Scheme To Support Local Charities

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Government to double donations made to charitable causes

Local charities are set to benefit from a scheme that will set up permanent funds for community and voluntary organisations.

Under the scheme, donors give a sum of money which is invested into a long-term fund by the Thames Community Foundation.

The Foundation says the income generated from this fund is then used to help fund a local activity forever. For example, a donation of £20,000 will support one grant of £1000 each year forever.

Donations are also doubled in value through tax relief.

Nigel Hay, Chief Executive says: "Our starting point at Thames is that we believe in local action by local people and want to help where we can by making cash grants. To do this we need to identify and win over people/companies who share our view of the importance of local action and are prepared to trust us with their money.

“We always want to work alongside and in partnership with our donors so we will respect entirely their wishes as to what they want to fund- children, environment, arts, elderly, deprivation etc. and will, if they wish, leave the final funding decisions to them after we have assessed the grant applications and carried our all the necessary checks and due diligence."

Last year, Thames Community Foundation won a government competition to distribute funding to grassroots initiatives in Hammersmith and Fulham. The money is part of a £130 million drive by the Government to support thousands of groups and projects, working to improve their local communities.

Thames Community Foundation is a registered charity operating in the London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth.

For further information, please visit Thames Community Foundation or call 020 8943 6029.

Registered Charity number 1001994

October 24, 2009