In 2021, as charities once again faced a challenging year of uncertainty, increased demand and declining resources, grants of between £1000 and £1.8 million were awarded to organisations working across the North West, West Midlands, East of England and North London.
These grants have supported a wide array of initiatives such as helping people increase their income and manage debts, improve the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce energy bills, provide access to STEM careers and mentoring opportunities for young people and reduce social isolation through community projects.
The Cadent Foundation’s new Impact Report 2021: Committed to a Better Future details the grants awarded in 2021 and how the funding has been used to improve people’s lives.
Julia Dwyer, Director of the Cadent Foundation, said: With the ongoing impact of the pandemic and cost of living rises, 2021 was yet another difficult year for many people. As a Foundation, we reflected on what we had achieved in our first year and looked to find ways to do more for the charities we fund, to drive further improvement and increase the impact we have in the communities we serve. We’ve done this through strategic partnerships which combine our investment, expertise, and influence to create solutions that will help drive long term change.
Despite the challenges of the last two years, we have seen extraordinary resilience as charities continued to adapt and rally in their mission to help the increasing number of people in need of their services. As restrictions eased and projects we funded moved forward, we were able to see the positive difference our grants have on some of the most vulnerable in our society. Thousands have people have been helped by charities we support – from giving people more money in their pocket, keeping families warm and safe at home, improving mental wellbeing, and providing disadvantaged young people with access to new opportunities.
In 2022 and beyond the Cadent Foundation will continue to build on what it has achieved, adopting a more focused approach to working with charities and partners and exploring how to combine resources and expertise to maximise the positive impact of projects.
Julia added: As we move into 2022 we have begun to reflect on our vision and purpose to ensure we are focusing on the right goals and going about it in the right way. Placing people at the heart of what we do, addressing the needs of our communities and the root causes of the problems that they face remains paramount. The stark reality is that the impact of global events and cost of living rises will leave millions of people faced with impossible choices. We believe this is where our efforts can make the greatest positive difference and will help shape the future direction of the Foundation.
