A Resilient Voluntary Sector
Charities are the backbone of our communities—bringing people together, responding to local needs and ensuring no one is left behind. Our work on organisational resilience helps our partner charities build the strong foundations they need for long‑term sustainability and impact.
Since 2021:
We’ve invested £834,000 in 30 Resilience Fund partnerships [1]
Our Cohort 1 partners finished the programme 42% more resilient on average. [2]
We developed a peer learning programme to share experience and knowledge between partners. [3]
We have founded and co-chair the London Funders Resilience Network. [4]
Case Studies
Success Club: Improving the Wellbeing, Personal Development and Educational Engagement of Young People
We funded Success Club through the Resilience Fund.
For a long time, Success Club relied heavily on a single core donor and unpredictable grants income but recognised the need for a long-term plan to diversify income.
Tony Dallas, Founder and CEO, was overstretched so our grant supported him to appoint a Business Development Manager, supporting the charity’s long-term goal to expand its programmes.
Tony describes the impact of our partnership:
“With the support of the Berkeley Foundation, we have successfully increased the number of schools that contribute financially towards programmes benefitting their pupils; from one paying school to eight. We’ve also secured funding from Enfield Council and a local youth club, while introducing new revenue streams, such as one-off wellbeing days.
“Operationally, our leadership team has evolved, allowing me to focus on strategic growth while an expanded team handles day-to-day management, fundraising, and programme facilitation.
“The learning opportunities provided by Berkeley Foundation have further enhanced our financial resilience, with staff benefitting from expert-led sessions on charity business models and financial planning.
“As an organisation, we have strengthened our financial sustainability, expanded our reach, and developed a clearer strategic direction. Success Club now operates with a stronger foundation for sustainability. We continue to build on our success by embedding resilience in our financial planning, strengthening partnerships and scaling our impact.”
Sunbeams: Supporting the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Girls in Hackney’s Orthodox Jewish Community
We funded Sunbeams through the Resilience Fund. Yenti Friedmann, Finance & Development Officer, describes the impact of our grant:
“Covid-19, followed by the cost-of-living crisis, highlighted how crucial it is to invest in organisational resilience to ensure we can continue to be adaptable, responsive and sustainable.
“With funding from Berkeley Foundation, Sunbeams has become a more resilient charity with greater financial sustainability and improved operations. In the last two years, we increased staff time and resources to develop a solid business plan and organisational strategy, implement a more robust fundraising strategy, upskill fundraising staff and launch our website.
“The results have been impressive. Our income has grown by 44% with new multi-year contracts and an increase in unrestricted funds. We have launched a new keyworker service, expanded our Wellbeing at School service to five new schools and introduced new therapeutic mentoring activities. Importantly, the launch of our website has resulted in greater promotion of our services, engagement from hard-to-reach users and new partnerships.
“With Berkeley Foundation’s support, we’ve become more financially stable, upskilled our team, and strengthened our infrastructure. Most importantly, we’ve embedded resilience across the organisation so we can continue being there for the girls and young women who rely on us.”
Our Partners
Build Up
Build Up supports young people aged 10 – 25 to design and build public and community spaces. It brings young people, builders and designers together, equipping young people with the tools and agency to shape their future. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
CARAS
CARAS is a leading refugee charity in South West London. It provides firm foundations for new-arrival asylum seekers to build happy and successful lives. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Esteem
Esteem works with young adults to build lasting self-esteem and stronger communities, through group activities and 1-1 support. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Foyer Federation
Foyer Federation supports a UK-wide network of over 50 youth supported housing services to develop so that young people who can't live at home can move on to thrive in adulthood. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Leaders in Community
Leaders in Community is a youth-led charity founded by a group of active local young people from Tower Hamlets. Its programmes are aimed at empowering young people in leadership, governance and skills for life. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
My Life My Say
My Life My Say is a youth-led, non-partisan movement on a mission to encourage young people to participate in democracy, and get every single young person voting. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Poetic Unity
Poetic Unity is a Black-led charity that provides spaces for learning, expression and joy through poetry. Based in Brixton, Poetic Unity offers a service by the community, for the community, predominately supporting young people of Black and mixed-Black heritage, aged 10-30. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Settle
Settle is an award-winning charity that supports care-experienced young people as they move into their first home so they can confidently transition into independent living and thrive. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Social Ark
Social Ark works with talented and resilient young people from under-resourced communities to develop campaigns & social businesses that create change. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Youth Concern
Youth Concern creates spaces where 13–25-year-olds in Aylesbury Vale can feel safe, be real, and be themselves. It provides somewhere to hang out, someone to talk to, and support with housing, mental health. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.