Berkshire Community Foundation celebrates raising £730,000

The foundation, which raises funds for, and makes grants to, local charities and groups across Berkshire, last year made 181 grants to causes including Berkshire County Blind Society, Maidenhead & District Stroke Club, Citizens Advice Bureau and ABC to Read (Assisting Berkshire Children to Read). The average grant was £2,832, which welcomed Royal patron Princess Beatrice in July.
The foundation also launched the Berkshire Flood Recovery Fund in early 2014, raising more than £185,000 to help individuals and communities affected by the winter flooding.
Chairman of the foundation, Chris Barrett, said they were determined to increase grant-making year on year, because the need in Berkshire was increasing.
He said: “ Last year we received applications for grants totalling £3 million – so we have only been able to satisfy one in four. Developing funds has become much harder but it is our focus for the coming year.”