Greater London Enterprise Awards 2026/ 26 Best Nationwide Community Development Foundation 2026 WGC Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening communities and creating sustainable futures across the UK. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, the organisation provides funding, volunteer support, and strategic partnerships to charities, grassroots organisations, and community projects that make a meaningful difference. Join us below as we caught up with CEO and Board Member Sheena Birch to learn more about WGC Foundation’s incredible mission, as the organisation is named in the Greater London Enterprise Awards 2026. The story of WGC Foundation began in November 2025. The Foundation was established by WGC Ltd, one of the UK’s leading outsourced facilities management companies, specializing in hotel housekeeping. WGC Foundation has chosen to work and support three organisations Centrepoint, Haven House and the Lucy Rayner Foundation in recognition of the incredible work they do in communities across the country. Together, these partnerships enable WGC Foundation to advance its mission and make a meaningful difference. Since its establishment, WGC Foundation’s focus has grown from giving back through charitable support to building a long-term programme of funding, volunteering, and partnerships. The organisation’s approach has evolved to provide not only financial support but also volunteer engagement and collaborative partnerships that maximise community impact. It has developed ambitious goals to raise over £1 million and positively impact more than 25,000 lives by 2030 while expanding opportunities for charities and community organisations across the UK. This is precisely what makes WGC Foundation different: its integrated approach to creating lasting impact. Rather than simply providing funding, the organisation combines grant funding, volunteer engagement, and strategic partnerships to help charities and community organisations build long-term capacity and deliver sustainable change. By bringing together financial support, the skills and time of its volunteers, and collaborative relationships, WGC Foundation maximises the impact of every project it supports. “We also stand out because we are community-led and purposedriven,” Sheena added. “Our support is shaped by the needs of local communities, with a focus on grassroots organisations, environmental sustainability, health and wellbeing, and initiatives that create opportunities for those who need them most. Our ambitious commitment to raise £1 million and positively impact more than 25,000 lives by 2030 demonstrates that we measure success by the long-term difference we make, not just the funds we distribute.” WGC Foundation ensures that this unique approach is upheld by embedding its core values – community empowerment, collaboration, inclusivity, health and wellbeing, sustainability, and integrity – into every decision it makes. From selecting funding partners and developing volunteer opportunities to building long-term relationships with charities, the organisation works collaboratively to ensure its support delivers meaningful, measurable, and long-lasting outcomes. Of course, the journey has not always been seamless, and one of the biggest challenges facing the WGC team has been launching and establishing a new charitable foundation during a period of increasing pressure on the voluntary sector. Charities are facing rising costs, growing demand for their services, and increased competition for funding, making it more important than ever to ensure that support is targeted, sustainable, and delivers meaningful impact. Rather than viewing those challenges as barriers, WGC Foundation has used them as an opportunity to build a collaborative and longterm approach to giving. By combining grant funding with employee volunteering, fundraising, and strategic partnerships, the Foundation has created a model that provides charities with more than financial support alone. This approach enables the team to strengthen community organisations, build lasting relationships, and maximise the value of every contribution. With a demonstrated history of seamlessly adapting to the sector’s changing needs whilst never losing sight of its core values, WGC Foundation has transformed the challenges of a complex funding landscape into the opportunity to build a resilient organisation that creates lasting social and environmental impact. For the instrumental role its team has played in strengthening local communities and promoting sustainable futures, driven by an unwavering mission to enact meaningful, long-term change across the UK, SME News is delighted to recognise WGC Foundation as the Best Nationwide Community Development Foundation 2026. As WGC Foundation prepares to build on its momentum in the wake of this success, Sheena shared, “The remainder of 2026 marks an exciting period of growth for WGC Foundation, as we continue to expand our reach, strengthen partnerships, and increase the impact of our work across the UK. Our focus is on growing our fundraising activities, increasing employee volunteering, and supporting more charities and community organisations that are creating positive social and environmental change.” Contact: Sheena Birch Company: WGC Foundation Web Address: www.wgcfoundation.org.uk
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