A nationally-based Trust that cares for the elderly, including older people in Wiltshire, has received a boost of £25m from Barclays.

The Orders of St John Care Trust [OSJCT] is a not for profit national charity that specialises in providing high quality care to older people.

OSJCT based in Witney, Oxfordshire, has secured a £25 million facility from Barclays. It was established in 1992 when it successfully took over responsibility for 16 residential care homes for older people from Lincolnshire County Council.

OSJCT is sponsored by two historic Orders of Chivalry with a combined total of over 1,000 years of experience in care, relief and service, members of which now act as Trustees of the charity.

OSJCT is one of the largest, not for profit, care providers for the elderly in the UK, and currently operates 71 care homes across Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, West Sussex and Suffolk. The charity also offers a domiciliary care service in 14 extra care housing schemes and in total employs more than 4,000 employees who provide support to more than 3,500 residents living in their homes and schemes.

The funding from Barclays will assist OSJCT in its growth strategy, support the building of new care homes of superior quality, and provide further job opportunities in the local areas.

OSJCT’s Chief Executive, Dan Hayes, said: As a charity, we were eager to work with a bank which could demonstrate its knowledge of the healthcare industry and show a deep understanding of our charitable ethos and structure: our existing bank Barclays met these values.

“This finance facility will enable us to move forward with our strategic plan to continue to deliver the high standards of care we pride ourselves on to support a growing number of elderly people across the country.”

Julian Kilsby, Barclays Relationship Director who led the deal, said: “We’re pleased to support OSJCT with its strategic ambitions and continue to demonstrate Barclays’ commitment to the healthcare market.

“OSJCT is a significant charitable care provider, that now has a solid foundation to build upon in the future.”