An organisation which helps professional people who have fallen on hard times is preparing to relaunch fund-raising activities in Hampshire.

The Elizabeth Finn Trust was known for many years by its quaint Victorian title, "The Distressed Gentlefolk's Aid Association". But it has now assumed the name of the remarkable woman who founded it.

The need of some people for help is hardly less than it was 100 years ago, as its south-west co-ordinator, Angela Bailey, points out.

The trust sought to help a wide range of people, she said.

This included nurses, teachers, engineers, and senior managers, as well as clergy, farmers, or people who have traditionally managed on independent means but have fallen on difficult times.

"Many of our beneficiaries would not actively seek help," she said. "They arrive at our door by various means. We accept referrals from social services and relatives, for instance.

"Our people often say: 'I'm all right, I am managing, I don't need a cooker, I can do with the small one I have, it's all right'. But it's not all right and that's where we come in."

The trust offers one-off grants for essential expenses, together with regular payments and advice. It provides residential and nursing care in 12 homes across the country and it helps with disability equipment or devices needed round the house.

There was no age barrier, Angela said. "It could be 25-year-old mums who have got themselves into a hole, or people who have had accidents."

To highlight its activities in Hampshire, the trust will host a reception at the Gurkha Museum, Winchester, on Thursday, October 24th.

Its county president, Lady Wakeham, will welcome the Lord Lieutenant, Mary Fagan, the mayor, John Steel, and around 70 other guests.

"We decided to have a social evening and to invite our previous supporters, along with some new people, to see if we could bring a new committee together to plan more fund-raising events," Angela said.

The hope is to establish a group of volunteer supporters in Hampshire.

Broadly speaking, the organisation's goal is to help British and Irish people from a professional or similar background, regardless of religious denomination, political opinion, age or place of residence.

This perfectly sums up Elizabeth Finn's outlook. She was the wife of a diplomat in Jerusalem in the 19th century and worked there to help the poor.

When the family returned to England, she saw the need for an organisation to meet the pressing needs of a specific sector in Victorian society. She put an advert in the Morning Post in 1897, donations came in and were immediately put to good use.

Children were given shoes and men were provided with the tools they needed to go to work - and the founder's daughter acted as secretary for the charity.

Elizabeth Finn, whose life was a fine example of privilege and responsibility, took a close interest in the society until she died 23 years later, aged 95.

For more information, ring 01225-478402.