to The Ashley Family Foundation.

Although we are mindful of the affection held for my mother and her work, the need to include the contributions of other family members, past, present and future has led to the decision to make this change. In particular the contribution my late father, Sir Bernard Ashley, whose passion for the Foundation inspired and encouraged us.

We, the trustees and staff, remain deeply committed to and proud of our grant making work, especially in Wales. Rural Mid Wales is where the founding company was established in the early 1960s and is therefore is our heartland. From those early days to the present day the community spirit that exists there still inspires us, helping grass roots projects like the Usk Tapestry Group, Shakespeare Link, Fresh and Local Machynlleth and Builth Wells Ladies Choir.

We are also pleased to be able to help textile students at Coleg Sir Gar, Carmarthenshire and at UWIC, Cardiff as well as music student at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Community regeneration is one of our objects, especially projects that strengthen communities through the arts. Last month we gave funding to the groundbreaking community play The Passion, presented in Port Talbot by National Theatre Wales.

We are also strengthening our grant making to textile projects within England. Becoming a funding partner in the 'Collaborative Fund' set up by the only Tapestry Studio in England at West Dean College, Sussex is a particular honour. Recently a commission they undertook for Tracey Emin, Black Cat was shown to great acclaim at the Saatchi Gallery, London

Our Board of Trustees and staff will continue to pursue our wide-ranging objectives, led by our chairman Martyn Gowar. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their hard work and dedication.

Jane Ashley
Director