Named Fund holder

Dreams Charitable Fund by Mike Clare, Chairman of Dreams Plc

"The Dreams Charitable Fund is managed by Buckinghamshire Community Foundation as part of the Named Fund Programme. I decided to manage my CSR in this way for a number of reasons. CSR can suck up management time but working with Buckinghamshire Community Foundation takes all the pressure off us. They are able to vet and assess applications using their experience and local knowledge, deliver the money to the neediest places; they manage the PR and provide us with regular feedback and tangible results of our giving.

I see the Corporate Social Responsibility of my company as the caring thing to do. It improves the community where my office is based and where many of my staff live. Our CSR is successful and it impresses both our suppliers and our customers who see us as a responsible business. Indeed, come contracts depend on CSR. My staff members have bought into it, they find it fulfilling and it is tax deductible!

There was a personal reason I chose to start our Fund with the Foundation it is because they only give out grants in Buckinghamshire. I was born in Bucks, educated in Bucks and set up my business in Bucks and I think the county is great. I still live here and I think that is is important to put something back into the community that gave me my business, my staff and my education!"

If you would like to know about how to Start a Name Fund click here