About the Trust
Find out more about the launch of Milestones Trust and our birthday celebrations.
The Trust employs approximately 1,000 staff whose main purpose is to respond to the needs of those who use our services. We also have an active volunteers programme and a Staff Bank (in-house agency).
We work in partnership with individuals, local authorities, the NHS
and other agencies who, like us, seek to improve and develop services that meet the needs and
wishes of the people who use them.
Our reputation is based on the ability to deliver responsive, reliable, high quality person-centred services. We aim to respond to lifestyle requirements by offering a variety and choice of services.
Whether it is a person with a severe learning disability using new ways to communicate their wishes, a young man with an enduring mental health need who needs to build the skills and confidence to get back into the workforce, or an older person with dementia learning to manage symptoms while living at home, our specialist staff members work with every person as someone with unique wishes, preferences and abilities.
The Trust owns 40 properties and the remainder are leased from housing associations. The range of services offered is increasing and over recent years has seen a significant growth in supported living, day care and employment services, either provided in peoples own homes or through supported housing tenancies and day services that offer a range of activities.
We put strong emphasis on staff development and training, as staff are the key to providing quality services.
The History of the Trust
Milestones Trust was originally founded in 1986 with a mission to serve people with learning disabilities or people with mental health needs who had lived most of their lives in long stay hospitals. Our job was to buy houses and run small scale residential homes where people could live ordinary lives after years of living in institutions.
In the 1980’s the Government issued new proposals to help health authorities move people from long-stay hospitals into domestic-scale community settings. Two of these programmes were carried out by Frenchay Community Care Trust and Southmead Mental Health Care Trust. In 1996 Frenchay and Southmead Care Trusts joined forces and staff, previously seconded by the NHS, transferred to the employment of the new combined charitable trust, Frenchay and Southmead Care Trust.
In 2003, the Trust decided to change its name. The old name was confusing for the public, with both names associated with local hospitals. When the NHS introduced new health organisations called Primary Care Trusts the confusion intensified. After consultation with staff and service users two names were put forward. Aspects for learning disabilities and Milestones for mental health services thus creating a governing organisation of Aspects and Milestones Trust.
Twenty four years later, all the major institutions have closed and
the Trust has reached a turnover of £28 million per annum, with
building based assets of £19 million and employs approximately
1,000 staff. Our success is based on four key features that add
value to public services:
- We have the flexibility to work across boundaries, in our case health care, social care, housing and employment.
- We can innovate and act quickly to fill service gaps.
- We are focused and close to service users and carers.
- We can access private finance and a mixture of funding streams.
We continue to serve our core user groups and offer an increasing range of services because service users want greater choice and more flexibility. Packages of care can now encompass support at home, short breaks, leisure opportunities and employment coaching.
It now became apparent that the current name was too long and unwieldy, making the Trust sound like two organisations. Therefore in April 2011 it was shortened to Milestones Trust, with a new logo produced and extensive research into our core brand values. The new name suited the Trust perfectly, as its key aim and benefit has always been to achieve milestones for individuals through Person-Centred Planning.