Gleeds Foundation
At Gleeds we believe in making a difference. It’s what we’ve been doing for over a century. It’s our heritage, our commitment and our responsibility.
We’re proud of the positive change we’ve already made to the communities we work in, but we wanted to reinforce that commitment, focus our charitable giving under one purpose and make a tangible impact.
The purpose of the Gleeds Foundation is to support young people in making positive changes to their lives.
It’s a separate entity to the Gleeds business; it’s been structured to be independent, flexible and ready to give back.
Collaboration is key to so much of what we do, and the Gleeds Foundation is no exception. We have committed £100,000 annually to charities and good causes.
We believe every young person deserves to succeed in life. So, together with our charity partners, the Foundation creates opportunities for young people aged 12-25 to successfully shape their future, building their skills, confidence and resilience.
With a staggering number of young people now unemployed, experiencing mental health conditions or fighting the impact of deprivation, there’s plenty of work to be done. There are so many charities out there providing specialist support, and the Gleeds Foundation wants to be part of the solution.
From providing counselling sessions and career mentoring, to tackling youth homelessness and violence via youth clubs and grassroots sports, the Foundation awards two £37,500 grants a year to UK registered charities that help young people make positive changes in their lives.
We want to empower our people to drive change, so the chosen charities are nominated by Gleeds employees. Eligible charities are asked to complete a grant application form, and are then assessed and chosen by our Steering Group made up of seven employees from across the Gleeds business.
The Gleeds Foundation has an allocated budget for Gleeds employees in the UK to apply for match funding, which encourages local community fundraising beyond our nominated charity partnerships.
We also operate a dedicated international relief fund, which enables us to respond quickly to international disasters, wherever the need is greatest.
The Steering Group members play an invaluable role. As ambassadors of the Foundation, they are responsible for reviewing and shortlisting applications, and recommending charities to receive funding, while ensuring the process and management is robust and fair.
Together, we’re excited to see the positive changes we can make to young people’s lives.
At Gleeds, we believe every young person deserves to succeed. Together with our charity partners, the Gleeds Foundation seeks to create opportunities for them to build their skills, confidence and resilience as they work towards a brighter future.
Change Please
Change Please is an award-winning social enterprise that uses coffee as a powerful force for change.
By training people experiencing homelessness to become baristas, Change Please provides not just employment, but a real pathway out of homelessness. Participants receive living wage jobs, housing support, therapy, and help with opening bank accounts and securing permanent accommodation.
Through its coffee carts, retail outlets and partnerships, Change Please reinvests 100% of its profits back into helping those experiencing hardship, creating a sustainable, scalable solution to homelessness that’s already changing lives across the UK and beyond.
The Gleeds Foundation is proud to support the mission of Change Please to break the cycle of homelessness. Our funding will help provide training, employment opportunities, and holistic support for individuals as they take their next steps toward independent living and long-term stability.
Scotty’s Little Soldiers
Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a charity dedicated to supporting bereaved British Forces children and young people.
Founded by army widow Nikki Scott, Scotty’s provides tailored support to children who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the Armed Forces, ensuring they are not left to face grief alone. Through emotional health and wellbeing initiatives, development opportunities, and connection to others in similar situations, Scotty’s empowers young people to thrive despite their loss.
Every year, the charity helps hundreds of young people feel seen, supported and part of a positive, understanding community.
The Gleeds Foundation is honoured to support Scotty’s Little Soldiers. Our funding will help deliver essential services that build confidence, resilience and a sense of belonging for the children of our Armed Forces heroes.
Achievements so far
k
pledged each year
contributed in match funding to 50 charities in 2024
hours of volunteering for our Foundation charity partners in 2024
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Contact us
Michelle Regent
London, United Kingdom
Jess Adams
London, United Kingdom
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