As long-standing supporters of the Heart of Bucks ‘Community Investor Fund’, it was inspiring to hear directly from charities, meet the people behind the projects, and see first-hand the real difference that Heart of Bucks’ support is making in our communities.
Here’s a roundup of the tour and the charities our team visited during the day:
Wycombe Homeless Connection
The day began with a visit to Wycombe Homeless Connection, which provides vital services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness across south Buckinghamshire.
Recent grants have supported their winter emergency accommodation programme and funded staff for their support centre, helpline, outreach walks, and tailored services. The dedication of the team in providing both practical and emotional support for some of the most vulnerable members of our community was clear to see.
Talkback at The Mustard Seed Café
Our next stop was Talkback, hosted at The Mustard Seed Café. Talkback empowers autistic individuals and people with learning disabilities to live fulfilling lives, contribute to the community, and build independence.
We heard about several recent projects funded by Heart of Bucks, including the ManKind project supporting men in care homes with mental health needs, a youth club in Amersham, short films to raise awareness of modern slavery, and a summer programme for autistic young people.
The Mustard Seed Café itself is a vibrant social enterprise, originally funded by Heart of Bucks in 2014, which continues to provide both meaningful employment opportunities and a welcoming community hub.
One Can Trust
Late morning, we visited One Can Trust, best known for its food bank but now also offering a wide range of support services. Founded as a charity in 2011, its vision is to help anyone in the community facing financial hardship, for as long as they have a need.
In addition to food parcels, the charity now supports families with toddler groups, clothing banks, and advice through its Community Support Team.
Grants from Heart of Bucks have enabled the purchase of fresh food, the recruitment of staff, and investment in larger vehicles to increase the reach of their food collections and engagement events.
Charity Showcase and awards at the Eden Centre
The day concluded with a Charity Showcase at the Eden Centre, where we had the opportunity to meet further local charities supported by Heart of Bucks.
This included an award presentation by the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, recognising the extraordinary commitment of these organisations.
Altogether an inspiring and uplifting day
We would like to thank Heart of Bucks for inviting us to their 25th Anniversary Tour. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the passionate teams behind these projects and to see how targeted funding empowers them to deliver vital support across our communities. The day was a true celebration of the remarkable impact local charities are making across Buckinghamshire.
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