The Ember Trust was established and registered with the Charity Commissioners in January 1994.  It had been the vision of Mr. Phil Broad, a member of St. Saviour's Church, that initially, a double-decker bus would be used as a mobile coffee bar in the town where youngsters could have somewhere safe to meet in the evenings.  The Trust was formed as a result of this, as Mr. Broad and some others recognised that there was a need amongst the young people in the town for a safe meeting place.  A double-decker bus was purchased and equipped as a mobile coffee bar, video and information centre.  A well-known electronics company, when asked if it would consider kindly donating one of its computer games consoles to the Trust for use on the Bus, replied that it would donate two, complete with screens and games.

The long-term aims of the Trust are to have permanent premises, offering the same facilities but, additionally, a quiet place where homework could be done.  The aim is still to have experts in different areas present, such as teachers and medical advisors, where help and confidential guidance would be available.

The Trust has gone a long way towards achieving its aims.  The yellow Ember Trust bus (below, left) has become a familiar sight in Tonbridge and surrounding areas.  The Trust also now has a permanent building at the old Star & Garter public house at the junction of Shipbourne Road and London Road, now named "Switches" (below, right).  The building, presently owned by Kent County Council (K.C.C.), is let to the Trust at a nominal rent.  (It has been used by various local church groups and charities, previously under the name "The Star", since the pub was bought under compulsory purchase in 1993 to make way for a new road, which is yet to be built.)

In 1999, the Trust employed a full-time Youth Worker and had already built strong links with other youth organisations in the town.  The Ember Trust, like the other youth organisations in Tonbridge, is non-denominational and has the collective support of the town's churches.

The Ember Trust finances itself by mixing business with pleasure.  The main fundraising event is the May Ball which has proved to be a very popular and financially sound annual event.  Another fund-raising event, popular with golf enthusiasts, is the annual Golf Tournament.  The Trust is also grateful to receive donations from private individuals and businesses.

UPDATED!  During late 2000 and early 2001, the Ember Trust revised its aims and decided it should focus on actively meeting young people where they are, rather than just providing facilities for the young people to come to them.  Usage of the Switches building was passed back to K.C.C. and the bus was sold, and links were built up with the town's secondary schools.  The Ember Trust now works in five secondary schools in Hildenborough and Tonbridge, taking assemblies and R.E. lessons, and helping lead Christian Unions.  The Trust now employs two youth workers, one full-time and one part-time, and is hoping to increase this to two full-time workers so that the work in schools can be expanded.  Ember Trust also works with the other youth workers employed by churches in town on united initiatives such as the monthly 'FUSED' youth service and the Tonbridge Churches' Youth Committee.  (In late 2005, the 'Switches' building was demolished as it had fallen into disrepair.)

For further information, visit the Ember Trust website.