Bob Geldofs immortal quote during Live Aid reminds me of the challange of getting money from those who have it into the hands of those who need it.
So it is off to Lewes for a preliminary meeting with officers of the Sussex Community Foundation - the Robin Hood charity we helped create which takes money from very wealthy companies and individuals and distributes it to very poor community groups. It's developing well and in addition to the £125,000 we have already given out we are on track to top a quarter of a million by the end of the financial year. At this stage we are taking money and giving it out but the long term aim is to establish a permanent endowment fund the interest of which gives grants forever. I have recently been turning my attention to how this approach could work in Hastings and be aligned with the uniqueness of its local economy. Clearly, our local business context is significantly different from many other parts of Sussex and has a lack of very large private sector employers like American Express in Brighton or very wealthy individual donors. Therefore, a different approach is needed. With this in mind I have been meeting with the Foundation and we have reached an “in principle” agreement to establish a specific Hastings Fund to increase local giving and providing a focal point for work in this part of the County. In time, the intention would be to develop an endowment large enough to enable a permanent source of grant-giving independent of Government programmes and supported by a local Hastings grants panel. The agreement enables me to go seriously after some founder donors and engage with local employers. Its a big challange but as they say - even the longest journey...
Take it away Bob http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l5tvQ_SrO8c
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