The Beard Charitable Foundation has awarded £66,300 in grants to 16 local charities through its named fund held by Oxfordshire Community Foundation, supporting grassroots initiatives and employee-led fundraising efforts.
Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) is proud to host the Beard Charitable Foundation, which supports initiatives driven by Beard employees, and construction education projects within the communities where they live and work. Established in 2016 by Oxford-based construction company Beard with an initial £250,000 donation from the Beard family, the foundation is a named fund held and managed by OCF to enable meaningful and lasting impact across the community.
Through OCF, the Beard Charitable Foundation has recently completed its latest round of grant-making. During the 2024-25 financial year a total of 16 grants were awarded to charitable organisations, totalling £66,300. These grants support a range of community-driven projects and charitable endeavours, reinforcing Beard’s commitment to social responsibility and employee engagement in philanthropy.
Employees in Beard’s Oxford office nominated Oxford University Sport & Community Partnership as their charity of the year, whose aim is to empower and unlock opportunities for young people through sport and physical activity. Employees held an inaugural ‘cyclathon’ which saw Beard’s Oxford team, along with project partners and sub-contractors, virtually cycle 2,420 miles raising £8,200 for Oxford University Sport & Community Partnership. This was match-funded by the Beard Charitable Foundation to bring the total to £16,400. In addition, a summer BBQ and volunteer garden clear out were also held to bolster the fundraising.
Among other recipients of this year’s grants are:
- Oxfordshire Homeless Movement, which received £1,000 to support its mission of ensuring that no-one has to sleep rough on the streets of Oxfordshire. The organisation brings together local charities, businesses and government agencies to provide coordinated support for people experiencing homelessness.
- Alzheimer’s Society Oxfordshire, which was awarded £1,000 to continue its vital work in supporting individuals affected by dementia. The charity provides guidance, advocacy and community-based services to help people living with dementia and their families.
Mark Beard, chairman of Beard, said:
“As a company, At Beard, we’ve always been committed to strengthening the communities in which we live and work, beyond the site boundaries. The Beard Charitable Foundation, through our partnership with Oxfordshire Community Foundation, allows us to channel our team’s passion for positive change into meaningful support for local causes. We believe this year’s grants will have a lasting impact on organisations that are supporting those who need it most.
“I’m extremely proud of our team’s efforts and it is inspiring to see our colleagues’ commitment to giving back participation in a wide variety of events. We’re thrilled to see the foundation continue to grow, enabling us to support grassroots initiatives that create lasting impact across Oxfordshire.”
Zoe Sprigings, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire Community Foundation, echoed this sentiment:
“We are delighted to partner with Beard in managing this fund, ensuring that charitable organisations receive the support they need to thrive. The Beard Charitable Foundation exemplifies how businesses can make a tangible difference in their communities.”
The impressive employee engagement with Beard’s fundraising initiatives stands as a testament to the culture of giving that has been nurtured at the construction company. Through this partnership, OCF continues to connect donors with local causes, strengthening the vital grassroots charitable sector.