Desbruslais spotlight on the life-changing Starr Trust
The Starr Trust’s grants help remove the roadblocks that might otherwise stand in the way of a young person’s potential
Heading into August 2026 and the next charity that Desbruslais Chartered Surveyors is proud to support is The Starr Trust, chosen by Amanda Fearon, making a donation of £400 to support the organisation’s work with disadvantaged young people across Sussex.
What is The Starr Trust?
The Starr Trust is a Sussex-based charity dedicated to removing roadblocks for young people, helping them to succeed and thrive in whatever they put their minds to. By offering financial grants and practical support at pivotal moments, the charity gives young people the helping hand they need to achieve their goals, encouraging independent thinking, a social conscience and self-belief. For many of the young people the charity supports, this assistance can change the entire trajectory of their lives.
Noah, a member of The Starr Trust
“On behalf of everyone at The Starr Trust, I want to thank Amanda and all at Desbruslais Chartered Surveyors for so kindly choosing to support us,” said Rob Starr MBE, Chairman and Founder of The Starr Trust.
“Every penny that businesses like Desbruslais raise for us goes directly out to supporting young people like Nathan, and the many others who reach out to us for help. The impact the Starr Trust has on the trajectory of young people we are able to fund makes us incredibly proud, as we watch them progress and succeed in life.”
Why we’re proud to support
Amanda Fearon, Business Development at Desbruslais Chartered Surveyors, explained why the firm chose to get behind The Starr Trust this year.
“I am delighted to nominate the Starr Trust as our chosen charity,” said Amanda. “I have met the founder, Rob, and his sister, Tracey, at various networking events in Brighton over the years. Rob is an extraordinary individual who remains deeply committed to the charity’s mission despite his own significant health challenges.
“I first met him while he was completing an incredible 52 triathlons in a single year to raise funds for Nathan Freeman, a British wheelchair tennis player with cerebral palsy, to compete in the Paralympics. His personal challenge raised over £105,000! It was a freezing winter day, and he had just been swimming in the sea. His determination and impact blew me away and is completely inspirational to the young people the Starr Trust helps.”
Nathan’s story
Nathan Freeman, heading for the Paralympics!
Amanda’s mention of Nathan reflects one of the remarkable stories to come out of the charity’s work. Nathan Freeman is a talented young wheelchair tennis player who dreams of competing at a future Paralympic Games. Having cerebral palsy, Nathan was, until a few years ago, a successful wheelchair racer supported by The Starr Trust.
However, a serious accident during a world championship race brought his racing career to an abrupt end. Rather than giving up on his sporting ambitions, Nathan switched to wheelchair tennis and has since worked his way to the cusp of Paralympic selection.
By the end of the year, Rob had raised over £105,000, smashing his original £100,000 target and providing life-changing support towards Nathan’s Paralympic journey
It was to help Nathan raise the funds needed to reach that next Paralympic Games that Rob Starr devised his extraordinary 52×52 Challenge: an Olympic-distance triathlon every single week for an entire year.
Undertaken through all conditions, including freezing winters and gruelling gym-based sessions when the weather made outdoor training impossible, the challenge captured huge public attention and even earned Rob a feature on BBC News on the day of his 52nd and final triathlon. By the end of the year, Rob had raised over £105,000, smashing his original £100,000 target and providing life-changing support towards Nathan’s Paralympic journey.
Nathan’s story is just one example among more than 6,000 young people whose lives have been transformed thanks to the generosity of The Starr Trust’s supporters. From Sporting Starrs to young people facing significant personal, financial or health challenges, the charity’s grants help remove the roadblocks that might otherwise stand in the way of a young person’s potential.
Get involved
Support from local businesses such as Desbruslais Chartered Surveyors plays a vital role in making this work possible. Every donation, however large or small, goes directly towards funding equipment, coaching, therapy or opportunities that can change the course of a young person’s future. As nominated charity partners, businesses not only provide much-needed funds but also help raise awareness of the charity’s work throughout the local community.
To find out more about the young people The Starr Trust has supported, watch the charity’s latest short video here: www.starrtrust.org/events-updates/videos
For businesses interested in following Desbruslais’ example and getting involved with The Starr Trust, more information can be found at www.starrtrust.org/get-involved
