The Wesleyan Foundation has now awarded a total of £5million to good causes across the UK since its launch with the Heart of England Community Foundation 5 years ago.
The Foundation was set up by Birmingham-based financial services mutual Wesleyan in 2017 to support causes that are important to its members, customers and colleagues and the communities in which they live and work.
Since then, it has helped an estimated 440,000 people by awarding grants to charities, community groups and social enterprises across the UK.
The work of the Wesleyan Foundation has been particularly welcomed in the last year as the charity sector continues to feel the pinch of the cost of living crisis. The Wesleyan Winter of Giving initiative, launched in October 2022, supported 48 charities across the UK, nominated by members and colleagues.
The Foundation is also proactive in the education, dental and teaching professions providing support for causes important to Wesleyan’s customers. These include projects such as helping young people from under-represented backgrounds get into medicine, supporting positive mental health initiatives for dentists and a financial education programme in primary schools.
Nathan Wallis, Chief of Staff at Wesleyan, said:
“£5 million in five years is a terrific achievement and we’ve seen first-hand the impact the Foundation’s funding has made on communities and individuals around the UK.
“We’ve designed our Foundation’s activities in a way that supports the delivery of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of good health and wellbeing, gender equality, reducing inequalities, quality education and climate action.
“These goals fit well with our business as a specialist financial adviser for the medical, dental and education professions and helps to demonstrate our mutual values by contributing to a better future for all.”
The Wesleyan Foundation works with the Heart of England Community Foundation, which administers the funding and distributes it to organisations across the UK.
Tina Costello, CEO of the Heart of England Community Foundation, said:
“Since partnering with Wesleyan in 2017 over 900 charities and local community projects have benefited from the Wesleyan Foundations donations.
“It is often overlooked that not-for-profit organisations across the UK rely solely on members of the public and other funding partners. It’s been an honour to work with Wesleyan and an incredible achievement hitting the five-million-pound milestone.”
Click here for more information about the Wesleyan Foundation and to apply for funding.