Shaftesbury has provided £510,000 of support to local charities and community groups in the West End through its Covid Community Fund since it was set up last year.
The initial fund of £144,000 was created following the decision by Shaftesbury’s board to reduce their salaries and pension contributions by 20% for three months from 1 April 2020. Shaftesbury’s non-executive directors also made a 20% reduction to their fees for the same period. The fund also received more than £318,000 of in-kind support provided by the company and by a donation from the board and non-executive directors of £48,000.
Shaftesbury has supported more than 1,400 young people through 17 grants to 12 organisations in the boroughs of Westminster and Camden. Recipients include Young Camden Foundation, which received a grant to create Heads-Up, an initiative aimed at safeguarding young people in the community with a particular focus on mental health, and Young Westminster Foundation, a transitioning project for year six students in South Westminster moving to secondary school.
Keith Morgan, chief executive of the Young Camden Foundation, said: “The impact on mental health and wellbeing as a result of the pandemic is significant, particularly among young people. With the support of Shaftesbury’s Covid Community Fund, we have been able to run a range of programmes designed to help young people through the crisis, maintaining their self-worth, ambition and desire to make a positive contribution to society.”
Shaftesbury’s in-kind support has afforded the provision of accommodation for NHS workers, office and consulting room space for a Soho GP practice, and waivers of rent for tenants of charitable organisations.
The firm will continue to work with charities and organisations in the West End as part of its ongoing commitment to the communities of which it is part.
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