Grant-giving organisation celebrates 30 years of changing lives
A major grant-giving organisation has held a special event to celebrate 30 years of empowering communities and transforming lives across the West Midlands and Warwickshire.
Heart of England Community Foundation has held a 30th anniversary celebration at St Mary’s Guildhall, in Coventry, to reflect on three decades of grant-giving.
The event welcomed stakeholders, donors and corporate partners to hear about some of the achievements of the Foundation throughout its history.
Guests heard from foundation chair Chris West and chief executive Tina Costello, as well as enjoying performances from Coventry band The Notables, which provides opportunities for people with learning disabilities and special needs to acquire music skills, and Birmingham-based writer and spoken word artist Ryan Sinclair.
Heart of England Community Foundation was launched in 1995 to support communities across Coventry and Warwickshire and has since expanded to deliver grants across the West Midlands and Warwickshire.
In its first five years of operation, the Foundation awarded around £213,000 to local organisations, but fast forward to 2024 and it has now awarded more than £49 million in the form of around 14,000 grants.
2023/24 saw the Foundation deliver the largest grants programme in its history, the Inclusive Communities Fund – a Commonwealth Games legacy fund which resulted in its busiest year to date.
Throughout 2023/24, the Foundation managed over 67 funds and programmes on behalf of private donors, businesses and local authorities and awarded more than £5 million in grants.
Approximately 400,000 people are expected to have benefited because of the Foundation’s funding during this period alone.
Tina Costello OBE, said: “The foundation’s mission is to change lives locally, and to create a fairer, happier and healthier region for everyone, and we have spent the last 30 years trying to do just that.
“The money we have distributed has helped countless grassroots charities and organisations, and has made a positive difference to the lives of millions of people right across the West Midlands and Warwickshire.
“We’re extremely ambitious and want to continue our work impacting communities across our area, so here’s to the next 30 years and beyond!”
