Through a new partnership with Milton Keynes Community Foundation, global automation leader SMC Corporation UK has made a generous £25,000 commitment to local people and places.
The fund will support local projects across three critical areas: tackling poverty and disadvantage, improving health and wellbeing, and widening access to education.
In recent years, MK Community Foundation has funded hundreds of projects in these areas, including:
- Emergency food parcels through MK Food Bank, addressing immediate hunger needs in the community.
- Mental health support for young people, enhancing wellbeing services for those under 25.
- Digital access projects like MK SNAP’s Re-Connect and Wellbeing Project, providing devices and online learning opportunities for residents without internet access.
SMC Corporation UK’s support will help ensure that work like this not only continues but grows.
The donation has been split across two funds, with £12,500 invested into an endowment fund, match funded by MK Community Foundation to double its value to £25,000.
An endowment fund is a permanent financial reserve that earns interest over time. The Foundation uses the interest to fund meaningful projects in the city without ever touching the original sum. Endowment funds are built to last. By investing now, SMC Corporation UK is helping to ensure that funding will always be there for local communities, no matter what the future holds.
The remaining £12,500 will go into a flow-through fund, which will be distributed directly to local causes in the near term. Together, this Hybrid Fund will have both immediate and lasting impact.
Over the past four decades, the Foundation has distributed tens of millions in grant funding, supporting grassroots groups and charities across every postcode in the city. Whether it’s helping children find their voice in a theatre group, funding a community garden growing food for food banks, or backing skills programmes for people who need to get back into work, the Foundation plays a key role in making the city fairer.
Ian Revell, Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Community Foundation, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome SMC Corporation UK as one of our valued fundholders. The funds will balance supporting urgent local projects today while building a legacy that will support Milton Keynes for generations to come.”
With a strong presence in Milton Keynes, SMC Corporation UK recognises the importance of investing back into the city it calls home. Nick Pittwood, General Manager, added: “SMC Corporation UK is committed to supporting our local community and creating lasting impact. Partnering with Milton Keynes Community Foundation allows us to fund vital projects in the local area, both now and in the future, and we’re proud to be able to contribute to this in a meaningful way.”
Businesses wishing to find out more about how to leave a lasting mark on the city, can contact MK Community Foundation’s Philanthropy Team, who can help you set up a fund that reflects the company’s values and supports the causes that matter to it most.
To find out more, email philanthropy@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk or visit the MK Community Foundation website.
