In the final round of grants for 2024, four local associations have been awarded funding from The Duncan & Toplis Foundation.
The first charity, Lincoln & Lindsey Blind Society, aims to enhance the quality of life of blind, partially sighted, and visually impaired people in Lincolnshire.
They enable and encourage independent living through home visits, the provision of and access to information and equipment, and the development of community activities and support.
Our grant funding will enable the team to continue identifying and helping those in need following their sight loss diagnosis.
The second recipient is Alford Community Trust, who work to improve the lives of children, disadvantaged families, and individuals in Lincolnshire, especially those of the Alford community and surrounding areas.
In their funding application, the trust shared their challenges for safely accommodating a wide age range on their inflatable equipment simultaneously. We’re pleased to say that with our donation, they can purchase a smaller bouncy castle, which will help to provide age-appropriate activities, reduce safety risks, and ensure it is more inclusive for younger children.
The third charity we’ve supported in this round of grants is Bourne Town Hall Trust. They are an entirely volunteer-led organisation that has been working to save the Old Town Hall in Bourne and restore it for use by their community.
The funds from The Duncan & Toplis Foundation will support the creation of an ‘Archive in a Digibox’ at the new Arts Centre and Community Hub. It will also assist the provision of workshops and support for volunteers from the University of Lincoln, covering how to develop and create a manageable community archive about the Old Town Hall. This will be accessible through the Heritage Hub and be a lasting resource for their community.
The final funding was awarded to Age UK Lindsey for their Christmas Lunch held in December. A Lincolnshire-based branch of Age UK, this organisation delivers vital services to vulnerable older people. The Christmas Lunch was part of their social activities calendar for those who would be alone at Christmas, and our donation supported the attendance of up to 50 people at this 2024 festive celebration.
If you would like to support the continued work of The Duncan & Toplis Foundation, you can donate here. Alternatively, if you’re looking for funding for a local community initiative, find out more about our grant criteria and how to apply here.
