SEGRO has launched the fourth funding round of its Centenary Fund, which this year has focused on supporting existing and new projects providing support to vulnerable members of the community who have been impacted by coronavirus.

The industrial space and warehousing firm’s £10 million Centenary Fund was created to mark SEGRO's 100-year anniversary, but was launched ahead of schedule in the wake of the pandemic, enabling urgent and immediate support to be given to those most affected in communities in which SEGRO operates.

CEO David Sleath (pictured), said: “When we decided last year to establish the Centenary Fund in this, our centenary year, we weren’t to know what 2020 had in store. We couldn’t ignore the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on peoples’ lives, so we accelerated the launch of the fund to address the urgent needs in our communities at a time of crisis.

“Many of the areas near where we invest are characterised by high levels of unemployment and social deprivation. We understand the long term need to ensure people from all backgrounds have the skills, training and opportunities to secure meaningful employment which is why the Centenary Fund focusses on supporting organisations who provide the opportunity to help make a positive and significant difference to people’s lives."

In the six months since the fund was established, approximately £800,000 has been allocated to over 60 community projects, helping some 27,000 people. The awards have been made over a series of rounds, with the final round set to take the total amount awarded charitable organisations to over £1 million in 2020.

The first phase of funding in 2020 responded directly to emergency projects to provide basic necessities, such as food, medicines and household essentials, and to support other initiatives which helped to alleviate the impact of the crisis on communities. This was followed by broadening support for employability and training initiatives to help back into work those people who face barriers to employment or have lost their job because of the pandemic. The fund also supported SEGRO's existing community charity partners by funding further training and employability programmes.

“Investing in our communities is part of SEGRO’s DNA which runs throughout our 100-year history, and we will build on this legacy over the next 10 years and beyond with our Centenary Fund,” Sleath added.

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