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We are a national network of community foundations, bringing together people and organisations that want to improve their communities.

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Title says youth social action in communities, in front of a photo of a young person holding up a banner in a group protest. The banner reads, the climate is changing, why aren't we?

New publication: Youth Social Action in Communities

November 20 2023 As part of #iwill Week, we've taken a look at the impact of youth social action in our communities and the benefits it provides to those involved.

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Title says youth social action in communities, in front of a photo of a young person holding up a banner in a group protest. The banner reads, the climate is changing, why aren't we?
November 20 2023

New publication: Youth Social Action in Communities

As part of #iwill Week, we've taken a look at the impact of youth social action in our communities a…

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Photo of two ASAN Wood Saints volunteers taking apart wooden pallets side by side.
October 27 2023

Over 10,000 people are being supported by local funding in disadvantaged areas

Over 10,000 people are being supported in nine areas throughout England with £10 million distributed…

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Collage of photos of Black women from throughout history. Credit: Black History Month
October 17 2023

Black History Month: reducing racial inequality at a local level

This year, Black History Month's theme is ‘Saluting Our Sisters’. Here in the UK, many Black women h…

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Photo of people outside taking an exercise class with a text bubble that reads, social prescribing support for communities in the West Midlands
September 18 2023

PHP Community Impact Fund gets underway in the West Midlands

Primary Healthcare Properties (PHP) and UKCF have launched a new funding round of support for local…

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July 27 2023

UKCF welcomes Guernsey Community Foundation as its newest member

Guernsey Community Foundation, established in 2010, has joined the UK Community Foundations network…

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July 26 2023

Communities in crisis: understanding the data

The latest Citizens Advice briefing has revealed growing financial distress in the UK. UKCF looks at…

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July 12 2023

Together 23 Event - Philanthropy Forward: Navigating the Future

Where would society be without philanthropy? Together 23 will look at where we are, where we need to…

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Great Art Auction Banner Cornwall CF Event 2023
June 20 2023

Summer activities get underway with support from community foundations

Community events are taking place in regions around the country this summer, bringing people togethe…

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A photo of CEOs sitting at round tables in a conference room looking forwards to the front of the room with interest.
May 11 2023

‘From transaction to transformation’: community foundation leaders come together in the UK

CEOs from around the UK and overseas came together this week to share knowledge and look ahead to th…

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Ukrainian families and individuals sit outside in a field on a sunny day, waving Ukrainian flags and yellow and blue balloons.
March 20 2023

Supporting Ukrainians in the UK

UK Community Foundations and the Freemasons’ charity have seen vital services getting the support th…

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Minister for Civil Society and youth, Stuart Andrew, sits next to an elderly befriending service member at Age UK Hull, deep in discussion.
March 13 2023

New DCMS fund to increase volunteering and reduce loneliness

UKCF is distributing £15.5 million of the DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund.

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A group of nine people of all ages and abilities are walking through a forest on a wide flat footpath.
March 09 2023

Social prescribing programmes across the north of England

On Social Prescribing Day 2023, we take a look at the fantastic work being done to deliver social pr…

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The Norfolk Community Foundation fill out forms at a local 'hot sport' centre
February 10 2023

Community foundations have collectively raised over £12.6 million for cost-of-living crisis support

We are seeing an incredible response from the volunteers and charity staff who are providing lifelin…

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A heart shape drawn on an icy window
January 25 2023

Community foundation appeals are providing lifelines this winter

Food banks, wellbeing services, volunteer helplines, advisory groups, and other small charities and…

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A Ukrainian family and their host family sit around a kitchen table together in Cumbria after receiving support from Cumbria Community Foundation earlier this year.
November 24 2022

UKCF network to distribute £500,000 in Ukrainian refugee funding

The new partnership between UKCF and the Freemasons’ charity will support Ukrainian refugees in the…

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A photo of UKCF Trustees Fiona Mcdiarmid and Steph Taylor
November 11 2022

Trustee transition at UKCF during Trustees Week

Proactive trustees are integral to the making and shaping of a charity, no matter its size. We refle…

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Anchor Community Connection Fund image of rowed houses set against Anchor butter branded colours
October 26 2022

UK Community Foundations celebrates partnership with Anchor

UKCF has partnered with Anchor to spread good in neighbourhoods across Wiltshire, Leeds and Buckingh…

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Volunteer packs food parcels in a community food bank
September 29 2022

New report: a place for philanthropy

The new UK Community Foundations report looks at how to grow community philanthropy and build resili…

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September 27 2022

UK Community Foundations celebrates launch of new programme of funding for Youth Social Action

We are proud to be distributing the latest round of #iwill funding, made possible thanks to the Nati…

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A black background with white text that reads Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2nd, 1926 - 2022
September 09 2022

The passing of Her Majesty The Queen

The UK Community Foundations network pays tribute to Her Majesty upon the sad news of her death.

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Volunteer Packs Emergency Parcels In Foodbank
September 02 2022

Cost-of-Living Crisis: Joint Statement to Government

In partnership with nearly 50 other sector bodies, we have called upon Government to include chariti…

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August 31 2022

UKCF Conference 2022: Foundations for the future

We are delighted to be hosting our UKCF Conference 2022 - Foundations for the future: Acting now to…

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August 22 2022

UKCF and PHP partnership reaches new communities in its second year

We're thrilled to be continuing the PHP Community Impact Fund, which will support charities and comm…

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An image of Anchor Butter with heading, 'Spreading Good in the Neighbourhood', with Anchor logo and UK Community Foundations logo.
July 20 2022

Our new partnership with Anchor Butter

The Anchor Community Connection Fund will boost community connections through the power of food.

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White lightbulb on a bright yellow background
July 06 2022

My perspective: a charity apprenticeship

Strengthening our team and network members is a key feature of UKCF's strategy. Our new apprentice,…

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June 20 2022

5 BIG reasons why we love SMALL charities

We are passionate about the big impact made by small charities, and here is why.

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photo of fuel pumps at a petrol station
June 16 2022

Preparing for increased fuel poverty this winter

Our CEO, Rosemary Macdonald, explains the risks of greater fuel poverty this coming winter as a resu…

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May 26 2022

Community groups get ready for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee!

With just one week to go before the UK and Commonwealth countries celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s…

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3 women of middle age have stopped to sit on a rock during a hike across a hillside. They are laughing together.
May 16 2022

Supporting communities through Original Cottages bookings

As dreams of sun-filled countryside escapes and sandy beaches become a delightful reality this sprin…

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Let's Create Jubilee Fund promotional social media image, with the fund title and logos in the foreground and a blurred camera and people acting in the background.
April 11 2022

£4.58 million awarded to community groups as part of Let's Create Jubilee Fund

Today, Arts Council England announced that 736 grants totalling £4.58 million had been awarded throu…

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April 11 2022

Statement About Funding Decision

A statement regarding the decision of one of our members to suspend a recently awarded grant.

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Text reads: Foundation Practice Rating
March 22 2022

Community foundations score well in Foundation Practice Rating

Five community foundations were part of the Foundation Practice Rating.

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Volunteers at a charity in Coventry, that supports asylum seekers and refugees, smile at the camera
March 17 2022

A Community Spotlight: Coventry

The UKCF team visits an area of the UK every quarter to connect with community foundations and the c…

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March 08 2022

Supporting people and communities in Ukraine

This article looks at how community foundations in Europe are responding to the war in Ukraine and t…

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Photo of a young non-binary person holding a multicoloured flag that symbolises trans equality
February 24 2022

LGBT+ History Month 2022

This LGBT+ History Month, we want to celebrate the incredible local impact of the UK’s specialist ch…

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February 16 2022

Social prescribing in our communities

A new partnership between PHP and community foundations supports social prescribing programmes acros…

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photo of fuel pumps at a petrol station
February 03 2022

How communities are combatting fuel poverty this winter

Community foundations across England are running winter appeals to support people experiencing fuel…

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December 09 2021

New fund launched to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The £5 million programme will support community and voluntary organisations in England to develop cr…

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December 02 2021

Grief Awareness Week: when the world changes

There is no good time for a person’s world to turn upside down. While navigating oneself along the r…

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Two women of different cultural heritages sit upon a shed roof talking to each other in the sunshine.
November 23 2021

How community foundations are contributing towards the SDGs

By thinking globally, and acting locally, our new report shows how funders can enable local charitie…

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November 16 2021

Community foundations launch local winter appeals to combat fuel poverty

Fuel poverty is a major factor of excess winter deaths and suffering, impacting over 4 million UK ho…

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November 10 2021

Reflecting on ‘Together21: Towards equitable and inclusive communities’, our membership convention

Last week, hundreds of our members from across the UK Community Foundation network came together for…

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October 29 2021

Black History Month – a time to reflect and to learn

As Black History Month comes to an end, we share thoughts from Kaveed Ali, our Director of Equity, D…

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October 06 2021

Investing, Inspiring and Including: EdenTree’s Approach to EDI

EdenTree, a charity-owned investment manager and pioneer in responsible and sustainable investing, i…

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October 04 2021

Our Quality Accreditation is now complete

The fifth round of Quality Accreditation, launched in October 2020, is now complete. We are proud of…

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September 13 2021

New partnership supports social prescribing and community wellbeing initiatives

Our new partnership with Primary Health Properties PLC (PHP) will support community groups that deli…

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September 08 2021

How community foundations are supporting the resettlement of Afghanistan's refugees in the UK

The speed in which events unfolded in Afghanistan at the end of August 2021 shocked the world. Our n…

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Furish Gymnastics Club funded by Foundation Scotland's EDF Renewables fund
August 04 2021

Ready, Set, Recovery: Welcome back, sport!

As we welcome sport back into our communities, we look at the value of local clubs and the challenge…

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July 05 2021

UK Community Foundations launches new report

Our new report examines the impact of the pandemic on local Voluntary and Community Sector Organisat…

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June 30 2021

New independent trustees join the UKCF Board

At our Board Meeting on Wednesday 23rd June we were pleased to co-opt six new independent trustees.

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June 01 2021

Volunteers Week: Our Sector’s Heroes

In March 2020, the UK was plunged into a world of isolation and unease. But out of the uncertainty c…

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Banner saying community
May 14 2021

Mental Health awareness week: A spotlight on mental health projects around the UK

The pandemic has left a cloud of anxiety hanging over our communities. For Mental Health Awareness W…

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April 12 2021

‘Clubs In Crisis’ fund launches

We’re pleased to have teamed up with Made By Sport to offer local sports clubs and organisations fro…

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March 18 2021

Five things that funders can do to support local charities

It’s hard to believe that it’s one year since the launch of the National Emergencies Trust Coronavir…

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International Women’s Day logo
March 08 2021

Why We Must #ChooseToChallenge

We take a look at the challenges women have faced during the past year, how community foundations ha…

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January 28 2021

Recognising Good Care Month

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word ‘care’ means ‘the provision of what is necessary for th…

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December 17 2020

Looking back on 2020

2020 is a year that most of us will not look back on fondly. We have seen fundamental changes to the…

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November 25 2020

£60m distributed through community foundations but UKCF CEO warns of looming funding crisis

The National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal launched on the 18th of March and within a month c…

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October 26 2020

Funding available for organisations tackling food poverty

Local charities and community organisations across the UK working to help fight hunger and tackle th…

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October 20 2020

The Community Foundation Response to Coronavirus

It examines why the community foundation model made it possible to distribute thousands of emergency…

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Andrew Tuggey
October 20 2020

UK Community Foundations New Chair – Andrew Tuggey CBE DL

UKCF has appointed Andrew Tuggey as their new Chair. He joins UKCF permanently from Community Founda…

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September 03 2020

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Infrastructure Fund to increase to £1m

The UKCF team and our independent decision making panel are pleased to announce that our BAME Infras…

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July 07 2020

Can you help more BAME-led Organisations to access Coronavirus crisis funds?

BAME-led organisations are playing a pivotal role in ensuring that vital emergency funds reach those…

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Rosemary Macdonald
June 30 2020

UK Community Foundations appoints Rosemary Macdonald as CEO

She joins UKCF permanently from Wiltshire Community Foundation of which she was CEO for twelve years

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May 14 2020

UKCF Statement on Coronavirus Funds and BAME Communities

We recognise and acknowledge that BAME communities are disproportionately impacted by the coronaviru…

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May 05 2020

Giving Tuesday Now: Never More Needed

It’s the second #GivingTuesday in five months and it’s never been more timely. Many people have alre…

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April 23 2020

The NET Appeal: One month in

Together we are delivering funding from the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal to frontli…

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March 31 2020

An update on the NET Coronavirus Appeal

The National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal was launched on 18 March and has got off to a trem…

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National Emergencies Trust Logo
March 23 2020

National Emergencies Trust launch coronavirus appeal

The National Emergencies Trust today launched an appeal to raise funds to help local charities suppo…

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March 10 2020

Democracy Day: Civic participation in action

Launching our new Civic Innovation programme which supports initiatives that put people at the centr…

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International Women’s Day logo
March 08 2020

International Women’s Day 2020

International Women’s Day is underpinned by three different calls to action: celebrating women’s ach…

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Rosemary Macdonald
February 27 2020

UK Community Foundations appoints Interim CEO

UK Community Foundations is delighted to announce that Rosemary Macdonald, CEO of Wiltshire Communit…

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February 18 2020

Community foundations respond to floods

Across the country, Community Foundations are responding to the devastating and compounding impact o…

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January 14 2020

The Tampon Tax Community Fund: Behind the numbers

Today community foundations across the country are sharing the stories of the thousands of groups th…

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December 18 2019

Unlocking the power of community for our common good

At Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) they want people in Oxfordshire to have better lives. Find…

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December 03 2019

10 reasons you should give through your local community foundation

There are many reasons why you should give to your local community foundation. This #GivingTuesday w…

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iwill week logo
November 20 2019

Celebrating #iwill week 2019: Putting young people in the driving seat

The #iwill Campaign is all about putting young people in the driving seat (metaphorically!) and givi…

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September 02 2019

How one woman’s life changed in Dorset

The first round of the Tampon Tax Community Fund saw more than 4,000 local projects share in £3.4 mi…

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September 02 2019

Funding available for specialist community projects for vulnerable women and girls

A further round of the Tampon Tax Community Fund is open to charities and community groups working w…

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July 29 2019

Healthy holidays for thousands of schoolchildren over the summer

Our Healthy Holidays programme was one of Leeds’ real success stories of 2018, made possible through…

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Jerome Booth
July 15 2019

UK Community Foundations welcomes new Chair

The national membership organisation for Community Foundations has welcomed Dr Jerome Booth as its n…

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June 21 2019

Secure your place at our 2019 conference

Come join us in Glasgow for our 2019 conference – the UK’s biggest gathering of experts on local giv…

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Fourteen logo
June 05 2019

How the Fourteen programme helped shift the power to communities

Fourteen has put its money where its mouth is, enabling communities and funders alike to pilot new i…

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June 03 2019

Why Volunteers’ Week matters for Community Foundations

This week we’re rightly celebrating the people who give their time, skills and energy to help people…

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March 08 2019

International Women’s Day 2019

Every day we hear about amazing groups and individuals who are determined to make a real difference…

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January 31 2019

Young Carers Awareness Day 2019

There are estimated to be at least 376,000 young adult carers in the UK aged 16–25, according to cen…

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January 16 2019

Women and girls projects share in £3.4 million of national funding

More than 400 local projects across the UK working with some of society’s most vulnerable women and…

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December 14 2018

Local Charities Day 2018

Today we’re rightly celebrating the outstanding organisations and individuals who are the lifeblood…

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November 21 2018

UK Community Foundations responds to Civil Society Futures inquiry

Find out how UK Community Foundations Chief Executive Fabian French responded to the inquiry

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iwill week logo
November 14 2018

Celebrating #iwillWeek – what have Community Foundations funded?

To celebrate #iwillWeek we’ll be shining a spotlight on the stories that our network of Community Fo…

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World Mental Health Day logo
October 10 2018

What Community Foundations did on World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day (WMHD) proved to be a busy day of activity for Community Foundations up and…

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September 17 2018

Launch of the £3.4 Million Tampon Tax fund

Community Foundations have been awarded £3.4 million to distribute to local communities, the largest…

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September 10 2018

Remembering Molly

When the Sheffield-based Hurst family lost their daughter Molly only a few months ago, through their…

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August 15 2018

UKCF Chief Executive welcomes the Civil Society Strategy

The Government’s long awaited Civil Society Strategy was published last week. As one of the organisa…

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June 01 2018

Volunteers’ Week 2018

Today marks the start of Volunteers’ Week, celebrating the remarkable contribution volunteers make t…

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March 27 2018

UKCF successful in bid for Tampon Tax Fund

UK Community Foundations has been awarded £3.4million from the Tampon Tax Fund to support women and…

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March 15 2018

New fund launched for young people’s mental health

A Sheffield family are taking action following the loss of their daughter Molly at the young age of…

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December 15 2017

Community Foundations hit the £1 billion mark

Community Foundations are proud to announce, on Local Charities Day, that collectively we have distr…

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November 21 2017

Community Foundations celebrate young people helping to change communities

Today marks the beginning of #iwill week, celebrating young people who lead social action

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August 23 2017

Joining forces with Comic Relief to invest in communities

Comic Relief and UK Community Foundations announce a new £2 million investment into supporting small…

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June 20 2017

Refugee Week 2017

Today is World Refugee Day, part of a week-long celebration of the contribution of refugees to the U…

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April 07 2017

World Health Day 2017

Today is World Health Day – and this year’s campaign will tackle depression.

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March 24 2017

Communities Week

Communities Week gives us a chance to recognise those charities, groups and volunteers that go the e…

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International Women’s Day logo
March 08 2017

Community Foundations mark International Women’s Day 2017

Today is International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is #BeBoldForChange – calling on people to cha…

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iWill logo
January 17 2017

#iwill Fund launched to help boost youth social action

The #iwill Fund is designed to give young people the chance to lead change and make a positive contr…

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January 09 2017

Shared Society

Our Chief Executive, Fabian French, shares his response to PM Theresa May’s speech to the Charity Co…

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December 15 2016

UK Community Foundations are celebrating Local Charities Day

Everyone loves a local charity. But, only 10% of the population can name two or more local charities…

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December 12 2016

Let's talk about giving

This year on Giving Tuesday, I’m encouraging you to talk about giving; and to nominate those that do…

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September 16 2016

Building stronger britain together fund launched tackle extremism

UK Community Foundations is partnering with advertising agency M&C Saatchi to deliver over £800,000…

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UK Community Foundations is a registered charity in England and Wales. Registered company in England and Wales . Registered address: UK Community Foundations, Northgate Business Centre, 38-40 Northgate, Newark, NG24 1EZ. Registered company no. 2651777 | Registered charity no. 1004630. Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved.