The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 44: Aug/Sept 2019 | Page 40

POSITIVE BUSINESS Wiltshire Community Foundation: Inspiring local giving The Wiltshire Community Foundation is dedicated to supporting the hundreds of small groups in Wiltshire who do such vital and often unheralded work. In England and Wales, there are 1666,000 registered charities with a total income of £73b - but 72 per cent of that income goes to just one per cent of the largest charities, i.e. those with an income of more than £5m. In the West of England, there are around 3,600 registered charities, most with an annual income of less than £25,000. More than half have fewer than ten staff, three-quarters have seen that number decline in the last year and more than two-thirds rely on an average of 73 hours of volunteer support a week. Fewer than half of charities and community groups surveyed recently felt confident they could sustain themselves over the next five years. One in ten had been at risk of closure, while a third had discontinued at least one service. Yet three-quarters of those same groups report rising demand, while just 20 per cent believe they have the resources to cope with that demand. Of those, 65 per cent say they will have to use their reserves to stay afloat. This is why the support of corporate partners is more vital than ever. Working with companies like TE Connectivity (TE) in Swindon - which has built up a £250,000 endowment over the course of ten years with the foundation - the Wiltshire Community Foundation has been able to make thousands of pounds worth of grants to local groups who make a real difference to their communities. At a time when there is a growing demand on the charity sector to fill the gap left by increasingly deeper public sector cuts, it is vital that money is channelled to the people who use it most effectively. The Wiltshire Community Foundation see its role as being here to ensure that this happens. Neil Steptoe, Corporate Ambassador for TE, said that the firm trusts the foundation to use its money “where it is needed most.” He explained, “We feel that we want to give something back to the community where most of our employees are and because the community foundation knows the area and the groups who work in it so well we know that the money we give will be used to the best effect.” Find out more about the Wiltshire Community Foundation’s work and how it can help companies fulfil their Corporate Social Responsibility by visiting: www.wiltshirecf.org.uk The Big Breakfast in Swindon, which provides food and a warm welcome for the homeless, is one of the groups funded by TE Connectivity’s donation. Home-Start Kennet, which supports isolated mums and their families with volunteer mentors, is one of the hundreds of small local groups funded by Wiltshire Community Foundation grants. SWINDON HOMELESS CHARITY APPEALS FOR SUPPORT Swindon Night Shelter, the charity which provides support for rough sleepers, the homeless and those who are vulnerably housed, has launched two fundraising schemes to become more financially sustainable. Celebrating ten years in 2019, Swindon Night Shelter has grown and developed its services and has helped thousands of people over the last decade. However maintaining these services is costly for an organisation which receives no grant funding from government, nationally or locally. They have just launched a Friends of Swindon Night Shelter initiative and also a business sponsorship scheme to help meet monthly bills. Organiser Becky Davison said, “We are privileged to have helped others as part of this Christian-based organisation. We wish to continue this work so we need to become financially sustainable. These schemes will help us to do that.” Swindon Night Shelter and its army of volunteers support five main projects around homelessness in the town set up to prevent, homelessness, isolation and holiday hunger. Becky and the team are now asking people to consider donating on a monthly basis to help with ongoing costs. “A donation of £5 a month covers internet costs for a month to support guests with claims and accessing essential services online while they are with us. £10 a month more or less covers the cost of a TV licence so they can enjoy an activity most of us take for granted and £25 covers the road tax for our vans which are on the road every day collecting food, donations and taking our guests to appointments or to a shelter,” Becky explained. Businesses around the town are also being asked to consider donating on a more consistent basis too. There are opportunities to become: • A main partner - £1000 a month which covers the cost of food and utility bills. • An official business partner - £500 a month which pays the wages of a part-time donations coordinator. • An official supplier – able to offer a range of free or heavily discounted services or products including an electrician, book-keeper or accountant. For more details on the opportunities on offer visit: www.swindonnightshelter.uk or call 01793 613116 during office hours. LEARN TO SKYDIVE TANDEM, ACCELERATED FREE FALL & FIRST JUMP COURSES SKYDIVE NETHERAVON is the home of the Army Parachute Association and the Red Devils with some of the best Military Instructors in the country. Forces Discount on Tandem; First Jump and Accelerated Free Fall Courses on request ONE DAY, ONE JUMP, ONE AMAZING ADVENTURE T: 01980 670734 W: www.netheravon.com E: [email protected] Airfield Camp, Netheravon, Wiltshire, SP4 9SF 40 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019