High Sheriff hosts launch of the Lancashire Investors in Community initiative

On Tuesday, 28th September, Browsholme Hall near Clitheroe welcomed the High Sheriff of Lancashire, Edwin Booth CBE DL, to a formal dinner launching the Lancashire Investors in Community initiative, run by The Community Foundation for Lancashire. The High Sheriff was joined by Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth, President of the Community Foundation of Lancashire and welcomed prominent, diverse and civic-minded businesses from across the county.

The evening was a great success, engaging in presentations and lively dinner conversations about the initiative. Lancashire Investors in Community offers a tangible demonstration of the support for the Community Foundation for Lancashire and in turn, of many grassroots community groups and charities, across the county. Investment in the initiative provides an opportunity for businesses of all sizes to be part of a commitment to make an impactful, sustainable and positive difference to those most in need throughout Lancashire.

To continue its important work, the Community Foundation for Lancashire is looking to the business community for assistance.

Booths, United Utilities, Marsden Building Society, Browsholme Hall, CKS Catering Equipment, Dewlay, DSM Accountants, Harrison Drury, James Hall & Co Ltd, Kim De Vine Financial Planning, MHA Moore & Smalley, Nybble, Obas, Panaz Holdings, Sales Geek, Star Tissue UK and Workhouse Marketing so far have joined the initiative as Founding Investors clearly demonstrating their commitment to Lancashire communities.

Ram Gupta, Managing Director, Nybble and a Founding Investor of Lancashire Investors in Community said: "Thank you for inspiring us and others. This is a wonderful initiative and  Nybble are delighted to be a part of this as a Founding Investor to help make a difference to the Community Foundation for Lancashire and in turn help the local community."

The Community Foundation for Lancashire, a registered charity (1068887) established in 2007, has distributed over £16 million to community groups, organisations, and projects across the county.  They specialise in supporting small, grassroots charities, and community organisations who deliver critical and specialist support to the most vulnerable in our communities. Often these groups are less publicly well known and therefore traditionally less well funded even though they provide an invaluable service.

The Community Foundation for Lancashire provides advice and professional support to individuals, families, and businesses looking to maximise the impact their charitable giving has at a local level. Most recently, they have distributed £2 million for the Lancashire COVID 19 Community Support fund. This work has been vital to over 320,000 beneficiaries in the last twelve months in response to the pandemic.

Rae Brooke, Chief Executive of the Community Foundation for Lancashire, said: “We are looking for forward-thinking, proactive businesses, with a desire to see communities in Lancashire thrive, rebuilding from the pandemic and beyond.  The Lancashire Investors in Community initiative creates an opportunity for businesses to directly impact the lives of others as part of a collective effort of the business community to make a difference.

By joining the initiative, businesses will have access to experts in the field of charitable giving from the Community Foundation for Lancashire, who can provide insight into community issues and need, helping guide and shape your business CSR and ESG goals. The initiative also raises awareness of many magnificent grassroots groups and charities that you may never have heard of previously and how a relatively small sum of money can make a huge difference to the lives of others. Investors will receive regular communication via our quarterly Lancashire Investors in Community update and annual Lancashire Investors in Community dinner.”

To join the initiative an annual contribution £2,500 for large businesses and £1,000 for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

To discuss becoming a Lancashire Investor in Community please contact Karen Morris Development Director 0151 294 4751; karen.morris@cflm.org.uk  or Owen Phillips, Development Manager, 01772 440 376 owen.phillips@cflm.org.uk