Inspiring GIVING WINTER 2015 Dear supporter, It seems that the last few months have been a particularly busy time at Sussex Community Foundation. Our role is to inspire local giving to meet local needs and it is clear that there are increasing immediate and longer term needs which need to be addressed. The many applications we receive from charities show that local groups are finding it ever harder to raise funds for their vital work in our communities. I have been able to visit several charities we have funded recently and they tell a consistent story of increasing demand and decreasing funding. Things are getting tougher for local charities and we believe that philanthropy can play a vital role in helping to maintain the fabric of our communities and sustain those services which help the most vulnerable in our society. We have also been moved by the tremendous response from the local community to the terrible accident at the Shoreham Air Show. In managing the Shoreham Air Show Fund, we have been able to translate this spontaneous demonstration of compassion into direct help for bereaved families. So the work of Sussex Community Foundation becomes ever more important. In the coming years, we expect there to be even more demand for funding so we are re-doubling our efforts to raise more funds for Sussex, to address the needs of today and the long-term. Thank you to all our trustees, ambassadors, donors and staff for your steadfast support. I look forward to working with you over the next year to support local communities to address the issues they face.
News in brief STAFF CHANGES There have been a few changes to the team at Sussex Community Foundation recently. Mary Carruthers and Janet Ormerod have both decided to move on after being with us for several years. We are grateful to them both for all their hard work and wish them well for the future. We are pleased to welcome new members to the team. In September, Lauren Lloyd joined us as Development Manager and Paula Blezard as Grants Administrator. Laura Williams will be starting as our new Programme Manager in January 2016. We are also recruiting another Development Manager who we hope will start in the New Year.
ANNUAL MEETING We held a successful annual meeting at the Rotunda CafĂŠ in Preston Park, Brighton in September. The topic for the day was: The role of philanthropy in an age of austerity: can private donors plug the gaps in public funding? We were delighted to welcome speakers Becky Shaw, Chief Executive of East Sussex County Council, Sally Polanski, Chief Officer of Brighton & Hove Community Works, and Andrew Wright, Communications and Grants Manager at Arcadia Fund. A lively Q&A session followed when guests from voluntary groups across Sussex grappled with the issues.
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Kevin Richmond, Chief Executive, Sussex Community Foundation Š SUSSEX COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Inspiring Giving WINTER 2015