Small Grants

Staff Hardship Fund

Since its introduction in 2018, demand for the Foundation’s Hardship Grants has increased year-on-year and the company has maintained its additional contribution of £50,000.

This year, the Foundation has supported 252 (FY22/23: 232) grant applications to a total amount of £197,358 (FY22/23: £174,352). The rising cost of living has played a significant part in the high number of applications received across the year.

Community Grants

Demand for the Foundation’s Community Grants continued steadily again this year with £100,000 profiled for this financial year. During 2023/24, the Foundation has supported 78 (FY22/23: 48) Community Grants to a value of £101,344 (FY22/23: £94,701). Examples of grants made this year include the following:

A grant of £2,500 funded the ‘Memory Café’ initiative that combats loneliness and social isolation. Since July 2023, the café has held 11 sessions for people experiencing memory loss, dementia or loneliness, and their carers. It provides a space for activities, interaction and community support. Participants report that the café helps alleviate feelings of isolation via community support.

Move the World offers Global Citizenship Education programmes for students aged 10-15 in the Ga West
District of Ghana, using the UNSDGs to promote creative thinking and community-driven solutions.
Delivered by locally trained facilitators, these programmes have reached 2,956 students across 14 schools
since 2019. The £1,500 grant from CareTech Foundation will help MTW expand its impact and provide more
students with access to quality education.

Headroom Young People’s Charity offers specialist therapeutic services to young people aged 11-25, and their parents, in the NE Hampshire and Surrey border area. The impact of Headroom’s work is significant, with 95% of young clients showing an average of 38% improvement in competencies such as emotional management and self-advocacy. This growth enables them to better navigate challenges, enhance their confidence, and focus on education while fostering healthier social lives. The £2,500 grant from CareTech Foundation will help Headroom increase its capacity to meet the increased demand for its services

Match Funding Grants

Demand for the Match-Funding Grants increased considerably this financial year. The Foundation supported 49 Match Fund grants (FY22/23: 54) to a total of £16,619 (FY22/23: £20,641), which showed a slight decline from FY22/23 numbers that heralded the return of fundraising after the COVID-19 restrictions.

This year, we sustained the awareness of the ‘Match it’, launched in the FY22/23, which is an extension of the Match-Funding Grants, to reward those who are volunteering for registered charities. In an effort to continually engage and promote charitable giving for CareTech Ltd staff, ‘Match it’ ensures that staff can make contributions to their favourite charities beyond just fundraising for them, they can instead volunteer and secure up to £350 for the charity.

Awards for fundraising by staff are capped at £350 per eligible applicant participating in the activity. Where more than one eligible applicant participates in an activity, the award can be higher.

Examples of Match-Funding Grants made include:

Charlotte Alderson ran the Rob Burrow’s Leeds Marathon to raise £600 for the MND Association, which will go towards funding a new care facility for people with Motor Neurone Disease. The Foundation supported Charlotte’s efforts with £350 in match funding.

Rebecca Drake organised a charity ball to support Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust, which focuses on raising awareness of bowel cancer in young people. The event raised £1,354.50 and CareTech’s match funding took the total to £1,704.50.

Lisa Kelly ran the London Marathon this year in place of her injured husband, raising funds for Mencap.
To boost donations, she organised a charity quiz night with raffle prizes from local businesses and auctioned
signed sports memorabilia, raising £2,158. CareTech Foundation match-funded the fundraising, bringing the
total to £2,508.