Severn Trent’s Community Fund awards nearly £2 million to good causes in Birmingham

Nearly £2 million has been awarded to charities and good causes in Birmingham and the Black Country by Severn Trent’s Community Fund over the past four years supporting them in offering their vital services and projects.

Back in 2020, the water company committed to donating £10 million to projects in the region over a five-year period. An additional £1.6m was given in further support to help our communities deal with the impact of Coronavirus.

We have now entered that final year of the initial funding commitment to the communities across the Severn Trent region and the team are reflecting about the work that has taken place, the amazing people who they have met and looking at what comes next.

Across Birmingham and the Black Country, a total of £1,753,196 has been awarded to 146 organisations, projects and charities since the fund began, which has benefited a huge 239,615 people.

Over the years, the fund has supported an array of amazing organisations, good causes and projects in the area including Riverside Stourbridge CIC, Moseley and Kingsheath Shed, Walsall Society for the Blind, HugglePets in the Community and the Severn Rivers Trust.

Lilly Clements, Fundraising & Partnerships Manager at Smart Works Birmingham, which was supported by the Community Fund, said: "It has been a difficult year for many charities including Smart Works Birmingham to secure funding.

“More charities are submitting applications for grants and there is much less money available. On top of these challenges many grants specify that they can only be awarded for a project.

“What we do is dependent on our centre being a safe and secure place to deliver our vital service from. Being able to apply for a grant to help with our core costs was like gold dust for us.

“We are incredibly appreciative to Severn Trent for recognising this need; this funding means we can continue to empower women to succeed at interview and get the job.”

The look back over the past four years comes as the Severn Trent Community Fund releases its Annual Review for 2023/24. Throughout the past financial year, a total of £445,022 has been awarded to 12 organisations across Birmingham and the Black Country including Top Church Training and Smart Works Birmingham.

The fund was set up to support projects with a link to one or more of our three elements of community wellbeing – People, Place and Environment, something that continues to be at the heart of the work that the team does.

Natalie Cunningham, Severn Trent Community Fund Officer, said: “What a four years it has been. Hugely rewarding, inspirational and wonderful to learn more about all the amazing projects and charities that are out there supporting the communities in Birmingham and the Black Country.

“Little did we know back in January 2020 when we first opened the fund to applications, how our first year would turn out with Coronavirus changing all our lives. It meant that straight away we had to pivot and supporting charities and community groups with emergency grants.

“But we adapted, we grew, people started to learn more about us and now four years on, to be able to see all the grants provided by the Community Fund having such a positive impact, all the hard work has been worth it.

“One thing that has shone through from all the projects across the past four years is the people at the heart of them and the incredible commitment to their communities and doing all they can for them. We could not be prouder to be a small part of their story.

“Now we look forward to the year ahead, helping even more projects and organisations and shaping what is next for Severn Trent’s Community Fund.”

Applications to the Community Fund are welcomed all-year round and capital and for further information or to apply visit stwater.co.uk/communityfund