The 10,000 Hours Foundation, a Manchester-based community programme which promotes volunteer work among festival visitors, has received £2,500 of matched funding from Santander’s innovative Changemaker Fund.
The Fund is part of a pioneering collaboration between Santander and rewards-based crowdfunding platform Crowdfunder. The programme is designed to help social enterprises, small charities and community groups deliver projects that improve communities and help disadvantaged people to have confidence in the future.
The 10,000 Hours Foundation aims to support communities and the environment around music festivals by enabling festival goers to contribute to meaningful projects, while at the same time introducing young people to volunteering. A variety of volunteering projects are offered including cleaning canals, helping in nursing homes and supporting the homeless. Since 2010, the Foundation has arranged 50,000 hours of voluntary work, with thousands of volunteers recruited through festivals and events all over the world.
One of the Foundation’s projects last year was a collaboration with Creamfields Festival, to create a mini-festival for the elderly, which aimed to improve loneliness and social isolation. The day consisted of line dancing, cream teas, musical bingo and live music for 70 elderly people from the local area. The additional funding allowed the organisation to increase the size of the event to help even more people.
Sue Douthwaite, Managing Director of Santander Business Banking, commented: “Attending festivals can be a wonderful experience and its admirable that the 10,000 Hours Foundation is tapping into the goodwill and energy of the enthusiastic attendees and mobilising them to give back to the community. We also hope that the Creamfields partnership has enabled older people in the area to feel less isolated and enjoy a great day out.”
Oliver Wilson, Director of The 10,000 Hours Foundation, commented: “As a grassroots organisation trying to make a difference in the local community, our efforts have been hugely boosted by the contribution from Santander. It supported us as a charity in many ways including allowing us to organise the Cream Tea Dance for elderly residents. We are hoping to repeat the activity in 2018.”
The £200,000 Changemaker Fund, www.crowdfunder.co.uk/changemaker, is part of Santander’s flagship community programme, The Discovery Project, which aims to inspire people to have confidence in the future through projects that build skills, grow knowledge and support innovation.
By working together with Crowdfunder, Santander aims to enable entrepreneurs and community groups to tackle social challenges and create positive local impact. Eligible projects seeking funding of up to £20,0001 and focussed on skills, knowledge and innovation that get the crowd’s backing will receive 50 per cent of their funding requirement from Santander to ensure the enterprise reaches its target.
As well as access to the £200,000 matched funding from Santander, projects will benefit from crowdfunding team specialists with education, enterprise and coaching support to unlock further funds and create lasting impacts in communities across the UK.
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Notes to Editors
1 Under exceptional circumstances, enterprises could be eligible for projects up to £40,000 with 50 per cent of their funding requirement from Santander.
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About The 10,000 Hours Foundation
The 10,000 Hours Foundation promotes voluntary work amongst festival and event lovers all over the world. It thrives on the sense of unity experienced at festivals and uses today’s positive forces to achieve a better tomorrow.
Together with festivals, DJ’s or artists, 10,000 Hours organises volunteer projects, a meaningful way of having fun together. One day volunteers are fishing plastic trash from local canals, the next they’re helping out in nursing homes for the elderly. The organisation informs volunteers about local challenges, so that they can donate time to be a part of the solution.
This enables visitors of festivals to contribute to meaningful projects. Together they’ve already donated more than 50,000 hours of voluntary work. And they’re always working to complete the next 10,000 hours.
For more information please visit: www.10000hours.nl
Media Enquiries
Leonora Burtenshaw T: 020 7756 4543 M: 07701 004 107 E: leonora.burtenshaw@santander.co.uk
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