A little less conversation - a little more action please

Through our Foundation Project Rome gives the first 10% of our profit to great causes. I have previously written about our support this year for environmental projects - so this blog is about the second of our three core areas for funding social justice projects.

This picture of Dick and Liddy (not their real names) was taken at a lunch club last Christmas. Too many images of people having a tough time are just miserable - that's one thing you cannot say about these two. In reality poverty seems to be a roller-coaster, with fewer highs and a lot more lows.

Few would choose to be at a lunch club on Christmas day - it must be a royal pain in the backside and may be personally embarrassing - but as this picture demonstrates there are times when we need a laugh with our mates and if a club we support can provide a safe space for that basic human requirement then we are spending our profits very wisely.

Our contribution is tiny in the scheme of things and especially in this arena where there is extraordinary need right now. We are unlikely to move the dial on?the unfair distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privilege in this country but that's not going to be our excuse. So, here are seven wonderfully positive social projects we have backed with ￡41,000 of our own money so far this year.

Food banks and lunch clubs

In October 2022, our Foundation gave ￡10,000 unrestricted funding to the Trussell Trust. This decision to fund was the easiest the directors have ever made. Boy-oh-boy is it going to be important to support food banks over the next few months. As always cash is king for organisations like this - they need money to operate and we were delighted to be able to help in good time for winter.

This grant came on top of ￡15,000 we gave in August to The Leeds Community Foundation. We count the LCF as best in class. The work they do to match giving to worthwhile socially motivated causes is a credit to the people who dedicate their lives to this organisation.

Supporting projects across the city to help tackle digital exclusion, funding 48 weekly lunch clubs for older isolated residents and providing holiday rest bite for teenage carers who otherwise don't get the chance to get away - are just three examples of the type of work we have gladly supported through the LCF.

Social mobility

Learning Partnerships helps people from the most deprived areas in Leeds where poverty is entrenched. They?offer a range of training courses, 1-to-1 support and personal development opportunities. Their mission is right up our street and we have been happy to support them with a total of ￡3,000 in donations this year.

Supporting social enterprise is a key part of our mission. I have previously written about the fantastic Valley Project in Holmewood, run be the inspiring Steve and Laura - social entrepreneurs - who risked everything to set up a play scheme. This year they needed money to replace a play bus which was burned to the ground in an arson attack. We were delighted to be able to offer ￡5,000 towards that ambition and cannot wait to join the other sponsors to open the new facility.

We love outdoor play and the dynamic people behind these enterprises - so much so we want to see this social movement spread and put ￡2,200 to help Play Bradford campaign to take play outside (and everywhere) - this campaign is overseen by the brilliant Janet Jawett and her team in Ravenscliffe. You are inspirational and your commitment is legend.

We have also supported the formation of a brand new co-operative doorstep delivery firm in North London The doorstep collective who trade under the Wings Co-op brand and style themselves as

"... a totally ethical alternative to other apps without compromising on quality or convenience".

We love their leadership and their commitment to environmental good governance and so gave them ￡2,500 to help with set up costs and provided support with their early marketing and communications. If they make a few bob - which we hope they do - we know they'll pay our help down the line.

Beyond our shores

We have always supported at least one overseas initiative a year (a legacy of one of Project Rome's original directors Kevin Schofield who died way too young and is sadly missed). For many years we sponsored schooling for disabled children in East Asia but this year we've chosen a brilliant charity in Africa, Smiling through light.

It always amazes me that the world could choose to end absolute poverty in our generation - giving everyone access to water, a home, power and transport - but we chose to let our overseas aid budgets be spent on other things that are clearly seen to be more important. Just imagine waking up one day and finding absolute poverty in the past - like smallpox - how good would that be!

Project Rome can't change that but instead of moaning we have chosen to do our bit by sponsoring Mariama Kamara and her brilliant scheme to bring solar power to Sierra Leone, lighting the darkness. Mariama had the bright idea of using solar lights rather than kerosine lamps - brilliant - less dangerous - less impactful on the environment - cheaper. Oh, and the oil giants make less profit too - shame. And talk about bang for buck - we have gifted ￡3,500 to this project and we have been able to provide light to 7,000 people - an unbelievable return on investment.

As Mariama says, providing light increases the time a family has to be together and be productive, whether you use that to earn an extra dollar or to read the next chapter in your school text book, every solar light is transforming a household's life chances.

So there you go, another ￡40,000+ of our profit put to good use. We have definitely had some impact, so money well spent as far as we are concerned. Next time, the final arena where the foundation supports: Health and Wellbeing.