Events

  • 24th March 2010 - Call to Action at the Bar!


    Last year, an unlikely group of bar stewards stepped forward to pull a few pints behind the bar at Metro Bar & Grill, to help raise funds for the Birmingham Community Foundation.

    In March, the lads raised a staggering £2,000 in just over two hours; this paved the way for the ladies who rose to the challenge in October and raised a very respectable £1,186 - both amounts were immediately doubled via the Grassroots endowment match challenge bringing the total up to £6372!

    Our next Call to Action at the Bar event takes place on Wednesday 24th March 6-8pm and because the double your donation (Grassroots endowment match challenge) is still underway all funds raised will once again be doubled!

    Bar Stewards:
     David Bucknall, Graham Nicoll, John Matthews, Philip Calcutt, John Nolan, Chris Tomlinson and Nick Westley-Smith are our bar stewards for the evening so why not make a note of the date, invite your friends and colleagues and drop in after work - we'd love to welcome you to the Metro... so start refining those heckling skills now!

    Sponsorship opportunities:
    We are also offering pump sponsorship; for just £100 you can have your logo mounted.  Because of the Grassroots endowment match challenge we can automatically turn your £100 into £200 towards the Foundation’s work.  Simply email your company logo to suzanne@bhamfoundation.co.uk or jennifer.chatham@btinternet.com stating 'Metro Pump Sponsorship Mar 2010' in the Subject field.


    For more information:
    Contact jennifer.chatham@btinternet.com or suzanne@bhamfoundation.co.uk

  • 15th December 2009 - Birmingham Community Foundation Christmas Prom


    Thank you to everyone who came along to our Christmas Prom - the Prom / Carol Concert mix this year worked well and we have already received a request for a booking for next years concert - fantastic!!

    The approx figure raised is £6,660 and as this was part of our Grassroots Endowment Match (see opposite) it is now worth over £13,000!!

    A huge thank you to everyone who made a donation on the night.

    Background information:
    Tthe Birmingham Community Foundation Christmas Prom (organised in association with Hyder Consulting for the sixth consecutive year) - was held on Tuesday 15th December at the Town Hall, Birmingham.

    Guests enjoyed singing along to many favourite carols as well as waving their flags to the rousing songs of traditional prom nights including Pomp & Circumstance and Jerusalem - an enjoyable time was had by all!!

    Compered by broadcaster and journalist Adrian Goldberg and performed by the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of conductor, Richard Laing.

    Tickets were: £20 (Circle) and £15 (Stalls)

    The following companies/individuals committed to sponsorship:
    Leader - Jobson James
    Choir - Dickens Foundation
    Organ - Calthorpe Estates
    Harp - Annette Cocksedge
    Photographer - Marc Kirsten Photography
    1/2 page Programme advert - Metro Bar & Grill
    1/2 page Programme advert - Emprima Limited
    Full page Programme advert - Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd
    Full page Programme advert - Barclays Wealth
    Sponsoring design of Programme - Core Marketing
    Flowers - John Matthews Associates
    Mince Pies - Town Hall
    Metro Bar & Grill - special pre-concert two course meal offer (£15 per person) for concert goers; once your tickets have been booked, please call Metro Bar on 0121 200 1911 quoting ref: Christmas Prom

    Thank you for your support

    Additional details / Promotional materials:
    Christmas Prom Public Flyer (Town Hall Box Office Details)
    Christmas Prom Tickets now on Sale - 15th September 09
    Christmas Prom flyer - Aug 09 (please print and pin to notice boards etc)
    Metro Signs up to Christmas Prom - Release 6 July 2009
    Christmas Prom tickets now on sale - 12th June 2009
    Save the Date Flyer

    For further information please email: christmasprom@bhamfoundation.co.uk


    • 29th October 2009 - Halloween Quiz - Clarke Willmott

      Clarke Willmott are holding a Halloween Quiz which promises to be an evening of fun, food and spooky goings on whilst testing the teams general knowledge!

      The quiz is being held on Thursday 29th October at San Paolo restaurant, off St Paul's Square; there will be a raffle on the evening will all profits on the night going to the Birmingham Community Foundation!

      Places have all been taken but we will update you on the funds raised shortly after the event - we wish all the teams the very best of luck - we hope you have an enjoyable evening!

        • 18th October 2009 - Heroic Symphony, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra

          A truly revolutionary symphony to open a new season - Beethoven’s intended tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte, finally dedicated “to the memory of a great man”. Mozart’s concertante work shows his love of writing for wind instruments, and Rossini’s brilliant overture has all the wit and sparkle that we recognise from this master of opera. Raising funds for the BPO Grassroots Community Fund

          For further information please download the promotional flyer or visit: www.bpo.org.uk

          • 14th October 2009 - Called to Action at the Bar!


            Several months ago an unlikely group of bar stewards stepped forward to pull a few pints behind the bar at Metro to help raise funds for the Foundation. A staggering £2,000 was raised in just over two hours! (see Call to Action at the Bar 26th March 09)

            The challenge for the ladies from the business community of Birmingham took place recently to do the very same in an attempt to beat the boys' fund raising efforts. The ladies inevitably rose to the challenge en masse, and Wednesday 14th October 2009 from 6pm - 8pm was deemed to be the date when the girls hoped to rise to the challenge!

            Beer pumps were once again available for sponsorship at £100 each; those fair damsels who signed up included: Claire-Elaine Arthurs; Alex Bishop, Suzie Branch; Anne Brookes; Kay Cadman, Lorraine Francis, Philippa Griffiths; Menna Rees-Steer; Dawn Roberts, Roula Samaha and Jo Sollom...

            We have counted and recounted the money raised and the grand total including sponsorship, tips, Gift Aid etc was £1186, with the Grassroots Grants match this has been doubled to £2372! A fantastic amount of money in just over two hours - thank you to all who took part and to those of you who came along to support and damsels!!

            Thanks also go to: BHMG Marketing Litd, Solihull Osteopathic Practice, Glenn Howells Ltd and Metro Bar & Grill for each sponsoring a beer pump at £100 each!

          • 11th October 2009 - EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon



            Following the success of the 2008 event, Birmingham City Council and EDF Energy have officially launched the 2009 EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon, which was staged on Sunday 11 October at 10am...

            ...and this year we were delighted to announce that we had our very own Birmingham Community Foundation team running...

            Our team:
            David Bucknall - Rider Levett Bucknall
            Graham Nicoll - Barclays Wealth
            Tom Williams - Rider Levett Bucknall
            Neil Jones
            Simon Matthews
            Isabel Monk - Clarke Associates
            Chris Lea - Stoford Developments
            Jason Hayward - Saks Hair & Beauty Salon
            Greg Bloor - Saks Hair & Beauty Salon
            Natalie Sprowell - Saks Hair & Beauty Salon
            Mark Allen - Saks Hair & Beauty Salon
            Kevan Carr - Saks Hair & Beauty Salon
            Anthony Geary

            To date the team have raised: £4000! With the match funding available from the Grassroots Endowment Challenge this can be matched 100% bringing the total to £8,000 - fantastic!!

            Donate Online Now: www.justgiving.com/BCFHalfMarathon

            For further details:
            EDF Energy Birmingham Half Marathon where you will find race info etc

            Releases:
            Foundation Runners get set for 1/2 Marathon - 29th September 09


            Birmingham Future             also have a team running in the marathon to raise funds for their Future Foundation Fund which is being administered by the Birmingham Community Foundation

          • 28th August 2009 - BDO Birmingham - 3 Peaks Challenge


            On the 28th August 29 members of BDO Birmingham along with 6 drivers will be embarking on the challenge of a lifetime and attempting to complete the 3 peaks challenge within 24 hours!

            The Five of Hearts is a Birmingham based organisation which consists of 5 charities: Acorns Childrens Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham Focus on Blind, Birmingham Community Foundation and St Basils.

            Please click here for further information or to help BDO Birmingham reach their target of £10,000 for Five of Hearts - thank you for your support

          • 17th July 2009 - Dress Down for Foundation Day


            Birmingham Community Foundation celebrates its 12th year of operation on 20th July, but we have chosen to celebrate it on the nearest Friday to *Foundation Day 2009 by organising a dress down day at **£2:00 per person...

            ...if you/your company can do the same then simply download the Foundation Day Flyer and Donation Form and circulate amongst your freinds/colleagues and have some fun on Friday 17th July helping raise much needed funds for local good causes!

            If you are unable to take part this year then why not think about raising funds for the Birmingham Community Foundation through the Dress Down Days your company may already organise or download our Fund Raising ideas document for other ways to raise funds for the Foundation!

            Please email: tenika@bhamfoundation.co.uk or suzanne@bhamfoundation.co.uk for further information / to discuss your ideas

            *Foundation Day would normally be on the 20th July, but we're choosing the nearest Friday for our celebration!
            **It is also worth knowing that with Gift Aid your donation will = £2.56 and with the current Government Grasssroots Endowment Initiative we can double your donations (until March 2011) so that your £2:00 +Gift Aid = £5.12!

          • 4th June 2009 - BYPY 2009 - Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards

            Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2009 - nine years in and Birmingham's biggest and best business awards ceremony shows no sign of slowing down... in fact, BYPY is actuallly getting bigger!

            This years event raised £3,855 for the Future Foundation fund which is being adminstered by the Birmingham Community Foundation.


            Suzie Branch, client services director at BHMG Marketing, was crowned Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (BYPY) 2009 in the awards ceremony held at the ICC.


            Congratulations to the Chair of our Donor Development & PR Committee - Graham Nicoll who won the Financial Sector award and to one of our Grant Making Co-optees Claire-Elaine Arthurs who won the Legal Sector Award!

            For further information please visit: BYPY website

          • 26th April 09 - The Environment Prom and Schools Eco Status Exhibition

            The Environment Prom (organised in association with the Birmingham Community Foundation, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra and CIWEM) took place recently where all of the music was inspired by the environment.

            £880 was raised from the concert from programme / flag sales and a bucket collection which was held at the end of the evening - in aid of the Birmingham Community Foundation.

            The concert which took place on the evening of Sunday 26th April 2009 at 7pm at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham was preceeded by a Schools Eco Status Exhibition within Symphony Hall.

            What is ECO School Status?
            As part of the government initiative for every school to be sustainable by 2020, the Department for Children, Schools and Families launched their Sustainable Schoolsframework in 2006.

            Eco Schools is an international award programme guiding schools towards sustainability with a framework to help embed its principles in the heart of school life.

            If you wish to find out more about Eco Schools please visit:
            www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools/framework
            www.eco-schools.org.uk/

            Press Releases:
            27th March 09 - Eco Schools Plea
            18th March 09 - Ballads for a Living Planet

            For further information on the concert, please download the Environment Prom Flyer

          • 27th March 09 - Birmingham & West Midlands Society Annual Dinner


            Birmingham and West Midlands Society have raised funds for the Birmingham Community Foundation at their Annual Dinner which took place on Friday 27th March at a sparkling brand new venue to Birmingham, the "New Bingley Hall".

            Thank you to the following companies who donated prizes for the raffle:
            Birmingham Repertory Theatre
            Solace Spa
            Radisson Hotel Birmingham
            Teamworks Karting (Birmingham)
            Birmingham Royal Ballet

            The evening raised just over £1,500 - thank you to everyone involved and who were there on the night for your contribution! These funds will go into the Government backed Grassroots Endowment Challenge

          • 26th March 09 – Call To Action at the Bar, 5:30pm – 7:30pm


            Fantastic night was had by all - with Ed James from the Heart FM Breakfast Show joining the unlikely bar stewards of David Bucknall, Derek Inman, Nick Venning, John Matthews, Graham Nicoll and Tom Williams from the Birmingham Community Foundation who were all pitching their wares behind the bar at the Metro Bar & Grill!

            Metro are donating £250 (a percentage of the night’s profits) plus ALL tips to the Foundation’s government backed Grassroots Endowment Challenge scheme - funds raised on the night came in at just over £400 which was fantastic - thank you to everyone who came along and contributed...

            Sponsorship: A total of five pumps were sponsored at £100 each by Drivers Jonas, Pertemps, Rider Levett Bucknall, Shaylor Group and Greenwoods. Barclays Wealth have also provided match funding of £750. Metro Bar & Grill gave us the venue as well as additional fudns raised.

            ...bringing the total amount raised to just under £2,000 - with match funding via the Grassroots Endowment Challenge this brings funds in to just under £4,000!

            Thanks also go to:
            Core Marketing for printing the labels for the pumps
            PCL Digital for design and print of table leaflet for the evening

          • 20th Feb 09 - Birmingham Future, Chairman's Annual Ball

            Choir boys

            This year the highlight of Future's social calendar, the Annual Ball went back to the Dark Ages - this Medival Feast was complete with jugs of ale, roaring fires and fair maidens.

            All of the proceeds from this years raffle (£1,600) were donated to the Future Foundation fund set up by Matt Taylor, Chairman, Birmingham Future - see Birmingham Future blog for further details...

          • 10th Feb 09 - Parliamentary Reception

            Choir boys

            Derek Inman Chief Executive of the Birmingham Community Foundation joined over 300 leaders of Community Foundations from across Britain to promote effective charitable giving to MP's and Peers from all political parties today.

            The Community Foundation Network’s annual Parliamentary reception, hosted by CFN President, Baroness Prashar in the House of Lords, was addressed by Minister for the Third Sector, Kevin Brennan MP. Brennan praised the work of the organisations which together made around £70 million in grants to over 20,000 local community groups last year.

            Local MP Steve McCabe heard how, with the support of local philanthropists, Birmingham Community Foundation has made over £3 million in grants in the past twelve months, helping cash strapped community groups and projects through the credit crunch.

            Derek Inman said:

            “We want our local MPs to understand the amazing contribution being made to the community by local philanthropists here in Birmingham and the Black Country .One local person has given £200,000 of his own money in the past twelve months to support a local project, making a real difference to hundreds of local people.”

            “It’s hugely gratifying to be able to recognise such public spiritedness, and we wanted our local MP(s) to understand that even in these difficulty times there are local people ready to put their hands in their pockets to help those less fortunate than themselves.”

  • What We Do

    The Birmingham Community Foundation is one of the few locally based charities offering a community wide agenda that offers direct support to the regeneration of local communities within the Greater Birmingham Area.
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    The Birmingham Community Foundation is an independent charity that offers direct support to grassroots organisations within the Greater Birmingham Area.
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