The Clare Foundation

18/08/2026

The Clare Foundation is grateful to be working with Bucks Radio for a fourth year and delighted that Nathan Cooper will be our MC again at Angels' Den 2026. Nathan is an excellent host who keeps the evening flowing. With stop watch in hand he ensures that the charities pitching to the Angels keep to time, no easy task!

31/07/2026

The Clare Foundation was delighted to provide The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre with a grant to support their Big Happy Family Day Out and to attend the event earlier today.

The funding enabled children and family members, from across Buckinghamshire, who might otherwise have been unable to visit because of financial or practical barriers, to enjoy a free day of creativity, storytelling and shared family experiences.

30/07/2026

The Clare Foundation is delighted to be supporting Growing Hope High Wycombe and St James' Church Downley in an exciting new collaboration that will provide a welcoming home for community programmes supporting children with additional needs and their families.

The Clare Foundation has provided funding of £42,000, over three years, but this partnership is about more than simply sharing a space. It is about bringing together organisations that share a common vision: ensuring that some of the most vulnerable families in our community receive the support, encouragement and opportunities they deserve.

Read more here: https://theclarefoundation.org/a-partnership-bringing-hope-to-families-in-high-wycombe

30/07/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Jacqueline Roberts of SV2G. Well deserved recognition for all that you do.

We are delighted to announce that Jacqueline Roberts, SV2G’s Chief Executive Officer and Co‑founder, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Warwick for her exceptional contribution to heritage, community leadership, and racial justice.

For more than four decades, Jacqueline has championed African and Caribbean communities through advocacy, visionary project work, powerful storytelling, and a commitment to inclusive narratives. Her leadership continues to strengthen SV2G’s mission and enrich Britain’s cultural heritage.

A well deserved honour for a truly remarkable leader, Congratulations Dr. Jacqueline Roberts!

28/07/2026

Free expert advice for Buckinghamshire charities - no catch.

Running a charity means being fundraiser, strategist, marketer, and risk management lead - often before lunch. Big businesses call in consultants for that kind of complexity. Charities are usually left to manage alone unless you are a paid member of an organisation.

We think Buckinghamshire's charities deserve the same standard of support. That's why we created CHAT - the Charity Help Advisory Team. We have verified expert advisors, providing up to 8 hours of pro bono support a month, at zero cost.

Take the support.

Read more about how CHAT works here: https://theclarefoundation.org/every-charity-deserves-its-own-version-of-a-mckinsey-moment

Email: [email protected] for an initial discussion.

28/07/2026

Read The Clare Foundation's latest newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/theclarefoundation/july2026-5759489

24/07/2026

Our final and Chief Angel is Mike Clare, Founder and President of The Clare Foundation. Mike is a passionate serial entrepreneur, probably best known as the previous Chairman and CEO of Dreams Plc, which he founded in 1987 growing it to over 200 superstores before successfully selling out in March 2008 (timing is everything!).

In 2009 Mike set up his own charity, The Clare Foundation, which helps improve the efficiency of other charities in Buckinghamshire, offering free support and advice, small grants, training, and networking events. The second focus for the charity is helping people with their confidence, self-esteem, and general happiness.

Mike says: “We are delighted by the incredible success of our previous Angels’ Den events, which brought together charities, friends, and supporters for a truly unforgettable evening. This programme showcases an innovative and collaborative approach to grant-making in Buckinghamshire, and we are excited to announce that we are doing it again!

The TCF Team is already hard at work, preparing for our next event, taking place on Wednesday 9th September 2026, at the stunning The Elgiva, Chesham as part of our Late Summer Soirée. After seeing the creativity and passion on display last year, we cannot wait to discover the inspiring new ideas our colleagues will bring forward this time. If you are a Buckinghamshire-based charity or a national charity or CIC supporting communities across Buckinghamshire, we want to hear from you.

As long as your organisation is registered and committed to benefitting the people and communities of Buckinghamshire, this is your opportunity to shine. We welcome your applications and look forward to continuing our shared mission to make Buckinghamshire a happier, stronger, and more connected place.”

23/07/2026

Our fifth Angel is Vincent O'Hanlon. Vince has worked in the IT Technology industry for over 36 years. Having started his career as an engineer, later progressing into the design and installation of complex infrastructure projects, he then progressed into management for Lombard, part of the RBS Group.

While working within the RBS Group, Vince identified the opportunity to build an IT reseller, this ensured clients paid the correct price for IT equipment while protecting the residual value investment. 14 years ago, Vince founded VitrX, replicating his previous success.

VitrX’s nimble, can-do attitude with the ability to deliver large-scale global projects soon attracted major clients from his vast black book of contacts. Many client relationships span over 25 years, highlighting his commitment to delivering high-level service while delivering value.

In 2015 Vince was invited to join the Board of Directors for The Asset Finance Professional Association, alongside industry leaders such as RBS, Santander, BNP Paribas. This board provides access to a valuable network of companies and key contacts.

In the last few years, Vince has diversified his investments across multiple businesses including car leasing, peer-to-peer investment, data wiping, IT support, recruitment, supercar tours, and a film, “The Broken Arrow” – featuring Jools Holland, Sue Johnston, Alan Ford, and Bobby George.

Vince’s recent venture is a fund acquiring companies across sectors, including private patient care, construction, renewable energy, and plastic recycling.

Vince says: “It gives me great satisfaction knowing that my contributions are put to good use, directly helping those in need and making a lasting impact in communities. I hope to apply my skills and experience alongside the other Angels to help drive the change needed and make a real difference.”

22/07/2026

We would like to introduce our next Angel. Chris Goodman is an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Chris co-founded Focus Group in 2003, a Comms & IT business that now employs over 1,200 staff across the UK, with annual revenues exceeding £250m a year.

More recently, he co-founded Focus Foundation, a grant-giving charitable foundation that to date has delivered funding of almost £1m in support of grass-roots charities, particularly those working with underprivileged children and young people and supporting those suffering with poor mental health.

His two decades of leadership experience in the IT and telecoms sector have covered everything from the development of effective sales teams, cohesive people and culture strategies and robust financial analysis, together with having led and completed numerous M&A and private equity transactions – Chris now uses this experience to support some amazing charities and budding entrepreneurs alike.

Chris says: “I wanted to be part of Angels’ Den because of my strong commitment to community initiatives and passion for making a positive impact. As a co-founder of Focus Group and Focus Foundation, I have championed various initiatives related to employee wellbeing, environmental impact, and community fundraising.

Being part of Angels’ Den aligns with my dedication to supporting visionary entrepreneurs and inspiring charities to create lasting change in the community.”