A Note from Andrew CEO In 2019 we celebrated a big birthday - 40 years of connecting people who care to causes that matter. We had some great celebratory moments! It’s strange writing about those now, looking back at 19/20; currently, it is Autumn 2020 I am writing from the shed at the bottom of my garden and we are beginning to anticipate what the next few months bring for the sector. In some ways it makes the memories and achievements of 19/20 shine all the brighter, particularly when I think of some of the face-to-face meetings and events that we had that are currently impossible. For example, the fantastic 40th birthday party at Belfast Met where we were able to distribute 40 grants of £1,000 to organisations doing amazing work with older people. Or the bustling Democracy Day at Stormont where coalitions were formed and re-formed as we facilitated a unique and energising process to help groups work together to create innovative new forms of public participation. Or the more thoughtful meals that we had as we build our network of philanthropists, supporting and encouraging them as they work with us to bring change in parts of society that they care about. No doubt the opportunity for face-to-face engagement will return; in 2021 we have many plans that are more important than ever given the circumstances we’re facing. We will continue to be a proactive, supportive, flexible funder as communities face the Covid-19 crisis; we will launch new funds and partnerships - including a new matched funding partnership with the Department for Communities; we will develop our key programmes and tailor them to the new environment, including the Peace Impact Programme; the 5th year of the Techies in Residence, our Civic Innovation work and more. We have a unique place in the community to assist in a crisis, and we will step up to support the thousands of people who are working together to protect and support their communities. At the Foundation we will remain true to our values - Generous, Thriving and Together and we’ll focus on embedding these in our culture and everything we do. I am proud of the way our team has worked together, to connect people who care to causes that matter and support the most disadvantaged communities in Northern Ireland.
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