Heart of Bucks has partnered with Veolia Water Technologies (VWT) UK to launch a new charitable fund that will support local water related activities, volunteering and educational opportunities regarding the environment and climate change. The first round of funding has already awarded to four local organisations, with one further grant still to be awarded.
So far, the funding has been awarded to:
Longridge on the Thames, an outdoor centre for groups and schools that offers activities including kayaking, rafting, climbing and paddle boarding. The grant has been put towards a ‘tented village’ that will provide group accommodation, meaning visitors can come from further afield and make the most of their time in the outdoors.
Community Impact Bucks, a charity that supports and encourages people to get involved in their local community through volunteering opportunities with charities and not-for-profit organisations. It also provides community services to aid the elderly and vulnerable. The grant will go towards the launch of a new digital platform to provide a volunteer matching service. This efficient system will increase the volunteer capacity of the county and help the service transition to a more long-term and sustainable model.
InterClimate Trust, a charity that delivers sustainability programmes to schools and local groups in a bid to encourage children to become advocates for positive environmental change. The grant will help to implement a ‘climate action toolkit’ initiative, which aims to empower and enable teams of students to convey their views on climate change and the barriers their schools might face.
Buckingham Canal Society, a group working to reopen the canal that runs from Buckingham to Cosgrove. The team intends to aid the repair and restoration of one of the canal’s locks which, once fixed, would allow the canal to be fully rewatered.
Beverley Eagle, HR Director at VWT UK commented:
“We are so proud to partner with the Heart of Bucks Community Foundation. It is important to us that we support local communities through these vital charities and groups, which work to protect the environment and offer valuable education. We look forward to following all of their progress over the coming months and years.”
Henry Allmand, CEO at Heart of Bucks added:
“It’s great to work with businesses like VWT UK that are committed to supporting local organisations and making a real difference. We know the grants made from the VWT UK charitable fund will have a huge benefit not only to the groups being supported, but to the people and landscape of Buckinghamshire as a whole.”
A fifth grant is yet to be allocated.
Find out more about setting up your own corporate charitable foundation.
