The role of local philanthropy in East Sussex

Kevin Richmond – Chief ExecutiveSussex Community Foundation

What is SussexCommunity Foundation?

• An independent Charity for Sussex• A local grant maker • A service for donors • A long-term resource

What have we achieved since 2006?

• Awarded £6,788,677 in grants• Supported over 1,500 charities and

community groups• 62 Named Funds• £6 million endowment fund

Grants in East Sussex2006-13

DistrictNumber of Applications

Number of Grants Total awarded

Eastbourne 225 113 £234,315

Hastings 288 142 £351,101

Lewes 352 202 £414,356

Rother 294 196 £415,766

Wealden 294 164 £368,464

Grand Total 1,453 817 £1,784,001880 different groups have applied 520 have received at least one grant

“Valuing the Voluntary sector” estimated 2,048 groups in East Sussex

Sussex Uncovered

• Needs and Strengths of local communities

• Indices of Multiple Deprivation• Supplementary data and advice• Case Studies and examples

Findings

• Inner-city levels of deprivation– Hastings, Bexhill, Eastbourne

• Pockets of rural deprivation– Hailsham, Rye, Eastern Rother

• Disadvantaged people do not only live in deprived areas

• “Double disadvantage in rural areas”

Conclusions

• Severe deprivation in some areas• Double disadvantage in rural areas• Mean annual wage lowest in SE• Child Poverty• High proportion of older people• Poor health and disparity in life expectancy• Homelessness• Access to housing and services

What can we do?

• Network of local community groups addresses isolation and prevents long term problems

• Best solutions come from within the community

• Support long term solutions by helping a community to help itself

60,130 volunteers are involved in voluntaryand community organisations across thecounty, (12% of the total population).They give 133,889 hours of their time worth£1,599,973.55 every week in East Sussex

over 1,300 separate organisations

The voluntary and communitysector in East Sussex has an estimatedincome of £476 million.

The voluntary and community sectoris a major employer within East Sussex,employing more than 10,000 individualsacross the county.

The averageVCO is in fact deemed a micro-enterprise withless than 10 employees...much like our business community

A tough operating environment particularly for medium sized organisations

Limited internal infrastructure on key issues like HR, Legal and governance advice

Source: Valuing the Voluntary Sector an Economic Impact Assessment 3VA,HVA,RVA