The Fore

Discover our 2023/2024 Impact Report! This past year has been one of significant impact for The Fore. We completed our largest funding round to date and reached a major milestone of £10 million in grants awarded since we started. As the sector struggles with more demand and less funding available, we have improved and expanded our offer to the charities we fund... and many we don't: - Our Pro Bono Network: 103 matches made between our skilled volunteers and charity leaders, giving our charities access to additional critical skills to help them grow and thrive. - A New, Advanced Impact Measurement Course: 100% said the course met their impact measurement needs. - Peer-to-Peer Support: We have strengthened opportunities for charity leaders to connect, share knowledge, and support each other, fostering a collaborative environment for best practice. We remain committed to turbo-charging exceptional small charities transforming lives and society! We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to this year's success. BlackRock UBS C. Hoare & Co. Rothschild & Co Epiris Garfield Weston Foundation Cheyne Capital Stewart Investors Mike Tye Alon Avner Mary Boakye Heidi Duckworth Dido Harding James Lawson Steve Murigi Jane Rich Amy Rodwell Helen Verwoert (FCIPD)

Becoming a charity Chair is both rewarding and challenging. At The Fore, we connect skilled professionals with meaningful governance roles in the charity sector. Graham Heddle’s experience joining Goods for Good as a Chair of Trustees is a great example. From his career in private equity, Graham used his skills and initiative to help guide the charity through strategic growth, improve fundraising, and successfully integrated innovative solutions like AI. Curious about what it takes to succeed as a Chair? Check out Graham’s journey and discover the three key skills that helped him thrive in the role. Read more about his inspiring leadership story here: https://buff.ly/3NQveI5

Access Cornwall wants everyone to enjoy what Cornwall has to offer, regardless of disability or learning differences. Established in 2019, they impact the lives of 750,000 people each year. Listings and guides help people experiencing accessibility challenges find the best places to visit, eat and stay, while accessibility reviews, led by people with lived experience, make businesses more accessible across West Cornwall. Website traffic has doubled yearly, with 3 to 4 requests monthly for accessibility reviews in areas they don’t have the people to serve. Our funding will enable Access Cornwall to onboard two new team members to expand accessibility reviews across all of Cornwall, in turn unlocking a sustainable income stream and making the county more inclusive for everyone. Learn more about charities and social enterprises on our website. #BackedByTheFore #smallcharities #socialchange #socialjustice #funding #socialenterprise #charities #inequality #grantmaking

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of a project by Tech for Good Alliance and techUK member company Opencast | B Corp™ for The Fore , a venture philanthropy fund that works to turbo-charge exceptional small charities that are transforming lives and society. This collaboration saw Opencast’s #SkilledVolunteers develop a powerful survey tool and data management system to measure the economic impact of the improved well-being of people supported by the charities that are funded by The Fore. Partnering with Pro Bono Economics, The Fore is piloting a new methodology that will highlight the real, measurable outcomes of the support provided by small charities and social enterprises. The new survey tool not only enables The Fore to understand the impact of its work better but also provides a scalable solution that can be shared with other funders and charities, broadening its impact across the sector. This project demonstrates how technology can drive better decision-making and highlight the tangible difference made by a broad range of charities. Thank you to the team at Opencast for their dedication to creating a solution that will continue to support and amplify the work of small charities across the UK. Find out more about the Tech for Good Alliance and commit your company to Joining Forces to Create Positive Change at techforgoodalliance.org.uk #SkilledVolunteering #TechwithPurpose #CorporateVolunteering #Technology #CSR #ESG Alice Durand | Stef Monaco | Juan Sebastián Sánchez | David Sluyk The Fore - Mary Rose Gunn | Francis Shaw Pro Bono Economics - Jon Franklin | Will De La Cruz

Last week, The Fore team visited Glasbren in Wales! It was brilliant to see how land and communities can be regenerated through growing food and nature education. Glasbren are showing that smaller scale, sustainable farms led by local communities offer a better way to addressing both local and global challenges while promoting mental and physical health. Thank you for hosting and sharing your vision with us Abel Pearson and Steffan Lemke-Elms. Sally Hotchkin Kerry Glencorse Emilie D.

This Black History Month we are shining the spotlight on charities and social enterprises uplifting young Black people in the UK through education and professional development. Volunteering to support these organisations #BackedByTheFore means contributing to meaningful opportunities for young people in the Black community. - Thinking Black empowers black students to realise their full potential and is developing a new virtual learning environment to reach many more students. - Through training programmes, mentorship and career support, 20/20 Levels empower young black professionals to flourish in the workplace.  - Black Therapy Matters is an organisation addressing the shortage of registered Black and Ethnic Minority counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK. Comment someone’s name who you think could share their expertise to scale up these organisations, via our Pro Bono Network! #BackedByTheFore #BlackHistoryMonth

The London Basketball Association improves the lives of young people living in some of the most deprived parts of London through basketball. Founded in 2012 by inspiring local community leader Tony Lazare, LBA supports 4000 young people aged 11 to 24 each year across five London boroughs. Using basketball as its primary engagement tool, LBA offers opportunities to become accredited as a basketball coach or official, building employability and life skills. So far, 913 coaches and officials have been certified. The social savings from LBA’s impact are estimated at £18 million, operating on an annual income of £265k. Join us to hear from Tony about the issues he is tackling and The London Basketball Association is transforming lives. Sign up here: https://buff.ly/40dNSkB #BackedbyTheFore #smallcharities #socialchange #socialjustice #funding #socialenterprise #charities #inequality #grantmaking

Delight creates lasting change for children affected by disadvantage enabling them to thrive in school and beyond. Delight uses the arts to work with 2,200 children yearly, immersing them in eight-week programmes culminating in performances or exhibitions. Inspired by Founder Kathryn Mill’s experience of growing up in a community where disadvantage was the norm, Delight alumni leave more socially and academically confident. This impact, combined with sharp rises in young people experiencing disadvantage, mental health and learning challenges, means the waiting list for schools wanting Delight’s programmes is rocketing. With our funding, Delight will recruit a Partnership Development Manager to provide capacity to reimagine their operating model by expanding digital and hybrid programme offerings to crush waiting lists and expand. Learn more about charities and social enterprises on our website. #BackedByTheFore #smallcharities #socialchange #socialjustice #funding #socialenterprise #charities #inequality #grantmaking

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The latest edition of our newsletter is out now! Read on to learn how better philanthropy advice could unlock billions to small charities, and find three exciting trustee roles with charities Abortion Talk, Seenaryo and We Are Family.