News

Local people get behind the first-ever ‘Go Green For Bucks’ day!

To celebrate and support local community projects in all parts of Buckinghamshire, everyone in the county was invited to do something involving the colour 'green' on Friday June 15^th. In return, participants were asked to donate £1 to the Community Foundation's Diamond Jubilee Fund with the aim of raising enough money to make 60 extra grants of £1,000 to support local Buckinghamshire community charities and projects during the Diamond Jubilee Year.

Staff at The Share Centre and BP Collins solicitors took part by wearing casual dress whilst staff at Aylesbury District Council bought and sold plants. Elsewhere in the county schoolchildren at Ibstone Primary School wore green for the day all in aid of the Community Foundation's Diamond Jubilee Fund.

Buckinghamshire has twice as many charities per head of population than the national average, many of them are very small groups run entirely by volunteers. However, research conducted last autumn by the Community Foundation showed that only 36% of all charitable giving by Buckinghamshire residents actually goes to local charities, the majority goes to support national and international causes.

Friday 15^th June was chosen as the date for this event because it coincided with the national Small Charity Week.

"Thank you so much to everyone who took part in this event. This was the first time that we'd organised a 'Go Green For Bucks' day and the enthusiasm which everyone showed shows how much people want to support community life in the county. We even had people texting 'GGFB £1' donations to 70070!" says Richard Dickson, Director of Buckinghamshire Community Foundation.

The attached photograph shows Lynne Maddocks with collection of plants sold by staff at Aylesbury District Council.