Leading philanthropist celebrates local giving

l-r Chairman John Peel; Peter Field, Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex & SCF President; Matthew Bowcock

Leading Philanthropist Mr Matthew Bowcock, spoke about the power of local philanthropy to transform lives and communities when he spoke at a Public Meeting held by Sussex Community Foundation at Pangdean Farm, near Brighton on Thursday 19th November 2009.

Matthew Bowcock, a self-confessed “reconstructed” serial entrepreneur has founded technology and genetics companies in Australia, the US and the UK. In 2000 he established the Hazelhurst Trust, a family charitable trust and in 2005 became Vice Chairman of the Surrey Community Foundation. He is now chairman of the Community Foundation Network (CFN), which promotes ‘local giving for lasting value’.

The Community Foundation Network is the fastest growing philanthropic movement in the UK. The Network includes 57 local Foundations which encourage people to support their local community. Last year they gave out over £67 million in grants and managed over £200 million in endowment funds across the UK making them the fifth largest funder of the charity sector.

Sussex Community Foundation is part of this network and was launched in 2006. John Peel OBE, Chairman of Sussex Community Foundation said: “Today we are celebrating the remarkable generosity of local people. The Foundation was set up by and for local people, to provide funding for the many small voluntary groups which make a great difference at the heart of our local communities. Thanks to the generosity of local people, we have given out £1,700,000 to 750 local community groups in just three years. No one in Sussex lives more than five miles from a Sussex Community Foundation grant.

Yet there is much more to be done. Already 1,600 groups have applied to us, needing funding of £9,000,000. We are inspired by the thousands of volunteers who work to make life better for all of us and we call on local people to give what they can to help these vital community groups.”

Matthew Bowcock Said: “By giving at a local level I can see that small amounts of money have an effect on people’s lives. I may not be able to change the world, but I may be able to change someone’s world.

Working with our local community foundation we came to meet some extraordinary people who are changing lives in our communities and had the opportunity to back them and see the impact. For us, this has been rewarding philanthropy.

As one of the newest members of the network, Sussex Community Foundation has made remarkable progress in a short space of time. I congratulate them and encourage local people to take advantage of this hidden jewel.”

Ends

Thursday 19 November 2009

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