SEGRO launches its first Thames Valley Community Fund
£25,000 fund for local charities focussed on employment, education and training
SEGRO, owner of the Slough Trading Estate, has launched its first Thames Valley Community Fund with £25,000 earmarked for charities and community organisations operating in the Slough, Reading and Bracknell area.
Delivered in partnership with The Berkshire Community Foundation, the £25,000 fund will be awarded to projects that will support disadvantaged communities to develop the skills and confidence that will help local people into work.
Local charities and grass root community groups are encouraged to apply for a maximum of £5,000 each, via the Berkshire Community Foundation who are assisting SEGRO in assessing the applications based against specific criteria of intent, governance and most importantly, how the donation will make a difference to individual lives.
David Sleath, Chief Executive Officer, SEGRO, said:
“As The Slough Trading Estate nears its centenary, the role that our business plays in our local communities becomes ever clearer. We have the opportunity, along with the Berkshire Community Foundation, to help improve the lives of local people - and that’s why we are delighted to launch the Thames Valley Community Fund.
“The Fund will support charities and community groups in our local area to continue their efforts to break down barriers to accessing education and training as well as helping local people into employment.”
Over 70 people attended the launch, held at the SEGRO offices on the Bath Road which was partly catered by Kitchen Craft, a local charity that trains young people in cookery and is also supported by SEGRO.
Gerry Lejeune, Chief Executive Officer, Berkshire Community Foundation, said:
“We have been working closely with SEGRO in the Berkshire area to improve vulnerable people’s lives and help those in need into employment. The launch of the Thames Valley Community Fund is extremely exciting as it allows us to work alongside SEGRO in bettering our communities and improving the lives of local people.”
As well as investing over £130million in the last five years and delivering over 1million sq ft of employment space, SEGRO has a long and proud history of working with the local community and supporting charities which include Slough Food Bank, the Slough Business Community Partnership and Slough Aspire, which is now in its fourth year. The dedicated training and skill centre has enabled over 3,000 local residents to access training to improve their employment opportunities.
For those local charities who are interested in applying for the Thames Valley Community Fund should contact http://www.berkshirecf.org/grants/segro-thames-valley-community-fund
About SEGRO
SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), and a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and light industrial property. It owns or manages 6.4 million square metres (69 million square feet) of space valued at £8 billion, serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in nine other European countries.