Our impact
Last year we awarded grants of over £2.5 million, supporting more than 83,000 people across Wiltshire and Swindon.
This was only possible because of the amazing generosity of our donors and the hard work and dedication of the charity and voluntary groups who run the services and projects we fund. We want to thank them for sharing our passion for supporting our local communities and helping more people to thrive.
This page provides an overview of the impact of our work in 2024-25.
Supporting the voluntary sector to improve lives
During 2024-25, through our grants programmes and with the support of our partners, funders, and the local voluntary sector:
- 24,300 people accessed projects to improve their mental health and wellbeing
- 19,631 people accessed projects to reduce loneliness and isolation
- 19,406 people benefitted from projects to reduce poverty and disadvantage
- 13,213 people benefitted from projects to improve education, life skills and employment opportunities
- 6,776 people were supported to engage with arts, culture, heritage and the environment
As ever we have been inspired and humbled by the work and dedication of the voluntary sector across Wiltshire and Swindon. Below are just two examples of groups we have previously funded and the vital work that they do to make life better for local people.
Kennet Furniture Refurbiz
Kennet Furniture Refurbiz (KFR) accept donations of furniture and white goods, which they refurbish and sell at affordable prices to the public, or at subsidised prices for people experiencing hardship.
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Growbaby
Growbaby provides a baby essentials bank for families on low incomes in Swindon.
Helping young people develop their potential
Our education and enterprise programmes give young people the tools, resources and confidence they need to move forward — whether that means overcoming barriers to learning, gaining practical skills, pursuing higher education or launching their own business.
In 2024–25, more than 350 young people across Wiltshire and Swindon were supported helping to open doors to opportunities and qualifications that might otherwise have felt out of reach. Our Vocational Grants programme supported 42 young people with essential funding associated with their training, while our University Bursary programme awarded over £403,000 across 82 students, targeted at those most likely to face barriers to higher education.
Our partnership with SWEF also enabled 32 young entrepreneurs aged 18-30 from across the county fund equipment, materials, product development and marketing for their businesses and ideas.
Kathryn Gadd
Kathryn Gadd received a bursary from us in 2023 to study a Higher National Diploma in Film and TV at New College Swindon.
Surviving Winter
The past year has once again shown how vital our Surviving Winter programme is for people across Wiltshire and Swindon. Launched in 2011 as a small initiative, it has grown into a lifeline, adapting each year to new challenges — including the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment in 2024, which added new pressures for many older people.
We continued to work in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Age UK Wiltshire, Wiltshire Citizens Advice, Swindon Citizens Advice, and the Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living. Thanks to their specialist expertise and strong local networks, these organisations were central to delivering the programme.
Thanks to both the generosity of our donors and the Local Authority Household Support Fund contributions, our 2024/25 Surviving Winter programme awarded over £329,000, benefitting 3,264 individuals in 1,564 households. Due to the expertise and knowledge of our partners, the household income of those supported by the programme in 2024/25 increased to a total of £1.47 million annually.
Since the programme was reviewed in 2020, household income of those supported has increased cumulatively by over £4.5 million annually.
