The retailer Poundland has launched its own foundation, and pledged to distribute over £3m in donations over the next two years.
This includes a new grant programme for local charities working on children’s fitness and health, which opens next week.
The Poundland Foundation will bring all of the company’s fundraising work under a single organisation for the first time.
Funding for sports equipment
The foundation said that it will make £825,000 of grants to community projects over the next 12 months.
In the first round of grants, up to £750 will be available to charities under its “kit for kids” scheme, to provide equipment and kit for local children’s sports teams. A total of 250 grants will be made, with applications open on the Poundland Foundation website from 1 June.
In addition, the foundation will donate a total of £2.5m over the next two years to Poundland’s existing charity partners Make-A-Wish UK, Tommy’s and Whizz-Kidz UK.
Fundraising
The Poundland Foundation’s income will be generated by in-store fundraising, as well as carrier bag donations and an existing partnership with the charity Pennies, which collects micro-donations through chip and pin machines.
The company said that it had raised £4.5m over the past four years.
Poundland has 850 stores in the UK.
Barry Williams, the managing director of Poundland, said: “Poundland has got a strong tradition of supporting good causes, nationally and locally, and I want to thank all our colleagues and customers for all their fundraising efforts.
“The launch of the Poundland Foundation is a significant step for us and shows our commitment to helping our communities up and down the country.
“As a sports fan and a dad with sports-mad kids, I’m very excited about helping kids get and stay active – whatever the sport.”
Governance
Eight of the Poundland Foundation's ten trustees work for the retailer, including its chair. There are also seven regional community champions.
Full trustee board:
- Simon Wells (chair) – Poundland HR director
- Olivia McLoughlin – country manager Ireland
- Mark Pym – head of marketing
- Mark Hanton – distribution centre controller
- Adrian Holder – supply director
- Roger Wendt – regional manager
- Ben Jenner – head of commercial finance, trading and operations
- Emma Pearson – HR reward manager,
- Sharon Jackson – independent trustee
- Laura Yonish – independent trustee.
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