ATG Trust
The ATG (Ad Terrae Gloriam) Trust is a registered charity no. 1082542
The Trust was set up in 2000. Since then, through the amazing generosity of ATG clients, it has given grants to projects in 10 countries totalling approximately £130,000 with individual grants ranging from £180 to £20,000.
The Charity’s role is to underpin ATG’s Ethos of ‘Giving Something Back’ along 1,500 miles of walking routes and deliver part of its sustainable tourism, conservation and environmental strategy. It also provides independent oversight of the funding and delivery of local projects through three independent Trustees all of whom are, or have been, ATG clients.
The ATG Trust funds conservation and environmental projects that bring together the local communities and ATG and its clients in a win win way where local communities get support for their natural environment or cultural heritage and ATG clients have an enhanced experience when visiting a project en route.
Trustees
There are four Trustees of the ATG Trust, three of whom are ATG clients: Mike McCart (Chair), Catherine MacRae and Judith Kilby Hunt; and the fourth is Jessica Jenkins, who also looks after the Trust administration and has worked with ATG since 1997. The Trustees are responsible for allocating Trust funds and determining the feasibility and validity of projects.
The Trust supports projects that aim to:
Protect the integrity of the environment and the beauty of its landscapes
Preserve the habitats of rare and interesting flora and fauna
Conserve works of art and architecture
All projects must be:
Co-funded by local organisations and implemented by the beneficiaries, thereby forging the commitment that helps ensure the maintenance of the project over time.
Part of an integrated plan to bring sustainable tourism development and selected for their long-term benefit to a local community.
Accessible to ATG’s clients and the local people.
Objective Clause: For the preservation of the natural environment, the historical and cultural heritage for the benefit of local people and visitors
ATG Trust should in the main be directly involved in projects but indirect funding may be considered
Projects should be clearly defined
Projects should be clearly costed and must be accountable
Projects should have a clear start date and finish date
Projects should be sustainable in the long term
Projects should have local community support, participation (financial or in kind) and ultimately ownership
Projects should be accessible to ATG Oxford’s clients where possible
Local, National, EU and international funding should be sought where applicable
How to support the ATG Trust
Everyone who walks with ATG Oxford contributes to the work of the ATG Trust. If you would like to give further support to the trust, or even to a particular project, which you have seen on your travels with ATG, then this is how you can do so:
Buy the ATG salad book: ‘A Table of Moveable Feasts’
Attend one of ATG’s special fund-raising events
Make an individual donation now (you can designate the money for a particular project on a trip you have enjoyed), and tell us if you are a UK tax payer so that we can claim Gift Aid
Make an annual donation by means of a Covenant
Make a bequest
How to contact the Trust
If you would like to find out more about the ATG Trust and the projects it supports, please email Jessica Jenkins on jessicaj@atg-oxford.com
If you are interested in joining the Trust, do get in touch – we meet twice a year to discuss projects and we are always looking for new Trustees.
Projects
The Trust is always looking for new projects on our trips to invest in. If you have an idea the Trust would be delighted to hear from you!
Current Project: Statue Restoration, Italy
The ATG Trust is supporting a project to restore a terracotta statue of the Madonna & Child, attributed to Giacomo di Giovannofrio Lucciaroni from Norcia in Umbria. The statue dates from early 1500’s and is from a church in the small village of Todiano, just outside Norcia, which was destroyed in the Umbria earthquake in Autumn 2016.
The first part of the project was to gather the fragments of the statue from the church of San Bartolomeo where it was housed.
Once completed, the statue will be displayed as part of the 10 year anniversary exhibition at the Rocca (fortress) in Spoleto. Subsequently the statue will be housed in the Spoleto Cathedral Museum until such time as the church of San Bartolomeo is rebuilt and the statue can be returned to Todiano.
Current Project: Via del Sale, Italy
This project to restore part of the Via del Sale (Salt route) between San Gimignano & Volterra in Tuscany, involves the clearing of paths and vegetation, installation of wooden seating and tables, plus information panels detailing the historical, cultural and environmental information about the route.
Map showing the route of the Via del Sale
The project will also include the restoration of a natural spring/fountain called the Fonte All’Agnello, the clearing of a path to connect the Roman road to Etruscan tombs nearby and excavation of the Roman amphitheatre in Volterra.
Restoration of Monteriggioni, Italy
Restoration of the Porta Romea gateway which formed part of a much larger project to restore the 13th century walls around the medieval castle-village of Monteriggioni, near Siena in Tuscany.
Turner’s House Trust, UK
The ATG Trust committed to supporting the Turner’s House Trust by contributing to the production of a film about Turner and the restoration work being undertaken at his house, Sandycombe Lodge, in Twickenham, London. The documentary will enhance the learning experience for visitors to Turner’s House.
Restoration of 14C Frescoes, Italy
The Romanesque Abbey of San Pietro on ATG’s Unknown Umbria route was founded in 742, and the present church dates from a reconstruction in 10-11C. This project restored the fresco of the ‘Madonna & Saints’, dating from the 14th century, which is located in the right apse of the Abbey.
Restoration of Irini Chapel, Crete
This chapel, in Western Crete, is the only one with frescoes dating from the 14th century. The project restored the shrine and preserved the Byzantine frescoes for future generations.
Mahout School, Laos
The establishment of a school based at the Laos Elephant Sanctuary to provide quality training to mahouts to enable them to work in tourism as tour guides and leaders of elephant treks.
Butterfly Conservation, UK
The large blue butterfly is being re-introduced to areas in the UK following its extinction in 1979.
Restoration of Tuixent Madonna, Spain
Restoration of a striking statuette of the Madonna in the church in Tuixent, Catalonia. The Madonna is of Byzantine inspiration, dating 12-13C
Laikipia Reforestation, Kenya
The degraded land afforestation project in Laikipia aimed to reverse severe soil erosion and improve soil fertility.
Restoration of 15C Polyptych, Italy
The restoration of the 15th Century Polyptych by Mariotto di Nardo, located in the apse of the church of San Leolino in Tuscany, between Siena and Florence.
Church Restoration, Italy
Restoration of the small church of La Madonna di Loreto stands proudly overlooking vineyards outside the little town of La Morra, near Barolo.
Damaraland Centre, Namibia
To re-furbish the existing centre at Mai Go Hai, Palmwag, creating a training and administrative centre, to train local people as Rangers.
Restoration of Church, Spain
The conservation of the Santa Roma Romanesque church in Catalonia– an architectural gem, to restore it to full usage to attract travellers to benefit the local tourist economy.
Geraci Roman Road, Sicily
The conservation of a section of the Roman road between Gangi and Geraci, including a fine Roman bridge.
Gavelli Frescoes, Italy
Restoration of a fine cycle of frescos by Lo Spagna 1518 in a church in Gavelli, a small village in Umbria.
Tomba della Sirena, Italy
The restoration of La Tomba Della Sirena – The Tomb of the Mermaid – which is one of the fine array of Etruscan tombs to be found in Sovana, Tuscany.
Yew Forest Conservation, Spain
Conservation of the European Yew (Taxus baccata L.) in the Garrotxa, Catalonia. These trees are protected, highly prized for medical applications; the conservation of yew trees is of great ecological significance.
Four de Py Bread Oven, France
This is a small building of remarkable heritage, in the Lot, Dordogne. The project was to restore the existing building to its original traditional character.
Bedouin Candles, Jordan
This project was to create a candle-making workshop, as an income for the Bedouin, as an alternative to previous ecologically damaging land use practices.
Repair of the Azogres Bridge, Crete
Repair and restoration of an unsafe 19C bridge along a historical path from Azogyres to Anidri, which leads to the Monastery of Saint John the Foreigner and the 99 Fathers.
Rozmberk Shines – 12 Stations of the Cross, Czech Republic
Restoration of shrines of the Stations of the Cross along a forest Path leading up to the Castle of Rozmberk, Studenec, damaged during the communist era.
Bevagna Crucifix, Italy
Following the Assisi earthquate, restoration of a 13th century wooden sculpture of the crucifixion in Bevagna in Umbria, which belonged to the town’s patron saint, San Giacomo.
San Eutizio Path, Italy
Restoration of eroded parts of pathway, dating back to the period pre-St. Benedict (5C), linking the town of Norcia in Umbria with the 13thC Abbey of S Eutizio. (Image of the opening ceremony with Lord Leon Brittan)