SEGRO launches Centenary Fund supporting London communities

We are delighted to announce that SEGRO, a long-time partner of The London Community Foundation, has launched a new £10 million Centenary Fund to celebrate the 100th anniversary of SEGRO’s establishment.

The Fund will be used over the next decade to make a positive impact within communities in Europe and the UK, including in London. The majority of the first year’s funding of more than £1 million will be allocated to projects across the UK which provide emergency relief and which will help address the longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The London Community Foundation will be managing grants distributed to London based organisations.

David Sleath, Chief Executive of SEGRO, said:

The SEGRO Centenary Fund is one way of recognising the vital role our communities have played in our success over the last 100 years and making sure we give something back by helping thousands of people now and over the next decade. Many of the areas where we invest are characterised by high levels of unemployment and social deprivation. We understand the long term need to ensure people from all backgrounds have the skills, training and opportunities to secure meaningful employment. These are the areas where we are focusing the SEGRO Centenary Fund and where we feel we can make a significant difference to people’s lives. However, in the near term, we cannot ignore the potentially devastating and long-lasting socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, we are accelerating the launch of the Centenary Fund and broadening its purpose to help address urgent needs in our communities during this time of crisis.

Originally intended to launch on 19 May to coincide with the 100th anniversary of SEGRO’s establishment, plans have been revised to provide urgent support to communities particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first year, funds will support charities providing basic necessities, like food, medicines and household essentials, and to support other initiatives which will help alleviate the impact of the crisis.  

In London, the Fund, managed by LCF, is today announcing support for seven charitable organisations during the pandemic. Organisations applied through the London Community Response portal, a one-stop grant application portal with 40+ London funders sitting behind to help mobilise funds quickly. All funds raised through LCF’s COVID-19 response work are going through this portal to alleviate the pressure on frontline organisations.  

Funded organisations include:  

  • Camden Citizens Advice Bureau was awarded funding towards the delivery of advice by phone and by email to clients; in particular those with Universal Credit, employment and housing claims.
  • Croydon Voluntary Action was awarded funding to support their emergency response in delivering food and hygiene items for the most vulnerable.
  • Home Start Sutton was awarded funding for the provision of food and essentials (like nappies and baby goods) to vulnerable families across Sutton.
  • Hounslow Citizens Advice Bureau was awarded funding to buy laptops and mobile phones for their staff after their volunteer number dropped from 66 to 10 and their telephone advice service soared four-fold.
  • Tiny Toes Tiny Feet was awarded funding to provide baby essentials for referred vulnerable individuals.
  • Wheely Tots was awarded funding for PPE safety and hygiene equipment, toiletries and bicycle parts to help enable them to provide food and essentials to two estates in Haringey.
  • Willesden Green Town Team was awarded funding to help enable a coordinated community response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing essential food to isolated communities in Brent.

Kate Markey, Chief Executive of LCF, said:

As a longstanding partner to The London Community Foundation, SEGRO has a proud history of supporting the Capital’s grassroots charitable organisations. Now more than ever, effective partnership between the civil sector and business is a vital contribution to how society’s most vulnerable people are supported. This Centenary Fund is an important investment for London’s communities.

Since our partnership began and we started to manage their SEGRO Community Fund six years ago, nearly £400,000 has been committed to charitable organisations across London. In the first five years of the fund, 3,411 people have directly benefited from SEGRO funding. Of these, 465 moved into paid employment, 906 accessed work experience, 25 took up apprenticeships, and 1,415 people went on to further education or training.

We look forward to working with SEGRO on supporting London’s communities over the next 10 years.