Latest news with #FionaOliver
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wiltshire Community Foundation celebrates 50th anniversary
Europe's "oldest community foundation" is celebrating 50 years of supporting people in crisis and raising more than £26.8m for charities. The Wiltshire Community Foundation (WCF), founded on 6 May 1975, supports voluntary groups by bringing businesses together to pool charitable helping mothers and their children escape domestic violence to supporting education projects and schemes to improve people's mental health, the foundation aims to provide money and support "where it is needed most", a spokesperson Oliver, WCF's joint chief executive, said: "Our 50th anniversary is a remarkable milestone." "It wouldn't have been possible without the incredible generosity of our supporters, the contribution of our partners, and the tireless work of the local voluntary sector," she its 50th anniversary, a series of events will be held throughout 2025, including a volunteers' lunch in June and an anniversary celebration in known as the Thamesdown Community Trust, the charity was founded by Lord Joel Joffe, Nelson Mandela's lawyer."Since 1975, we've been privileged to build on the vision of those who established the foundation - people who believed in the power of local communities to come together and support one another," said Ms Oliver. The foundation later merged with Wiltshire Community Trust in 1991, changing its name to the Wiltshire Community bosses believe it was the first community foundation set up in the UK and Oliver said the WCF's work included a £3,000 grant awarded in 2000. This funded the launch of a pilot project in Salisbury for a food bank, which was a "relatively new concept in the UK"."It was for the Trussell Trust, which now gives out three million emergency food parcels each year."So from very small grassroots organisations, mighty things can grow, and we never underestimate the impact that small community groups have," she added. Among the many schemes it supports is the Kennet Furniture Refurbiz, which offers people in hardship furniture and white goods at affordable prices. It has also helped to fund Swindon Sisters Alliance, a charity shop that offers domestic violence victims support to leave to the future, Ms Oliver said the charity was "excited to continue building" its work.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- General
- BBC News
Surviving Winter: Wiltshire charity asks for public donations
A charity is appealing for donations to a programme which supports older and vulnerable people during the Community Foundation's 'Surviving Winter' programme helps thousands of people hit by fuel 2024 the programme supported 2,855 individuals through fuel grants and advice, working with a range of partners - including Age UK and Citizens Advice. Wiltshire Community Foundation's joint Chief Executive Fiona Oliver said: "No-one should be in the heartbreaking position of choosing between heating and eating." She said January was "one of the darkest and coldest months of the year"."We know that there are older and vulnerable who are too scared to put on their heating to keep themselves safe and warm," she added."That is why we are once appealing for donations for our Surviving Winter campaign." 'Someone to listen' Alongside partners, the foundation offers practical information on keeping homes warm. This includes recommendations for boiler replacement, working with energy companies and landlords to manage energy bill debt and helping those who are eligible to apply for woman, aged 75, who lives alone, was helped after Age UK Wiltshire were able to award her with a Surviving Winter grant and also helped her with applications for attendance allowance, housing benefit, a council tax rebate and pension charity said it supported the woman for six months and increased her weekly income by £ Age UK Wiltshire spokesperson: "The Surviving Winter programme makes a huge difference to so many people. "Just knowing someone is there to listen, offer guidance, and provide support takes away so much worry."
