The Value of Lincolnshire Community Foundation

About this Report

Staff and Trustees are delighted to share details contained in our Social Value Report that demonstrates how Lincolnshire Community Foundation have responded to the effects of Covid-19, delivering substantial support to the voluntary and community sector across Greater Lincolnshire.

Within seven days of the first lockdown, the Foundation reacted quickly with a rapid release of funding to frontline organisations in order to support those residents in greatest need.

Over the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve funded over 300 organisations (large and small), providing interventions for mental health & wellbeing, ill health, food supplies and essential items, PPE, social isolation & loneliness, digital inclusion etc.

We’ve developed new partnerships within the voluntary and statutory sectors and worked with Sortified, a not for profit organisation, to create a data driven Community Strategy that, along with local intelligence, provided vital information about where there were gaps in provision. This continues to be used to develop future grant making priorities.

By using social value calculations, we can confidently say that for every £1 invested to address the highest needs in Greater Lincolnshire, the social return is over £12.

Paula Baumber, Chair at the Community Foundation:
“The Team have worked incredibly hard to ensure funds were targeted where they were needed most, supporting many new mutual aid groups that came together to help their neighbours at a time of crisis. The use of local intelligence and data made sure this happened and created a positive impact, reducing the pressure on the resources of our precious NHS and, ultimately saving lives, ensuring people were kept safe, well and engaged throughout three lockdowns. Foundation Trustees are keen to continue this vital work and want to extend an invitation to existing and new stakeholders & partners to work with us to achieve positive results.”

As our communities begin to recover from the effects of a global pandemic, it’s crucial, now more than ever, that financial support, advice and guidance is available to the 1000’s of voluntary and community sector organisations operating at grassroots level. They stepped up to the challenge during the Covid 19 pandemic and were able to adapt and respond quickly, often with limited resources. Our aim is to attract even more funding into Greater Lincolnshire to be able to maintain this momentum and drive long term change, creating more equitable places in which to live and reducing health inequalities. We want to create new funding opportunities alongside partners who share our vision to create healthy, happy, resilient and confident communities