Destination Basingstoke, a not-for-profit company managing a portfolio of events across Basingstoke, and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) are celebrating over 13 years of partnership working that has helped fund impactful community projects in Basingstoke.
Since 2011, £15,724 in grants have been awarded to voluntary and community organisations ranging from Basingstoke NeighbourCare, The Community Furniture Project, The Café Project, and most recently collaboration with HIWCF to support local communities through the Covid-19 Recovery Fund.
Basingstoke & District Young Carers (pictured above) was one recipient of the Covid funding, with a spokesperson stating: “This funding has enabled us to continue supporting our most vulnerable families … Since receiving the grant we have extended our working hours to cover evenings and weekends and we’re in the process of recruiting further volunteers to help with our new befriending scheme.”
The Destination Basingstoke Community Fund was set up as an endowment fund by HIWCF in 2009 and was initially created with donations and support from the activities of former Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Keith Chapman and local based businesses, Barclays Corporate, Lilly UK and GAME.
Felicity Edwards, Manging Director of Destination Basingstoke said: “It’s fantastic to remember that the investments made by local businesses over a decade ago, are still contributing and making a difference to our community and supporting some of the activities that make Basingstoke a place we are very proud of, and it is gratifying to know that with HIWCF’s help, it can continue to do so for many years to come.”
Amongst other showcase events, Destination Basingstoke organise and promote the A Place to be Proud of Awards – a celebration of people, projects and organisations across Basingstoke in June, as well as the Basingstoke Half Marathon which will take place in October.
Jacqui Scott, CEO at HIWCF said, “Community-based endowment funds like these are essential to ensure long term sustainable charitable funding for the smaller grassroots organisations who do such great work in our community. Our endowment funds are professionally invested for the long term, where the capital remains untouched, allowing the Foundation to drawdown the interest, dividends and growth annually for grant-making to support the needs of local communities.
We are grateful to Destination Basingstoke for their commitment to providing a lasting legacy for local residents and it is inspiring to see that the total amount awarded in grants from this Fund over the years has now matched the original donation that established the Fund back in 2009. The Destination Basingstoke Fund will continue to grow and support community needs across Basingstoke, whatever those needs may be.”
