The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) is delighted to welcome a donation from Portsmouth Estates, to support disadvantaged and vulnerable people in the Basingstoke area.
The donation will enable the Foundation to award impactful grants to local community and voluntary groups through the Basingstoke & Deane Community Endowment Fund established in 2014 by Cllr Dan Putty during his term as Mayor of Basingstoke.
Lord Lymington presented the cheque for £2,500 to Cllr Putty at Carnival Hall on Friday 2nd July 2021, where a very warm welcome was received from the Basingstoke Hindu Society. The Society had previously benefited from a grant to encourage youth participation in competitive cricket, helping to cover the cost of items including floor mats, safety pads, nets and stumps.
Photo: Cheque Handover at Basingstoke Hindu Society, Carnival Hall.
Lord Lymington said: “I am delighted to officially hand over the cheque on behalf of Portsmouth Estates, which reflects our commitment to supporting people in the communities in which we are based. The research and due diligence carried out by the Foundation allows us to be confident that our donations are going where they are most needed to make a real difference.”
Rebecca Kennelly MBE, HIWCF Chair of Trustees commented: “We would like to thank Portsmouth Estates for their support, as it is only thanks to the generosity and goodwill of our donors that we are able to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable local people. Last year, we provided emergency grants worth £2.3 million to provide groceries, hot meals, medication, laptops and befriending services for those needing help during the pandemic, but we know that the crisis is far from over and our communities still need our help as they attempt to recover from what has been an incredibly difficult time.”
Cllr Dan Putty JP added: “I extend a heartfelt thank you to Lord Lymington and Lucy Kendall (Events and Marketing Manager at Portsmouth Estates), and to Kishor Patel (Chair of Basingstoke Hindu Society) and his team for their warm welcome and generous hospitality in enabling this event to proceed.”
Since 2006, HIWCF has distributed almost £13 million in grants to support those less fortunate across local communities. The team are keen to talk to local businesses, families and individuals who would like join forces with the Foundation, to help the local charitable sector to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
