Leeds Community Foundation Reflects on 20 Years of Support

Two decades of funding and community development in Leeds

Leeds Community Foundation marked the 20th anniversary of its first grant in 2025, reflecting on its work supporting local organisations and communities over the past two decades. Since its inception, the foundation has delivered more than 150 programmes aimed at addressing social needs and strengthening community resilience across Leeds.

Early programmes and ongoing support

The foundation’s first grants programme was the Social Enterprise Development Fund, which provided funding specifically for staff costs to help organisations develop sustainable social enterprise projects. Alongside financial support, recipients also received capacity-building assistance to enhance their long-term viability. Many organisations supported through this initial programme continue to receive funding from the foundation today.

The approach of combining grants with capacity-building remains central to the foundation’s work. This is reflected in its flagship initiative, The Leeds Fund, which was established in 2016 to focus on critical issues affecting the city.

The Leeds Fund and recent initiatives

The Leeds Fund has targeted areas such as mental health, loneliness, inclusion, enterprise, and employability. It has also prioritised strengthening the resilience of community organisations themselves. Since its launch, the fund has invested nearly £4.5 million in over 250 local organisations through various grant types, including microgrants and strategic grants.

In 2025, the foundation responded to ongoing challenges faced by community groups and donors due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. With support from the Heselden family, £2 million was released from Jimbo’s Fund to provide multi-year strategic grants through The Leeds Fund. Thirty organisations have received funding to support their sustainability, with many also receiving additional resources to address climate change.

Healthy Holidays Leeds programme

Another significant project has been the Healthy Holidays Leeds programme, running since 2018. Initially funded by local businesses and individuals, it later became part of the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme in partnership with Leeds City Council. The programme has distributed over £6 million to organisations providing nutritious meals and engaging activities for children during school holidays.

The initiative aims to combat holiday hunger and support children’s wellbeing, while also reducing financial pressures on parents. Feedback from participating organisations highlights the positive impact on both children and families, including improved mental health and reduced financial stress.

Partnerships and future challenges

The foundation acknowledges the role of its partners in achieving its goals, including Comic Relief, The National Lottery Community Fund, Henry Smith Foundation, Bartlett Group, Local Care Direct, and Nationwide, among others. Together, they have invested more than £70 million in the Leeds community.

Despite these achievements, the foundation recognises ongoing challenges such as increased demand for services, rising costs, and a decline in charitable giving. It emphasises the importance of continued collaboration and investment to enable community organisations to support local people effectively.

For more information, visit Leeds Community Foundation’s website.