The Funding Network (TFN) launched in St Albans on 2 nd September 2016, bringing a taste of its unique live crowdfunding model to St Albans for the first time and providing four local charities with over £11,500.
The Mosaic Room at St Albans’ Verulamium Museum provided a beautiful backdrop for the four charities, selected by a team of volunteers, to pitch to the audience for funding to create lasting social change in the local area. The four charities that received over £11,500 in total were:
Mind in Mid Herts, which aims to teach and develop people’s resilience and ability to overcome stress related illnesses by learning healthy coping strategies to maintain mental good health.
The OLLIE Foundation, which is aiming to save lives by delivering suicide intervention training to adults working with teenagers and young people and end the stigma around talking about mental health and suicidal feelings.
Transition St Albans, which aims to put together a year of events about the environment to engage more local people in living sustainable lives.
Young People’s Puppet Theatre, which promotes inclusion, teamwork and self-confidence for Year 6 students through year-long creative projects.
The event was supported by local organisations Grant Thornton, Debenhams Ottaway, Kingston Smith and the St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust, providing refreshments, meeting space, our wonderful venue and match funding.
TFN member and volunteer organiser of TFN St Albans, Richard Sved, was pleased to be able to provide such vital support to charities working to improve lives and communities in the local area. “I’m delighted with how the evening went”, said Richard. “There was a real positive energy in the room, people seemed to have a good time and lots of money was raised. That’s pretty much what we were hoping for!”
Transition St Albans were delighted to pitch at the event. “It feels a little like someone has just waved a magic wand!” said Catherine Ross, one of their steering group members and the Chair of Sustainable St Albans week. The OLLIE Foundation thanked TFN for providing vital funding to build awareness and recruit volunteers: “Thanks to TFN and the incredible generosity of the audience”, said Jo, member of the marketing committee. “The experience has been an incredible learning curve and a great platform to raise our profile and get vital donations”.
TFN is delighted at the success of the inaugural event in St Albans, and so proud to be able to support social change in the local area. TFN St Albans plans to return in the summer of 2017.
