Bracknell Forest Community Fund

Giving true meaning to “Local Giving for Local Need” Bracknell Forest Community Fund leads the way! Bracknell Forest Partnership is the first to champion a new approach.

 

We asked two questions of residents across the six unitary areas of Berkshire:

• What are the specific needs in your community?
• What does local mean to you?

The answers came back – “many and varied needs” and “local is my village, my children’s playgroup, my local theatre group”

So the aim is to create a local fund in each of the unitary areas, and Bracknell Forest Partnership is the first to champion this new approach.  The Fund is an innovative concept aimed at gaining the widest support from local organisations and individuals, to make a lasting difference – a legacy for current and future generations. The Berkshire Community Foundation is supporting the Fund and its in-depth knowledge of local needs, coupled with an outstanding record of grant making within the community over the last 21 years, makes it an ideal partner in developing this exciting new venture.

In 6 months the Foundation made over £50,000 worth of grants to assist voluntary groups in the Bracknell Forest area make a real difference at grass roots level. These included 3 grants to Youthline, which offers a free and confidential counselling service for young people under 25, the Parkinson’s Disease Society Bracknell and Gael Music which provides workshops and classes to develop understanding and appreciation of traditional music to people of all ages.

This is a tremendous opportunity to work in partnership at a truly local level to improve the community we live and work in. There is a general shortfall in funding for voluntary groups and this new Fund will help fill that gap.

Download a leaflet for further details by clicking here or make a donation NOW. Phone 0845 003 1387 or click here

Launch of the Fund
From left to right - Councillor Ian Leake, Jane Wates, Chair of BCF, local MP Andrew Mackay, Mayor – Councillor Clifton Thompson, Barbara Knight of Age Concern Bracknell, John Nike OBE, DL.

Panasonic donated £5,000 to the Fund

John Nike speaking in support of the Fund

 

All photos by Chris Mower