Community Support Fund - Dudley Building Society

Supporting those that give back to our local community

Launched in January 2023, our Community Support Fund aimed to support and celebrate those who give back to our Black Country community during the cost-of-living crisis.

We wanted our members and our local community to have a say in how we support our community heroes, by giving them the voice to nominate charities, organisations and individuals to receive money from the allocated £30,000.

Did you know that we're currently running our 2024 Community Support Fund? Click the button below to find out more.

Community Support Fund 2024

Funding recipients

After careful consideration of the 300 nominations received for over 100 amazing causes, we donated £3,000 to;

Leslie’s Care Packages

Founder Vi Wood will use the money to “help to provide food and toiletry parcels, electrical items and white goods, top up gas and electric meters for (their) referrals”

Brierley Hill Babybank

Funds will help provide essential items such as mattresses and bottle sterilisers, as well as to support and upskill their workers, ready for the introduction of their family hubs concept.

Black Country Food Bank

"It will help us to provide emergency food and toiletry parcels for vulnerable individuals and families in crisis" - Jen Coleman, on Behalf of the Foodbank

The Haven Refuge

The women's refuge will use their donation where needed most, from purchasing new furniture for the refuge to supporting the children's team who may wish to take the children on a fun day out.

We also gifted £1,500 to each of the below;

Kids Clothes Project

With around 10-20 referrals a week, clothes are having to be purchased to keep up with demand. The donation will be used to help provide the community to supply good quality children's clothes for children aged 2 to 12 years, for families in need.

Friend of Di's Kitchen

Volunteers work hard to deliver meals to those who have been referred to the charity across Wolverhampton. Our donation will also help them distribute weekly food bags, made by surplus fresh food by local supermarkets, to families.

Crafting for Communities

The list of items made from hand to support a variety of charities, including Acorns Children's Hospice, Women's Aid, Mary Stevens Hospice and so many more, is endless. From scrubs and toys to dementia items, the funds will most certainly help towards the making and distribution of around 3,000-5,000 items each month for the community,

Ravens Rescue

This local animal charity received a large number of nominations to receive funding to continue with rehoming animals and providing pet parcels to those on low income, struggling or homeless.

Dudley Crossroads

Helping carers by providing a trained carer to take over the duties form the carer for a few hours, allowing them to have a break.

Hope House Gornal

Their community café located in Gornal provides a safe space to make friends. With the money they can also offer a telephone befriending service, offering a call to week to those in need.

Dudley Young Carers part of Sandwell Crossroads

Dudley Young Carers team provide free confidential one to one support for unpaid carers in the community and make referrals to other agencies.

With the remaining funds, we donated £535 to the below local community support organisations.

Access to Business

Their mission is for all disadvantaged people to realise their full potential and to have an equal opportunity to compete in the workplace.

Click here to find out more.

Batchley Support Group

The group aim to empower their local community, where their "get more for less" pantry helps families that need support with fresh, frozen and general foods in times of need.

Click here to find out more.

Big Venture Centre

A community owned, community run hub providing local people with a range of services including a community café.

Click here to find out more.

Friends of Isaac's Food Bank CIC

Satrted in November 2020 by Isaac to help people in need through Christmas, the charity will use the donation so Isaac can continue providing food and essential items from his home.

Click here to find out more.

Give Us A Break

A charity run by volunteers in Wolverhampton, providing activities for children and young people with severe and complex learning difficulties and physical impairments.

Click here to find out more.

Gornal Together Community Group

Gornal together are a community-based group of volunteers, who organise local events to raise funds to improve their village for those living in it.

Click here to find out more.

Hand in Hand Centre

The centre checks upon local vunerable people by shopping, providing practical help and meals organised for those in need.

Hope Community Project

The project reaches out to support those who are isolated, vulnerable and disadvantaged. From running a community cafe, phone befriending services to parenting workshops, the funds willl allow them to continue reaching out to their community.

Click here to find out more.

Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer

Supporting those dealing with the life-changing breast cancer diagnosis, including supporting their family and friends.

Click here to find out more.

Mary Stevens Hospice

Based in Stourbridge, the hospice provide specialist care and support for people who are living with an incurable illness, and their families.

Click here to find out more.

New Bell FC Homeless Outreach

The New Bell FC homeless outreach group are feeding over 100 homeless people in Birmingham city centre every Saturday.

Santa's Black Country Toy Appeal

The appeal supports 0-16 year olds who would otherwise get nothing for Christmas, believing no child should think that Santa has forgotten them.

Click here to find out more.

White House cancer Support

White House Cancer Support provides a range of services to assist individuals with both the physical and emotional effects of cancer.

Click here to find out more.

Wild Earth Movement

The Wild Earth Movement is an environmental not -for-profit organisation, with a strong focus on waste and plastic pollution.

Click here to find out more.

Thank you!

On behalf of Black Country Foodbank, I would like to thank you for your donaiton of £3000. It will help us to provide emergency food and toiletry parcels for vulnerable individuals and famlies in crisis. We were delighted to learn that we had been nominated and awarded this amazing amount.

Black Country Foodbank

Such a wondeful surprise! We are now seeing around 170 families a week visit us for much needed help and that donation will go a very long way to reduce food poverty within our local community. Isaac and the team are so grateful for your support and thankful to whoever it was that nominated us.

Friends of Isaac's Food Bank CIC

I really did not have any idea about this, so you can imagine how I felt when I was informed that LCP will be receiving funding.

A massive thank you to everyone who nominated LCP and thank you so much to Dudley Building Society.

Leslie's Care Packages CIC

Further Support & Guidance

The cost-of-living crisis continues to affect many people in lots of different ways.

If you feel that you could benefit from any of the above services, or know somebody else that may, please click on the links provided to find out more.

There way be ways that we can offer support & guidance during these times. Find out more by clicking below.

Help & Support