The Hypatia Trust was formed in 1996 to collect, and make available, published and personal documentation about the achievements of women in every aspect of their lives. Central to activities has been the care, development and re-distribution of the Hypatia Collection, a unique set of sub-collections of books, artefacts, and archives, by and about women.

Created initially to oversee a major collection of women’s literature now placed on permanent loan to the University of Exeter, the Hypatia Trust has extended its interests to a wide and international range of educational engagements and partnerships.

The Hypatia Trust is a collaborative community hub advancing cross-platform women’s equality. The Trust helps to celebrate and create visibility for individuals and other organisations as well as making available the Hypatia Library and rentable event/workshop spaces. Our focus is on celebrating the everywoman as well as literary, artistic and scientific works of women. Our ‘Women in Word’ bookshop, open to the public, is one of the only few in the country that celebrates exclusively female authors.

AIMS OF THE HYPATIA TRUST

• To maintain, develop and protect in perpetuity the Hypatia Library (of Collections), which focuses on the literary, artistic and scientific works of women and their contributions to society and culture.

• To further the contribution of women, through civic and community activity, to their societies both nationally and internationally.

• To provide the means and facilities through which women can enhance their cultural and academic achievements and can address gender inequality in their working lives.