Riverside Foundation

Charity Number: 513727

Annual Expenditure: £2.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2,390,000 (2024/25)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: £370 - £10,000 (examples from funded projects)
  • Geographic Focus: England, Wales and Scotland (emphasis on areas where Riverside Group provides housing)

Contact Details

Website: www.riverside.org.uk/riversidefoundation

Email: foundation@riverside.org.uk

Phone: 07970627731

Community Fund enquiries: foundation@riverside.org.uk

Overview

The Riverside Foundation (Charity number 513727) is a registered charity in England and Wales, founded in 1983. The Foundation exists to provide practical support to help people overcome obstacles for a better quality of life, with emphasis on areas where The Riverside Group Ltd (a major housing association) has provided housing accommodation. In 2024/25, the Foundation provided £2.39 million in funding to support projects aligned with Riverside's Communities and Livelihoods Strategy. Since the Community Fund launched in 2022, more than £450,000 has been awarded to over 100 projects, positively impacting over 88,000 beneficiaries. The Foundation is governed by seven trustees with no remuneration, demonstrating a commitment to maximizing charitable impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Fund: £288,000 available in 2024/25 for projects promoting opportunities, wellbeing, and tackling poverty. The Fund operates with two tiers:

  • Small Grants: Examples range from £370 to approximately £3,000
  • Large Grants: Examples range from approximately £4,500 to £10,000

Helping Hand Fund: Over £500,000 distributed in 2023/24 through 4,000+ awards to individual Riverside customers for one-off purchases (e.g., replacing appliances, fuel vouchers, interview clothing). This is primarily for direct customer support rather than organizational grants.

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on three strategic priorities:

1. Opportunity – Enabling customers and their families to meet aspirations and enhance economic prosperity by:

  • Building skills and improving digital inclusion
  • Supporting access to employment and education
  • Providing tutoring programs

2. Community – Creating and celebrating safe, sustainable and inclusive communities that are empowered to make change through:

  • Community events and celebrations
  • Warm hubs and community spaces
  • Environmental projects
  • Youth initiatives and provision

3. Support – Recognizing vulnerability and helping customers find their way through:

  • Financial, practical and emotional support
  • Food insecurity initiatives
  • Fuel poverty support
  • Tenancy sustainment services

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, applications must:

  • Demonstrate that at least 50% of beneficiaries are Riverside residents (critical requirement)
  • Not benefit organizations or individuals outside Riverside's operational areas without established local presence
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: Seven trustees serve the Foundation, none receiving remuneration or payments from the charity. The Foundation Chair is Mark Cullinan.

Leadership: The Riverside Group's Chief Executive Officer is Paul Dolan (appointed May 2024), who oversees the organization's strategic direction including foundation activities.

Key Quote from Leadership:

Mark Cullinan, Chair of the Riverside Foundation, stated: "We're delighted to be able to provide £250,000 to support 33 food charities, across the areas where most of our Riverside and One Housing customers live, enabling them to purchase essential food provisions for households facing food poverty."

Paul Dolan, Group Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the investment focus: "We do this by investing in our customers' homes – ensuring they are safe, well maintained, and as energy efficient as possible."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through two separate application forms:

  • Small Grants Application Form
  • Large Grants Application Form

Both forms and guidance notes are available for download at www.riverside.org.uk/community-fund/

Pre-Application Support: The Foundation encourages organizations to contact the team at foundation@riverside.org.uk with questions or to discuss eligibility before applying.

Application Method: Download application form, complete, and submit electronically. Review guidance notes carefully before applying.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly stated. The Foundation reviews applications on an ongoing basis throughout the funding year.

Success Rates

Success rate percentages are not publicly available. However, the Foundation supported 85 funding applications in 2024/25 out of the £288,000 Community Fund allocation.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Contact the Foundation team for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Critical Eligibility Requirement

At least 50% of beneficiaries must be Riverside residents. This is the most important criterion and applications will not succeed without meeting this threshold.

Target Applicants

The Foundation particularly welcomes applications from:

  • Grassroots organizations with local presence in Riverside neighbourhoods
  • Charities and not-for-profit organizations
  • Constituted groups and clubs
  • Informal community groups

Organizations serving a wider area can apply if they demonstrate an established local presence in Riverside communities.

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

  • Mandela8: £9,999 for community mural project
  • Cliftonville Volunteers: £2,999 for community engagement
  • SPLAT: £4,500 for youth provision in Stoke
  • St Leonards Community Pantry: £9,002.68 for food poverty support
  • Torrington Drive Community Association: £9,835 for School Holiday Hunger Project
  • Rising Tides: £2,700 for Good COP Bad COP 28 Festival
  • New beginnings Improving Lives Liverpool: £2,072 for warm hub support
  • STAR (Salterbeck Tenants and Residents): £370 for community activities

Alignment Tips

  • Clearly demonstrate how your project aligns with one or more of the three funding themes (Opportunity, Community, Support)
  • Show evidence of community impact and beneficiary numbers
  • Emphasize how the project will benefit Riverside residents specifically
  • Focus on grassroots, locally-focused initiatives
  • Highlight partnerships with community organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Riverside residents requirement is critical: Ensure 50%+ of beneficiaries are Riverside/One Housing residents and provide clear evidence of this in your application.
  • Contact them first: The Foundation actively encourages pre-application contact for eligibility questions – use this opportunity to strengthen your application.
  • Small is beautiful: With grants from as little as £370, don't be discouraged if you need a modest amount – the Foundation supports projects of all sizes that demonstrate local impact.
  • Align with strategic priorities: Frame your project clearly within one or more of the three themes (Opportunity, Community, Support) using the Foundation's own language.
  • Demonstrate grassroots connection: Applications from organizations with established local presence in Riverside neighbourhoods are particularly welcomed.
  • Show immediate community benefit: Recent funded projects address practical needs like food poverty, warm spaces, youth engagement, and community cohesion – focus on tangible outcomes.
  • Consider the Helping Hand Fund separately: If you're supporting individual Riverside customers with one-off needs, this may be more appropriate than the Community Fund.

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