Local grant-giving charity One Community has given away more than £7m to local good causes over the last 15 years … and say it’s a fantastic way businesses can help people across Kirklees.
One Community has around 20 funds and the way it works is that businesses, philanthropists and kind-hearted families put a large amount of money in their own fund and then the interest reaped is given to charities, good causes and community groups across Kirklees who apply for funding.
It means these endowment funds will always be there and now have £3.6m in them. Since One Community was set up in 2010, more than 200,000 local people have benefited from grants.
One Community also manages the Government’s Household Support Fund which helps people in poverty or facing financial crisis.
One Community has a new chief executive, Hayley Austin, who is encouraging businesses in Kirklees to set up funds as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy.
She is now giving talks to businesses and is holding a CSR event on Tuesday, July 15, in the Terriers Together Suite at the Accu Stadium from 4pm to 6pm where speakers will explain the scheme and those who have benefited will talk about the huge difference it has made.
To book on the event go to CSR Networking & Impact Event Tickets, Tue, Jul 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite
Hayley (above) said: “When I talk to businesses as a group in Kirklees and ask who has heard of One Community and what it does, usually it’s less than half.
“We really need to build up that awareness which will hopefully lead to more funds and more charities and community groups across Kirklees being helped with grants to do their vital work helping others.
“Some businesses give to national charities, yet through One Community they will be helping people directly in their own communities which is also great for them and their employees as they can see just how far their money goes and how many people benefit.
“We have the local expertise and knowledge to ensure their money will make a big difference in these communities. We sort out all the process for them. We just need their donations.”
If donors want to get more involved they can participate in choosing which charities or community groups to help and then visiting them to see how their donations are making a difference.
Businesses don’t have to invest in a One Community endowment fund. If they have smaller amounts they can set up temporary one-off funds known as Flow Through Funds with One Community sorting out all the administration involved in people and groups applying for the money.
One that has done that is Bradley-based Local Care Direct and company secretary Paul Dean said: “As a social enterprise working across Kirklees, social value is central to what we do.
“Partnering with One Community Foundation has enabled us to support vulnerable communities in a focused and impactful way.
“Our staff helped identify key priorities, homelessness, isolation, dementia, poverty and mental health, all closely linked to health inequality. This shaped the focus of our fund.
“Working with One Community has been one of the most rewarding experiences for us. Their local knowledge and expertise helped ensure our donations made a real difference.”
One Community itself is funded by charging 1.5% from the money paid out annually from each endowment fund and 10% from the Flow Through Funds.
One Community makes it as quick and simple as possible for charities and groups to apply for funding.
A typical group that has been helped is Longwood Village Warm Space (above) which received £2,500.
This community group provides a warm and welcoming environment for elderly people, especially those with disabilities, facing isolation and cold during the harsh winter months.
From March 31, 2024 to April 1, 2025 One Community received 502 applications for funding and 307 grants were awarded, a 61% success rate. The total money given out was more than £1.2m.
Hayley said: “We take a fair and flexible approach by making it as easy as possible for grassroots organisations to apply for funding, just sticking to fundamental questions.”
The funds open for applications at different times of the year and they include:
The Environmental Programme which gives grants up to £2,000 to support local initiatives that tackle climate change and boost biodiversity, from improving energy efficiency and generating renewable energy to creating and managing green spaces.
Local Care Direct Fund which grants amounts from £1,000 to £10,000 to charities and community groups seeking funding for projects that tackle mental health issues.
The Davy Fund for charities and community organisations seeking funding of up to £1,000 to support grassroots initiatives that get children and young people involved in sports, with a focus on team-based activities.
The Thornton Family Fund gives grants up to £5,000 to charities and community groups in Huddersfield to cover essential costs such as volunteer expenses, equipment, room hire, materials for activities and contributions to staffing.
The Dickinson Fund gives grants up to £1,000 to charities and community groups looking for funding to support people with mental health issues and to promote and encourage good mental health.
The Longley Farm Fund Grant provides grants up to £1,000 to support artistic and cultural activities in Holmfirth, Austonley, Upperthong, Holme, Cartworth, Wooldale, Hepworth, Fulstone and Netherthong.
The QFutures Community Fund Grant gives up to £5,000 to support projects across Kirklees which provide people with digital access and skills.
One Community is among 47 Community Foundations across the UK with neighbouring ones in Calderdale and Leeds.
To find out more about One Community in Kirklees go to https://one-community.org.uk
Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content, copywriting and ghost-writing autobiographies.
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