By Sally Dickinson, Head of Foundation
I’m really proud to be sharing the Berkeley Foundation Annual Review 2024.
At the Berkeley Foundation, we have the privilege of working with fantastic community organisations every day. Our partners are delivering vital frontline services – from housing advice, to employment support, to mental health services – to the people who need them. The golden thread that runs through all this work is connection and community. At its best, the voluntary sector has an amazing ability to create safe spaces and develop trusted relationships, to bring people together and help us all feel less alone.
This review highlights our key initiatives and achievements across our five impact goals: youth homelessness, employment opportunities for young people, health and wellbeing, promoting youth leadership, and strengthening the voluntary sector.
We work through long-term partnerships with expert charities delivering for communities across London, Birmingham and the South of England. One example is our partnership with The Lord’s Taverners (p.40), which has been running since 2013. After renewing the partnership this year, we’re looking forward to another three years of working together to extend cricket opportunities to even more disabled young people.
Our approach is also illustrated by our partnership with The Change Foundation (p24). We value organisations that are led by-and-for the communities they support. Over 70% of the coaches on the Street Elite programme are previous programme participants, and this lived experience ensures they understand the challenges the young people on Street Elite face.
This year we have evolved our work with Berkeley Group, to offer more options for young people supported by our partners who are looking to enter the world of work. I’m grateful to all the Berkeley colleagues who have set up CV and employability skills workshops, hosted site visits and shared their experiences.
As we reflect on the past year, I want to thank staff across the Berkeley Group, who together have raised an incredible £941,000 for our charity partners this year. Without your support, none of this work would be possible.
I hope you enjoy reading the Annual Review and join us in celebrating the accomplishments of the past year. We look forward to your feedback and continued collaboration as we work towards creating even greater impact in the years to come.