By Jacqui Scott, CEO of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation
Every year on 5th September, the International Day of Charity shines a spotlight on the vital role that charities and community groups play in our society. It is a day designed to bring people together in solidarity, and to encourage us all – as individuals, businesses, and communities – to take part in charitable activities that can change lives.
Here in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, we have so much to celebrate. Our community sector is a true backbone of local life, encompassing over 10,000 organisations across Hampshire and more than 1,500 on the Isle of Wight. These groups range from small, volunteer-led neighbourhood charities to larger, professional organisations delivering specialist services. In Hampshire alone, they employ nearly 55,000 people, are supported by a mass of around 180,000 volunteers, and contribute an astonishing c£226 million worth of volunteer time each year to the region.
But as proud as we are of this extraordinary sector, we must also recognise the reality: the challenges facing our communities are not easing. The cost-of-living crisis continues to weigh heavily on families and individuals, with household staples and energy costs putting unbearable strain on those already on low incomes. In this context, the work of local charities is ever urgent – and our collective support never more necessary.
As the region’s independent charitable funder, that’s where we come in. At HIWCF, our purpose is simple but vital: to help local communities flourish by funding the grassroots organisations that tackle poverty, disadvantage and inequality. In 2024, despite the economic pressures, we were proud to award more than £1 million in grants, supporting projects that respond directly to the needs of local people.
But as proud as we are of this extraordinary sector, we must also recognise the reality: the challenges facing our communities are not easing. The cost-of-living crisis continues to weigh heavily on families and individuals, with household staples and energy costs putting unbearable strain on those already on low incomes. In this context, the work of local charities is ever urgent – and our collective support never more necessary.
Our focus has been on areas where need is most acute. The largest share of our grants last year went to initiatives that promote health and wellbeing, recognising that people living in poverty are often those most affected by health inequalities, and that their needs are often very complex. The impact of this funding is tangible: from a mental health support group for young people, to an Alzheimer’s café offering vital connection for carers and those they love. These are small, local interventions – but for the people they reach, they are transformative.
We could not achieve this without the generosity of our fundholders and partners. Collaborations with organisations over the years like MoneyBarn, Vivid, Cubitt & West and Sovereign Network Group have enabled us to make targeted grants worth millions to alleviate poverty in our communities. Through our endowment model, we offer philanthropists, businesses and donors a professional and trusted route to make a lasting impact with their giving.
So what does International Day of Charity mean for us here in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight? It is both a celebration and a challenge. A celebration of the thousands of community organisations and hundreds of thousands of volunteers who give so much of their time, energy and creativity to make this such a resilient and vibrant and place to live. But it is also a challenge to each of us – to ask ourselves how we too can play a role.
For individuals, that might mean volunteering a few hours each week, spreading the word about a local community group making a difference or for businesses and individuals who feel able, it could mean contributing to place-based philanthropy through HIWCF.
On this International Day of Charity, I would encourage you to think locally. Look around your community – there are extraordinary organisations working tirelessly, often under the radar, to support those most in need. By standing with them, we not only strengthen our communities today, but we invest in their resilience for tomorrow.
Charity begins at home, as the saying goes, and here in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, home is full of people who care, people who give, and people who make a difference. Together, we can ensure that spirit continues to flourish.