Trisha Silvester Obituary: Charity Founder Dies at 79 2026

Trisha Silvester obituary: My mother, Trisha Silvester, who has died aged 79, was a single mother, businesswoman and long-serving charity chair whose talent for connecting people helped change the lives of mothers and children in rural Bangladesh. As a young mother in the 1970s, she watched a television programme about Sandra Simpson, a Canadian woman who had established orphanages in Vietnam and Bangladesh. Trisha met Sandra and traveled in 1977 to Dhaka, where Sandra had set up her orphanage. This visit changed the course of Trisha’s life.

Founding Families for Children (UK)

In 1977, Trisha started the charity Families for Children (UK) to raise funds for the orphanage. At the same orphanage, she met two young girls, Sukuri and Hasina, aged two and four. She adopted them and brought them to the UK, completing the family she had long hoped for. Her step was a testament to her compassionate spirit.

The Birth of Sreepur Village

In 1981, Pat Kerr, a British Airways flight attendant, visited the orphanage and felt the same sense of responsibility. Pat took leave to volunteer, and together with Trisha, they formed a bold vision. Raising money to buy land, they founded in 1989 the Sreepur Village (known in Bangladesh as Shishu Polli Plus), a charity that has offered refuge to thousands of women and children facing poverty and hardship.

How Sreepur Village Transforms Lives

The purpose-built village, two hours north of Dhaka, not only gives sanctuary to destitute families – accommodating some 350 people at any one time – but also provides vocational training for mothers and education for children. Funds came partly from the sale of Christmas cards made by women in the community, an initiative supported by the Guardian for several years.

Recognition and Legacy

Trisha was appointed MBE in 2001. She served as the charity’s chair of trustees for more than 40 years, until 2019, and made regular visits from her home in south London. Her work impacted generations of families in Bangladesh.

Key Takeaways from Trisha Silvester’s Life

• She founded Families for Children (UK) in 1977 and later co-founded Sreepur Village in 1989.
• She adopted two girls from the orphanage in Dhaka, raising them alongside her biological children.
• Her charity has provided shelter and vocational training for over three decades.
• She was awarded an MBE for her services to international development.

FAQ

Trisha Silvester leaves behind a powerful legacy of compassion, entrepreneurship, and global citizenship. Her story continues to inspire others to take action and make a difference.