Leeds Community Foundation is celebrating a decade of The Leeds Fund, having invested around £4.6m to support more than 23,300 people across Leeds, as it launches a new focus on tackling the cost of living crisis.
A Decade of Support
Launched in June 2016, The Leeds Fund has evolved over the past ten years to respond to the changing needs of the city, supporting initiatives tackling mental health, loneliness and isolation, enterprise and employability, and helping grassroots organisations build resilience during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now, as households continue to struggle with the cost of essentials and community organisations face mounting financial pressures, the fund is turning its attention to the cost of living crisis.
The £500,000 Appeal
Leeds Community Foundation is aiming to raise £500,000 to help local community organisations continue providing vital support to people experiencing financial hardship. Businesses and individual donors are being invited to contribute to The Leeds Fund, helping ensure that people across Leeds can access the support they need, when they need it most.
The need is significant. According to data in the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's cost of living tracker this summer, almost two thirds of people reportedly could not afford at least one essential item during the first half of 2026, while more than 39,000 people claiming Universal Credit in Leeds are in work, highlighting the financial pressures facing households despite employment.
At the same time, the community organisations providing frontline support are facing increasing demand alongside rising operating costs and increasingly limited funding.
Steph Taylor, CEO of Leeds Community Foundation, said:
Over the past ten years, The Leeds Fund has shown what can be achieved when people come together to invest in their city. We've supported thousands of people by helping community organisations respond to some of Leeds' most pressing social challenges, from mental health and loneliness to the impact of the pandemic.
Today, the cost of living crisis is putting even greater pressure on individuals, families and the organisations they turn to for help. Community organisations are an essential part of the city's social fabric, but they cannot meet this growing need without sustained support.
Our new cost of living focus is about making sure these organisations can continue to be there for people when they need them most. We're asking businesses and individuals to join us in building on the impact of the past decade and helping create a fairer Leeds for everyone now and in the future.
Pressure on Community Groups
Research by Forum Central found that more than 70% of surveyed community organisations in Leeds were at risk of reducing or closing services because of cost pressures, or had already done so. More than 42% were operating waiting lists or unable to accept new service users.
These organisations play a vital role in supporting residents and families facing financial hardship, from helping people access essential items and advice to providing welcoming spaces that tackle isolation and improve wellbeing. However, as demand grows, many are struggling to maintain the services their communities rely on.
As Leeds' leading independent funder, Leeds Community Foundation works with businesses, professional advisers and individual donors to channel funding into local communities. Through flexible, responsive grant making and strong relationships across the city, it helps community organisations deliver support that might otherwise go unfunded.
Over the past decade, The Leeds Fund has demonstrated how collective giving can make a tangible difference to people's lives. Its new Cost of Living focus aims to build on that legacy, strengthening the organisations that are often best placed to understand and respond to the needs of their communities.
Afrikindness Microgrant
Leeds based community group Afrikindness received a 2024 Leeds Fund microgrant, which helped ethnic minority families with neurodiverse children access culturally sensitive autism support, improving understanding, reducing stigma and building confidence to support their children.
Bunmi Owolabi, CEO of Afrikindness, added:
For community organisations like ours, funding from The Leeds Fund can make a real difference. It helps us respond to local needs, provide vital services and reach people who might otherwise struggle to access the help they need.
We're seeing more people turn to us for support, often facing difficult choices about how to pay for everyday essentials. At the same time, our own costs are rising, making it increasingly challenging to keep up with demand.
Support from funders like Leeds Community Foundation is therefore more important than ever. It helps us continue being there for our community, providing not just practical support, but a trusted place where people can turn when times are tough.
To find out more about The Leeds Fund and how to contribute to its Cost of Living focus, visit the Leeds Community Foundation website.
