14/04/2026
Important Announcement from the Trustees of Foxhill Forum
Morning Everyone.
We hope this finds you well.
The Trustees of Foxhill Forum wish to provide a general update as well as address recent comments circulated on social media and provide clarity regarding our current position. We are keen to dispel any misconceptions and assure the community of our continued commitment.
Like many charities, Foxhill Forum faces increased operational costs associated with maintaining our premises, whilst experiencing a significant reduction in funding. Everyone is having to pay more. It is important to tell you that we do not receive any core or recurrent financial support; all our income is generated through fundraising such as applying for grant funding, donations starting from nothing each year.
Positive Stuff!
We remain fully operational, currently open five days a week. Occasionally, some of the shutters may be down, which is simply due to groups forgetting to open them not that we aren’t open.
The number of activities on offer has grown since January 2026.
SHAPED, a local charity, is currently hiring the ground floor three days per week to deliver alternative provision to local young people, using the floor space including both meeting rooms, the ICT, and the Healthy Eating Café. They relocated to the Forum in November 2025.
Our team is small at present 1 part time staff member, sessional staff brought in as and when needed to deliver/support, several resolute volunteers who generously donate their time behind the scenes, supporting group activities, maintaining the building, and ensuring the ongoing success of the Forum. There is no one earning a ‘big salary’.
New initiatives are underway including a Breast-Feeding Support Group, two upcoming first aid courses, and family learning opportunities. Please stay updated via our page.
We have secured a £1,500 grant from the North-East LAC to support our Community Food Pantry and drop in warm space. In addition, we have been awarded a contract to support volunteering in early years in 26/27.
We have raised our concerns regarding the lack of investment in Foxhill and the Forum with Councillors Jayne Dunn, Mike Chaplin, and more recently, Tom Smith, Director of Communities and Customer Experience at the Council. We are grateful to Tom for taking the time to visit us Friday afternoon and listen to our concerns as a small charity and update us regarding Pride in Place funding. We will continue to advocate and ensure Foxhill’s voice is heard.
Although we are eager to do more, our capacity is currently constrained by limited funding. We understand and share local frustrations. Foxhill Forum has a proven history of securing funding and successfully delivering projects; however, we have not been awarded any substantial large grants since 2022. In 2023, we submitted a lottery funding proposal which advanced to stage two, but unfortunately, due to intense competition across the Yorkshire & Humberside region and more locally, we were unsuccessful.
None of the funding we have received previously is indefinite or recurrent; all funding is competitive and increasingly difficult to secure as there are more organisations applying for less money and with no guarantees.
We are in the process of rebuilding our offer – it takes time however greatly value your understanding and ongoing support as we navigate these challenges, maintaining a positive outlook as always and remain optimistic.
Thank you for your continued support and for taking the time to read this update.
The Chair & Trustees of Foxhill Forum
