UK Community Foundations

Yesterday we were with community foundations from across the UK to mark 50 years of giving. Even though we're just in our 20s, it's awesome to think that the UK's first community foundation started in Wiltshire 50 years ago! So many inspiring talks. Cheers to the next 50 years! 🎉

We’re excited to expand support for care leavers across Rotherham & Sheffield as part of the Care Leavers Programme! It's thanks to a new donation of £1.7m by the Henry Smith Foundation, announced by @ukcf.bsky.social 🎉
🔗 bit.ly/49Fw86y
#CommunityFoundations #CareLeavers #LocalImpact #SYCF

Today's '50 years in the UK' spotlight turns to the wonderful team at @sussexcommfound.bsky.social 🙌💫

Since 2006, philanthropists, businesses, trusts, volunteers and families have been helping to create a #Sussex where people thrive through the #CommunityFoundation.

🕸️ sussexcommunityfoundation.org

🗺️ 🔎 From youth groups and fun activities for adults with learning disabilities, to hostels supporting people experiencing homelessness and LGBTQIA+ community workshops, a LOT has been funded by #Worcestershire Community Foundation since 2003, thanks to local donors and partners!

📽️ lnkd.in/eq_4CNwm

Photo of young Black woman standing and smiling at her reflection in a full-length mirror as she tries out new office clothes. Text reads New report: Connecting Care. Community foundations partnering with care leavers, support organisations and local authorities

Today, we've published our new report, Connecting Care. It focuses on the individual and wider impact that our Care Leavers Programme has had in its first year around England through 17 local partnerships.

Check it out: www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/how-we-work/...

#NationalCareLeaversMonth #NCLM

Photo of young woman of East Asian descent with glasses and long hair smiling while sat in a library or study area. Text reads Care leavers Programme expansion. 14 new areas of support in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with £1.7 million donation from HSF. Henry Smith Foundation and UK Community Foundations logos at the bottom

Big news in #NationalCareLeaversMonth! 🎉

Our Care Leavers Programme has expanded to 14 new areas in the UK - in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - thanks to a new donation from the Henry Smith Foundation of £1.7m.

📢https://www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/news/care-leavers-programme-expansion

Move fast and test things Embracing thoughtful risk-taking to build a new era for public service reform.

To transform Britain’s cautious state into a capable one, we must back reformers who take thoughtful risks, learn in the open and see failure as a step forward, not something to fear.

New blog from ex-Cab Off Director and @ukcf.bsky.social CEO Emma de Closset ✍️⬇️
open.substack.com/pub/futurego...

Move fast and test things: Embracing thoughtful risk-taking to build a new era for public service reform - Future Governance Forum ‘Move fast and break things’ was once Silicon Valley’s mantra, and it still captures one of the biggest differences between this country’s ‘builders’ and most of its public servants. Willingness to fa...

In her new article for @futuregovforum.bsky.social, our CEO highlights how a 'learning by doing' mindset can drive public service reform to unlock new opportunities:

📖
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/2025/11/22/m...

#UKGov #Community #Leadership #Philanthropy #CommunityFoundations #CivilSociety

Last night, we we’re proud to join Community Foundation colleagues from across the UK at London’s Lancaster House to mark 50 years of place-based impact, hosted by @ukcf.bsky.social 🎉
What an incredible place to celebrate the impact of local giving. Here's to the next 50 years!

Hampshire grant-giving charity only able to help about one in 10 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation says it is oversubscribed and unable to meet demand for grants.

Community foundations are working hard with donors and cross-sector partners to deliver the support that local community orgs and grassroot charities need to tackle some of the biggest challenges in society.

But the need for these services is not slowing down:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

💞50 years of strengthening UK communities!
🗺️Spotlight: #Herefordshire

Since 2002, Herefordshire Community Foundation has distributed nearly £8m to local groups and individuals making an incredible difference to people's lives.

Learn more: www.herefordshirecf.org

#CommunityFoundations #Charity

Northamptonshire is a fast growing, busy, bustling county, interspersed with beautiful rolling hills and countryside.

Yet @northantscf.bsky.social knows it has some of England’s most deprived neighbourhoods in terms of education & skills, income & employment, health, crime & housing: www.ncf.uk.com

Thank you to the 8,680 voluntary organisations which took part in Third Sector Trends in England and Wales 2025. Results will start being published in late October. @ncvo.bsky.social @acevo.bsky.social @pbe.co.uk @ukcf.bsky.social @lbfew.bsky.social

Did you know?

Since 2001, Kent Community Foundation - one of our 47 UK members - has distributed £60 million to support thousands of local charities and community groups.

Learn more: kentcf.org.uk

#Kent #Medway #Philanthropy #CommunityFoundations #UK

A male mentor in a high vis jacket stands, talking with a young woman in a high vis jacket. They are in a warehouse with other volunteers.

Qualitative research plays a crucial role in understanding the challenges experienced by our communities today.

We have just published our latest independent research from the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund on social connection and community cohesion:
www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/how-we-work/...

Third Sector Trends in England and Wales' survey will close on 30th September (midnight). We have over 8,625 responses so far. Please take part: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/durham/thi... @ncvo.bsky.social @acevo.bsky.social @pbe.co.uk @ukcf.bsky.social @lbfew.bsky.social @ukcf.bsky.social

Portrait photo of Sam Grimmett Batt with text below saying meet Sam, our Director of Partnerships and Insight. UKCF logo beneath

Have you met our new Director of Partnerships and Insight, Sam? With a wealth of experience in #philanthropy and #SocialChange, we are delighted that Sam is working with #CommunityFoundations and national funders to grow resources for #UK communities.

www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/who-we-are/o...

How can I help my community when I'm gone?

#RememberACharityWeek: a chance to learn more about gifting through a Will.

#CommunityFoundations take away your fund admin and challenge of researching charities, so you can concentrate on what matters: www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/insights/leg...

Across North and East #Yorkshire, local giving is powering community action that changes lives.

Thanks to generous support from individuals, families, businesses, councils and funders, our member Two Ridings Community Foundation has awarded over £23m in +7,000 grants since 2000.
tworidingscf.org.uk

As we celebrate 50 years of #LocalGiving via #CommunityFoundations in the #UK, check out what's been happening across #Buckinghamshire over 25 years.

Since 2000, Heart of Bucks has supported 75% of the local charity sector, awarding over £18.5m to grassroots charities and groups!

heartofbucks.org

Graphic that shows a map of the UK with small yellow triangles on all the 47 places where community foundations are based. Next to it is text: Join our team at UKCF! Be a part of something special and apply to become our new Programmes Officer. UKCF logo

📢 New #JobOpportunity at UKCF!

We are looking for an interim Partnerships Officer to help us build and deliver impactful national partnerships that bring real, measurable benefits to communities across the UK.

#Apply #Job #JoinUs #GrantMaking #Charity #UK

www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/uk-comm...

"We’re starting September with a strong team, clear vision and ambitious goals - together, we’re turning the page on the next chapter of UKCF’s story."

Our remote team met in person yesterday to share reflections, look at how we can enable more local investment and connect around ambitious ideas!

Did you know?

For over 25 years, @cumbriacf.bsky.social has been getting to the root of the most difficult problems in #Cumbria - dedicated to meeting local need by working with donors and making grants to community and voluntary organisations.

📽️ youtu.be/YqNk5BBKnyI
🔍 www.cumbriafoundation.org

Government fund extension supports community cohesion 75 neighbourhood projects in England to continue support for volunteering and making connections with £2.6 million Government fund extension

📢 #Funding news!

Community foundations are supporting 75 neighbourhood projects in England to continue support for volunteering and #CommunityCohesion with a £2.6m #Government fund extension until March 2026, a partnership between UKCF and DCMS.

www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/news/governm...

#UK

Introduction to publishing - 360Giving Get a complete overview of what publishing your grants data involves.

🤔Want to share your data using the 360Giving Data Standard but don't know where to start?

Our team will guide you through the key stages and answer your biggest questions at our next Introduction to Publishing workshop!

Online, 10 September - book below🎟️

www.360giving.org/event/intro-...

Whether responding to urgent needs or investing in long-term resilience, our network is proud to be the trusted partner for place-based giving across the UK.

Find out how we work: www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/how-we-work

#Partnerships #Philanthropy #CommunityFoundations #UKCharity

While many English counties date back to the 1086 Domesday Book, their stories have since evolved dramatically. In 1967, for example, a brand new town was created: #MiltonKeynes.

Today's spotlight is on MK Community Foundation, set up in 1986: www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/about/public...

One leader’s reflections on moving from the civil service to civil society - Future Governance Forum Six months ago, I left the civil service to take up a new role leading UK Community Foundations (UKCF). After many years spent in the centre of government – predominantly in No10 and the Cabinet Offic...

ICYMI, @futuregovforum.bsky.social had a fantastic blog last month from Emma de Closset at @ukcf.bsky.social‬ reflecting on her move from civil service to civil society [1/3]

www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/2025/07/16/o...

The 90s saw a flurry of accredited community foundations being established across the UK to support local action - 13 to be exact!

And one of them was @foundationscotland.bsky.social 🙌

Learn how the Foundation Scotland team is helping people to make a difference: vimeo.com/756833524

#Scotland

Map of the UK and UKCF logo. Text below reads join our Board of Trustees!

Would you like to join UKCF as our new Independent Trustee?

We are specifically looking for experience of:

• Digital Transformation
• Commercial Legal (contracts)
• Philanthropy/Fundraising
• Community Resilience/Crisis Response
• HR
• Investment Management

www.charityjob.co.uk/volunteer-jo...