New Government plan recognises the importance of local giving

We welcome the publication of the Government’s new ‘Our Place to Give’ plan, which sets out plans to grow philanthropy and strengthen a culture of giving across England.

At its heart is something we see every day — that place matters.

For over 50 years, community foundations like ours have been connecting people who care with causes that matter, working closely with local organisations to understand what communities need and how best to respond.

The plan recognises that giving is most effective when it is rooted in local knowledge, relationships and trust — something that has always been central to our work across Wiltshire and Swindon. It also highlights the role of community foundations as part of the local infrastructure that supports place-based giving, helping connect donors with the communities and causes they care about.

This national recognition is welcome, particularly in highlighting the role of locally rooted organisations in helping donors make a meaningful difference in their own communities.

While the plan sets a direction of travel rather than a detailed delivery plan, with a focus on learning, partnership and collaboration, it also signals the Government’s ambition to grow local giving, strengthen connections between donors and communities, and build a stronger culture of giving. That reflects how we already work — bringing together donors, businesses, local organisations and public sector partners to respond to local need.

It also includes plans to support MPs to play a more active role in championing local philanthropy and bringing partners together in their constituencies — creating further opportunities to strengthen local connections.

Importantly, it is clear that philanthropy should complement public funding, not replace it. Strong communities are built through a combination of investment, partnership and local insight, and philanthropy has an important role to play alongside other funding.

The opportunity now is to ensure that this national ambition translates into action that reflects the realities of places like Wiltshire and Swindon.

Commenting on the plan, Vicky Hickey, Joint Chief Executive of Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation, said:

“It's encouraging to see recognition of the importance of local giving and the role that place-based philanthropy can play in strengthening communities. We see every day the difference that comes from understanding local needs, building trusted relationships and working alongside organisations over the long term.

“This plan creates an opportunity to build on that — bringing more people into giving locally and strengthening the connections between donors, communities and the organisations making change happen.”

We will continue to play our role as a local connector, bringing people together and helping ensure that funding reaches where it is needed most.