TELUS brings its community board model to the UK with £1 million for good causes

New philanthropic model puts funding decisions in the hands of local leaders with deep roots in the communities they serve

Grassroots charities supporting vulnerable youth across Greater London now have access to a new stream of funding, as TELUS, a global communications and technology company, just launched its first UK Community Board, a proven model of community-led philanthropy to put funding decisions in the hands of local community leaders. The TELUS Greater London Community Board will award £1 million by mid-2027 to charitable organisations delivering programmes to help youth reach their full potential including supporting health, education, the environment, and digital inclusion for youth. Funding decisions will be made by a newly established local group of respected community leaders, ensuring support reaches organisations that can make the greatest impact on young lives. The funding is expected to benefit thousands of young people through dozens of grassroots non-profits across Greater London.

“For more than two decades, our TELUS team members around the world have passionately embraced our give where we live philosophy and made TELUS the most giving company on the planet,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. “Our innovative TELUS Community Boards truly embody this philosophy and contribute significantly to the legacy of giving we are building for the benefit of our communities and citizens, globally. Over the past 20 years, our 21 Community Boards around the world have supported more than 11,000 programmes, enriching the lives of over 35 million children and youth. Since 2000, TELUS, together with our team members, has contributed over £1 billion and perhaps more importantly, 2.4 million days of compassionate volunteering worldwide. Today, with the introduction of our Greater London Community Board, our team is honoured to launch this board with an inaugural £1 million in support of grassroots organisations across Greater London, empowering local leaders to deliver programmes that will help thousands of young people reach their full potential. In doing so, we are reinforcing our position as the world leader in social capitalism and delivering on our promise to make the future friendly in the global communities where we live, work and serve."

The Greater London board is the 21st TELUS Community Board worldwide, building on a 20-year track record of community-led giving. Since 2000, TELUS and its team members have contributed over £1 billion and 2.4 million volunteer days globally. Its Community Boards have supported more than 11,000 programmes, enriching the lives of over 35 million children and youth.

Chaired by Johnny Hornby, Founder & CEO of T&P and member of WPP’s Executive Committee, the inaugural board includes leaders from across the public, private, and social sectors:

Fiona Adams, Executive Vice President, Managing Shareholder and Co-Chair of the Global Corporate Practice, GreenbergTraurig

Austin Daboh OBE, Executive Vice President, Atlantic Records UK

Mark Fabes, CIO, pladis

Dr. Julia Fan Li, Co-Founder & CEO of Micrographia Bio

Jenny Halpern Prince MBE, Founder & CEO, Halpern

Alice Harrison, Director, Sales & Customer (International), TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods

Simon Le Bon MBE, Lead Singer, Duran Duran and philanthropist

Brad McCallum, Director Sales, EMEA, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods

Sophie Pender, Founder, 93% Club Charity

June Sarpong OBE, TV Broadcaster, Speaker, NED, Author and Founder of Corporate Cinc

Olivia Spencer, Marketing Manager, TELUS Health

Dr. Nick Taylor, CEO & Co-Founder, Unmind

Stephen Galliano, Chief Customer Officer, Workplace Options

“The TELUS Community Board model is unlike anything I’ve seen in UK philanthropy,” said Johnny Hornby, Founder & CEO of T&P and member of WPP’s Executive Committee. “It brings decision-making closer to the ground, ensuring local organizations, often overlooked by traditional funding models, get the support they need to thrive.”

Following its first meeting, the Board announced initial grants to 18 organizations, including:

Lady Garden Foundation - Expanding gynaecological cancer awareness and education among young women across Greater London;

Enter Tech Opportunities CIC - Empowers neurodivergent females and non-binary young people with tech training, soft skills, and mentorship for employability;

Orange Bow - Providing young men with peer support networks and digital resources to address mental health and promote social connection;

The Amos Bursary - Equipping students from low-income backgrounds with digital and employment skills for academic and professional success; and

The Great London Friendship Project - Helps young adults outside of education, employment, or training build confidence, reduce loneliness, and gain skills, structure, and peer networks to re-engage with training and employment.

“This funding will significantly enhance our ability to deliver vital gynaecological cancer education programmes for young women,” said Dr Annalisa Jenkins MBBS FRCP, Trustee, Lady Garden Foundation. “We’re proud to be part of this powerful new initiative.”

TELUS has been active in the region for over 20 years through its health, agriculture, and digital divisions and its giving-back programmes. The company operates primarily from TELUS House London and partners with UK-based innovators across sectors.

To mark the launch, TELUS team members joined grant recipients and guests for a TELUS Day of Giving, a hands-on volunteer event reinforcing the company’s commitment to giving where it lives and works. Guided by its “give where we live” philosophy, TELUS has been recognized as the world’s most giving company by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, testament to its unique philanthropic model.

Registered nonprofits working with youth in Greater London are invited to submit grant applications that align with the Board’s funding priorities and demonstrate measurable impact.

For more information, please visit telus.com/greater-london-cb