One Community Foundation Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,701,852 (2023/24)
• Success Rate: 61%
• Decision Time: 1-8 weeks (depending on fund)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: Kirklees, West Yorkshire (HD postcodes)

Contact Details

• Website: www.one-community.org.uk
• Email: hayley@one-community.org.uk
• Phone: 01484 468397
• Address: C/o Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors, 13 Railway Street, Huddersfield HD1 1JS
• Charity Number: 1135258

Overview

ONE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LIMITED was established in May 2010 as the community foundation for Kirklees, West Yorkshire. The foundation's mission is to generate financial support for local community activities and build endowment funds that deliver lasting contributions to local groups and the wider community. With total grants of over £7 million distributed since inception, the foundation is “proudly independent with a simple mission to do good.” In 2023/24, they awarded 388 grants totalling £1,701,852. The foundation operates around 20 different funds established by businesses, philanthropists, and families, with grant income distributed from these endowments. CEO Emma Woods-Bolger emphasizes that they “fund what our community needs” and use “community connections to make sure every donation makes the most impact,” working through a network of over 2,500 Kirklees-based charities and community organisations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

One Community Foundation administers multiple grant programs with varying amounts and focuses:

• Community Grants Programme: £1 - £3,000 for local community projects and registered charities (fixed deadline rounds throughout the year)
• Cost of Living Crisis Fund: Up to £10,000 for projects supporting vulnerable people with essential items such as food, gas, and electricity (fixed deadlines)
• Local Care Direct Fund: £1,000 - £10,000 for projects tackling mental health issues (fixed deadlines)
• Digital Access and Skills Fund (QFutures): Up to £5,000 for projects providing digital access and skills across Kirklees (fixed deadlines)
• Environmental Programme: Up to £2,000 for initiatives tackling climate change and boosting biodiversity (fixed deadlines)
• Thornton Family Fund: Up to £5,000 for grassroots or charitable purposes in HD postcodes (fixed deadlines)
• Arts and Culture Fund: For artistic and cultural activities in specific Holme Valley areas (amounts vary)

Additional named funds include: JL Brierley, Hazel Charlesworth, Judith and Neil Charlesworth, Kirklees Community Fund, Stephen Wood Fund, Kirklees General Fund, Kirklees Police Fund, One Kirklees Parish Fund, Accept Cards Fund, and Heckmondwike Funds.

Application Method: Fixed deadline rounds for most funds; applications submitted through online portal with email link system.

Priority Areas

• Supporting vulnerable and marginalized communities with essential needs
• Mental health initiatives
• Grassroots sports participation for children and young people
• Environmental sustainability and climate action
• Digital inclusion and skills development
• Arts and cultural activities in specific communities
• Community development and cohesion projects

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions include:

• Projects with start dates less than eight weeks after closing dates (no retrospective funding)
• Applications from organizations outside Kirklees
• Projects that duplicate existing provision
• Applications from charities with overdue annual returns
• Applications from organizations with qualified accounts
• Applications from charities with active regulatory warnings from the Charity Commission

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Governance and Leadership

CEO: Emma Woods-Bolger leads the foundation's work in supporting local communities.

Trustees: The foundation is governed by volunteer trustees who serve at the highest level of the charity, ensuring legal and effective operations. Known trustees include Qaisar Mahmood. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Grant Panel Process: Grant panels, chaired by a trustee with at least two additional members, collectively consider eligible applications and make recommendations. Donor representatives and expert advisors (such as police and youth services) may be invited where applicable. Trustees make the final decision on all grants awarded.

Key Quotes from Leadership

Emma Woods-Bolger on the foundation's concern for vulnerable communities:

“As a charity and the community foundation for Kirklees we are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living and what it means for our most vulnerable and marginalised communities.”

On helping donors and the foundation's approach:

"Helping your community can be daunting. Often you don't know where to start, who to help or how your donation is used."

The foundation describes itself as “a specialist team of local experts who put donations to work through a growing network of over 2,500 Kirklees-based charities and community organisations.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Submit online application: Click 'apply now' button for the chosen fund, enter your email address to receive a unique link to start the application
2. Ensure eligibility: Charity registration numbers must match registered names and addresses; organizations must be based in Kirklees

Decision Timeline

• Decision time ranges from 7 days to 8 weeks depending on the specific fund
• Grant panels review eligible applications and make recommendations to trustees
• Trustees make final decisions on all grants
• Project start dates must be at least 8 weeks after the closing date

Success Rates

Recent data (March 31, 2024 to April 1, 2025) shows:

• 502 applications received
• 307 grants awarded
• 61% success rate
• Total distributed: over £1.2 million

In 2023/24:

• 388 grants awarded
• Total distributed: £1,701,852

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants receive an email containing:

• Feedback explaining why the grant was unsuccessful
• Guidance on how to improve the application
• The specific date when they can next apply

Note: Notification emails can go to junk folders, so applicants should monitor their email carefully. There is a waiting period before reapplication, communicated individually to each unsuccessful applicant.

Application Success Factors

Key Requirements for Strong Applications

Organizational Compliance:

• Charity registration must be current with no overdue annual returns
• Accounts must not be qualified
• No active regulatory warnings from Charity Commission
• Must be based in Kirklees

Project Clarity:

• Clear articulation of what the project will do with the funding
• Demonstration of how the project will make a difference
• No duplication of existing provision
• Project start date at least 8 weeks after application deadline

Previous Grant Performance:

• Any outstanding evaluations from grants received in the past two years must be completed before panel papers are distributed
• Strong track record of delivering on promised outcomes enhances future applications

Recent Project Examples

• Oakes Community Café: Received £357 from the Judith and Neil Charlesworth Fund to expand facilities and serve more people
• Various projects focused on cost-of-living support, mental health, digital skills, and environmental initiatives

Additional Support Available

• Fundraising Workshops: One Community intermittently runs workshops to help groups write better applications
• Funding Advice: Can provide guidance on which funds to approach
• Network Access: Connection to over 2,500 Kirklees-based charities and community organizations

Foundation's Assessment Approach

The foundation conducts a “sense check” to ensure:

• Project objectives are clear
• Use of funds is well-articulated
• Impact is demonstrable
• Organization has capacity to deliver

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic specificity is critical: Only Kirklees-based organizations are eligible; ensure your charity registration address matches this requirement
• Plan ahead for timelines: Projects must start at least 8 weeks after application deadline, so factor this into your planning
• Complete outstanding evaluations: If you've received funding from One Community in the past two years, ensure all evaluations are submitted before applying again
• 61% success rate indicates moderate competition: While success is achievable, applications must be well-prepared and demonstrate clear impact
• Multiple funds available: Review all available programs carefully to identify the best fit for your project, as they have around 20 different funds with varying focuses
• Articulate impact clearly: The foundation emphasizes the importance of explaining how funding will “make a difference” to the community
• Leverage their support services: Take advantage of fundraising workshops and funding advice to strengthen your application
• Keep organizational compliance current: Overdue returns, qualified accounts, or regulatory warnings will result in automatic rejection

References

1. Charity Commission Register - ONE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LIMITED (Charity 1135258): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1135258

1. One Community Foundation official website - Grants Available: https://one-community.org.uk/how-to-apply-for-funding-grants-available/

1. One Community Foundation official website - How to Apply for Funding: https://one-community.org.uk/how-to-apply-for-funding/

1. One Community Foundation official website - Funding FAQs: https://one-community.org.uk/funding-faqs/

1. One Community Foundation official website - Trustees and Staff: https://one-community.org.uk/trustees-and-staff.php

1. Huddersfield Hub - “One Community has given £7m to good causes in Kirklees and is always there to help”: https://huddersfieldhub.co.uk/one-community-has-given-7m-to-good-causes-in-kirklees-and-is-always-there-to-help/

1. One Community Foundation - “Will you help people locally with the Cost-of-Living Crisis”: https://one-community.org.uk/will-you-help-people-locally-with-the-cost-of-living-crisis/

1. Third Sector Leaders Kirklees - “One Community Foundation seeks trustees”: https://tslkirklees.org.uk/one-community-foundation-seeks-trustees/

1. Localgiving - One Community Foundation Kirklees profile: https://localgiving.org/charity/one-community-foundation-kirklees