EN:Communities Trustees see grant impact across West Yorkshire

EN:Communities Trustees and Efficiency North Board members and employees took to the road across West Yorkshire to see first-hand how Community Foundation Fund grants are helping grassroots organisations strengthen the communities they serve.

The tour on 29 October visited Karmand Community Centre in Bradford, Smart Works Yorkshire in Leeds and Project Colt in Elland. Each organisation has received Community Foundation Fund support for practical improvements designed to increase capacity, improve accessibility and help local services reach more people.

While the three organisations provide very different services, Trustees heard a common message throughout the day: relatively modest investment in the right resources can make a significant difference to community organisations and the people who rely on them.

Supporting community services in Bradford

The first stop was Karmand Community Centre, which has served communities in Bradford East for more than 40 years and supports around 25,800 people annually.

Its wide-ranging services include welfare, debt and housing advice, employment support, older people’s day care, nursery provision, sports and physical and mental wellbeing activities.

A £4,363 Community Foundation Fund grant has enabled Karmand to purchase a double-door freezer, commercial dishwasher, microwave and upright fridge. The new equipment is helping increase kitchen capacity as demand grows across the centre’s existing and developing services.

Nasim Qureshi, Chief Executive Officer at Karmand Community Association said: “Please accept our sincere thanks and gratitude for taking the time to visit Karmand. I hope you and your Directors found the visit informative and insightful, and that it provided a valuable opportunity to learn more about the work we do and the difference we make in our community.”

Practical support for employment in Leeds

The tour continued at Smart Works Yorkshire in Leeds, which supports women across Yorkshire and the Humber with career coaching, interview preparation and professional clothing.

A £2,348 Community Foundation Fund grant has provided practical resources including clothing steamers, tablets, stockroom racking, whiteboards, a dishwasher and vacuum cleaner.

The equipment will support the preparation and organisation of donated clothing, workshops and virtual appointments, and help Smart Works Yorkshire deliver more than 1,500 appointments and workshops during the year.

Following the visit, Emily Zadok, Centre Manager at Smart Works Yorkshire, said: “We are so grateful for you all allowing us to showcase our work, passion, and experience with you guys.  We as a team are so proud of the work we do and the effective simplicity of the services we offer to women in Yorkshire.”

Opening up opportunities in Elland

The final visit took Trustees to Project Colt at Bridgefield Mills in Elland, a community hub welcoming more than 50,000 visitors annually and providing a base for 29 community organisations and social businesses. Together, they support more than 2,000 vulnerable local people each year.

EN:Communities awarded £5,000 towards a £7,500 stairlift, with Colt Enterprise contributing the remaining £2,500. The investment will improve access to first-floor arts, counselling and community facilities for people with limited mobility and is expected to enable at least 200 additional people each year to access activities upstairs.

“Making a huge difference”

Reflecting on the three visits, Ken Taylor, Chair of EN:Communities and Independent Director of Efficiency North, said: “The three organisations we’ve seen have been so different, but quite clearly they’re part of the community and they’re run by the community for the community. And through that, they’re transforming people’s lives. And that small amount of money that we can give through the Community Foundation Fund, is making a huge difference to people’s lives.”

From new kitchen equipment and employment-support resources to improved building accessibility, the visits demonstrated how small, targeted grants can give community organisations the practical tools they need to make a lasting difference, helping build stronger communities by working together.