The Matthew Good Foundation has announced five fantastic finalists for its third round of Grants for Good. Foundation members can now vote for their favourite good cause. The more votes a cause receives, the bigger the donation. The project that receives the most votes will receive a grant of £3,500; second place £2,500, third place £2,000 with fourth and fifth place both receiving £1,000.
In the latest round, the Foundation again received over 300 applications, so it was incredibly difficult for the panel to choose only five finalists when the standard was so high.
Members of the Matthew Good Foundation can now vote for their favourite. The finalists are:
Hull & East Yorkshire Powerchair Football Club
Hull & East Yorkshire Powerchair Football Club gives disabled people who use a wheelchair or powerchair, the chance to play powerchair football at either a social or competitive level. This allows physically disabled people to play a fast-paced team game, something that most of its members have never been able to do. Most of the club’s members are people that can’t physically play sports like wheelchair basketball and struggle to find a team sport they can take part in independently.
ShowerBox
ShowerBox was founded by Sarah Lamptey. While volunteering for various homeless organisations, Sarah learned of the huge need for showers in London and set about working out what she could do to help. After a successful fundraising campaign, Sarah was able to buy a trailer and convert it into a mobile shower unit, which has been operating in London ever since. Wanting to help more people around the UK, ShowerBox is now looking to expand in other UK cities such as Birmingham and Manchester.
Still Good Food
Still Good Food is a local independent charity working to reduce food waste. They do this by redistributing surplus food and food up to and beyond its Best Before Date, but that is still good to eat, from supermarkets and other local retailers, producers and growers, through their shop in Bury St Edmunds on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis. This helps to combat food waste but also helps to support many low-income families as they can access good food for a small donation.
Tulgey Woods Sanctuary
Tulgey Woods Sanctuary is a 10-acre wildlife haven situated in the city centre of Plymouth. The land was earmarked for 125 houses but has now been saved and is run as a project to increase biodiversity and to educate people about how they can give nature a boost.
Welcome to English
Welcome to English was created by Karen van Diesen to help newcomers to Hull (mostly refugees and asylum seekers) to practise English, make new friends and find out more about living in Hull. They achieve this with the help of around 35 befriender volunteers, most of whom are qualified teachers. In the last 4 years, they have helped around 800 learners to speak English, learn about life in the UK and help them to adapt and become part of the local community.
The Grants for Good Fund supports small charities, groups, and individuals passionate about making a difference to people, their community, or the environment. The fund is open to brand new projects with innovative ideas and established charities whose average income is less than £50,000 per year.
