The Minorfern Foundation has wrapped up its first year of charitable giving with a total of £40,000 awarded to small charities across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. With the final two grants recently paid out, the Foundation has completed a successful inaugural round focused on grassroots organisations making a tangible difference in their communities.
Launched by family-owned vehicle parts distributor SDL Minorfern in 2024, the Minorfern Foundation was created to support local charities nominated by staff. Through a partnership with the Matthew Good Foundation, ten charities were selected to receive £4,000 each, ensuring funding reached a broad range of causes close to employees’ hearts.
One of the final grants of the year went to Brinsley Animal Rescue, a volunteer-run charity based in Nottinghamshire. Brinsley provides sanctuary to unwanted or neglected animals, from rabbits and guinea pigs to goats, pigs, and ponies. The charity also runs a busy wildlife hospital that treats hundreds of injured animals every year. With no paid staff and their land and resources donated by the founders, the funding from SDL Minorfern arrived just in time to help the charity to replace their horsebox after it was recently condemned.
Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) also received support, having been nominated by an employee from the Leeds branch. Founded in memory of Andrea Key, YBTC has spent over two decades supporting people across Yorkshire affected by brain tumours, while also funding critical early-stage research. The £4,000 grant is helping researchers move promising ideas forward as they seek additional investment.
Photo Left to Right: Fiona Harris, Fundraiser at YBTC, Julie Salter, People and Culture Director at SDL Minorfern, David Grant Roberts, Charity Director at YBTC.
Other charities supported through the Minorfern Foundation’s initial round include Walking 4 Hope, The Children’s Hospital Charity, Ben’s Den, Stairfoot Foodbank, Fairplay, Babbington Rescue, Dronfield CFR, and The Howarth Foundation. Each organisation was carefully selected to ensure a diverse spread of support – from children’s health and food poverty to animal welfare and emergency response.
In total, £40,000 has now been distributed in unrestricted grants, helping ten small charities sustain and expand their work.
Julie Salter, People & Culture Director from SDL Minorfern reflected on the Foundation’s first year:
“This has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve been part of so far at SDL Minorfern. Supporting such a wide range of small charities has been both inspiring and humbling. At times, it was difficult knowing we couldn’t support everyone, but visiting the projects and meeting the courageous and inspiring people behind them reminded me just how much even a small grant can achieve. I’ve been genuinely impressed by the commitment and compassion of the organisations we’ve worked with, and we’re looking forward to continuing to support others in 2025.”
Julie Salter – People & Culture Director, SDL Minorfern
Kirsty Clark from the Matthew Good Foundation added:
“One of the most powerful things about this partnership is seeing the connections between SDL’s people and the local charities they’ve chosen to support. Small charities do incredible work, often under the radar, and by amplifying their voices and connecting them with the resources they need, we’re seeing real impact on the ground. It’s a brilliant example of how business and community can come together.”
Kirsty Clark – Executive Director, Matthew Good Foundation
Plans are already underway for the 2025/26 round, with another £40,000 of grants set to be awarded in the coming year.
The full annual review for 2024 is below, and to learn more about the Minorfern Foundation, visit the SDL Minorfern website and follow the journey on social media using #MinorfernFoundation.
