Minorfern Foundation closes first year with £40,000 granted to local charities

Minorfern Foundation completes inaugural year with £40,000 distributed to local charities

The Minorfern Foundation has concluded its first year of charitable giving, awarding a total of £40,000 in unrestricted grants to ten grassroots organisations across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, and Yorkshire. With the final two grants recently disbursed, the Foundation has successfully completed its inaugural funding round, aimed at supporting small charities that deliver tangible, community-level impact.

A photo collage marking the Foundation’s first year features a series of £4,000 cheque handovers involving SDL Minorfern employees and beneficiaries from the supported charities, highlighting the personal connections driving the initiative.

Established in early 2024 by family-owned vehicle parts distributor SDL Minorfern, the Foundation was created to support local charities nominated by the company’s staff. In partnership with the Matthew Good Foundation, ten charities were selected to receive £4,000 each, ensuring a broad spread of funding across causes that matter deeply to employees.

Among the final recipients was Brinsley Animal Rescue, a volunteer-led organisation in Nottinghamshire that offers sanctuary to unwanted and neglected animals—including rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, pigs, and ponies. The charity also operates a busy wildlife hospital, treating hundreds of injured wild animals annually. With no paid staff and facilities donated by its founders, the charity faced a critical gap after its horsebox was condemned. The Minorfern Foundation’s grant arrived just in time to help fund a replacement.

Also receiving support was Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC), nominated by an employee from SDL Minorfern’s Leeds branch. Founded in memory of Andrea Key, YBTC has spent more than 20 years supporting individuals and families affected by brain tumours across Yorkshire while also investing in early-stage research. The £4,000 grant is helping to accelerate promising research projects as they seek further backing.

Other beneficiaries of the Foundation’s first funding round included:

• Walking 4 Hope

• The Children’s Hospital Charity

• Ben’s Den

• Stairfoot Foodbank

• Fairplay

• Babbington Rescue

• Dronfield CFR

• The Howarth Foundation

Each organisation was carefully chosen to reflect a broad range of social causes—from children’s health and emergency response to animal welfare and food insecurity.

Reflecting on the Foundation’s first year, Julie Salter, People & Culture Director at SDL Minorfern, said:

“This has been one of the most rewarding initiatives I’ve been involved with at SDL Minorfern. Supporting such a wide variety of small charities has been both inspiring and humbling. While it was difficult knowing we couldn’t fund every nomination, meeting the people behind these projects reaffirmed how much even a modest grant can achieve. I’ve been genuinely moved by the dedication and compassion of these organisations, and we look forward to continuing this important work in 2025.”

Kirsty Clark, Executive Director of the Matthew Good Foundation, echoed that sentiment:

“What makes this partnership so powerful is the direct connection between SDL Minorfern employees and the local causes they care about. Small charities often do vital work under the radar, and by amplifying their voices and connecting them with resources, we’re seeing real, measurable impact. This is a great example of how business and community can come together for lasting change.”

With a second round of funding already in the works, the Minorfern Foundation is preparing to distribute another £40,000 in grants during the 2025/26 cycle, further strengthening its commitment to grassroots impact and community connection.