Heart of England Community Foundation celebrates 30 years of changing lives

Major grant-giving organisation the Heart of England Community Foundation celebrated thirty years of hard work across Warwickshire and the West Midlands at St. Mary’s Guildhall in Coventry on Valentine’s Day.

The charity, which describes itself as “the leading, independent grant making foundation in the West Midlands”, took to Facebook to announce the anniversary, in the following statement.

“The Heart of England Community Foundation has always been about the people who make a difference – the communities who lift each other up, the changemakers who create lasting impact and the quiet acts of generosity that transform lives.”

Stakeholders, donors, and corporate partners attended, where they heard from the Foundation’s Chair, Chris West, and Chief Executive, Tina Costello OBE.

The Heart of England Community Foundation has played a vital role in promoting and maintaining the welfare of the West Midlands community

Costello said that “it’s incredible to see the Foundation reach such a significant milestone” and thanked the donors and Foundation Team for their tireless efforts in striving to “change lives locally, and to create a fairer, happier and healthier region for everyone”.

Also in attendance, the Coventry band The Notables performed for guests, a group that provides opportunities for those with learning disabilities to learn music skills. Ryan Sinclair, a Birmingham-based writer and spoken word artist, also took to the stage.

The Heart of England Community Foundation has played a vital role in promoting and maintaining the welfare of the West Midlands community. The Foundation aims to create an environment “where everyone has equal access to opportunities, experiences genuine wellbeing, and enjoys a healthy and active life as part of their community”.

The Foundation has supported over 8,000 projects and community organisations

Since its establishment in 1995, the charity has had a remarkable impact on the lives of thousands, having “awarded over £40 million to more than 8,400 great causes across the region”.

On top of this, the Foundation has supported over 8,000 projects and community organisations, and managed more than 65 funds and programmes on behalf of private donors and local authorities.

In the future, the Foundation intends to invest its £20 million worth of endowment funds into “providing a long-term legacy of funding for local communities in the years ahead”.