Focus Foundation

Focus Foundation Focus Foundation is a grant-giving charitable foundation supporting grass-roots charities in the UK.

Our work stretches across three main themes:

Vulnerable Children & Young People who are socially or economically disadvantaged

Mental Health Charities & Initiatives

Charitable or Community Projects, local to one of Focus Group’s regional offices

With the Charitable Foundation’s administrative costs covered, everything raised will go straight to the charities supported.

We’re incredibly proud to support MedEquip4Kids and the lasting impact of The Hummingbird Project. 💙MedEquip4Kids is a l...
01/09/2026

We’re incredibly proud to support MedEquip4Kids and the lasting impact of The Hummingbird Project. 💙

MedEquip4Kids is a longstanding Manchester-based children’s charity dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of babies, children and young people across the UK.

Through The Hummingbird Project, the charity is helping schools create happier, healthier and more emotionally resilient communities. Its free, evidence-based six-week Positive Psychology programme gives children and young people practical tools to understand and manage their emotions, recognise their strengths and approach life’s challenges with greater confidence.

By exploring mindfulness, gratitude, kindness and resilience in an engaging and accessible way, Hummingbird helps pupils build skills that can support their wellbeing throughout childhood and beyond. Just as importantly, it gives teachers the confidence and resources to continue these conversations and embed positive mental health into everyday school life.

Focus Foundation awarded MedEquip4Kids a grant of £5,000 to provide 10 participating schools with Hummingbird resource boxes, benefiting 600 people.

Filled with books, sensory toys, games, communication aids and emotion cards, the boxes allow pupils to continue putting their learning into practice after the course ends. They can also be used by teachers with future pupils, extending the programme’s reach and creating a lasting legacy in each school.

We’re delighted to support this thoughtful and preventative approach to children’s mental health, and we look forward to visiting one of the recipient schools later this year to see The Hummingbird Project in action.

Find out more about MedEquip4Kids and The Hummingbird Project here: https://www.medequip4kids.org.uk/hummingbird-project/.

Imagine having to leave every night out at 9:30 - not because you wanted to, but because the support available to you wa...
26/08/2026

Imagine having to leave every night out at 9:30 - not because you wanted to, but because the support available to you wasn’t flexible enough to let you stay.
 
This is the reality Stay Up Late (Gig Buddies by Stay Up Late) is working to change.
 
The grassroots charity campaigns against restrictive social care practices and supports adults with learning disabilities and autistic people to lead full, active social lives on their own terms.
 
Its Gig Buddies project matches adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults with volunteers who share their interests, particularly music, nightlife and cultural events.
 
Together, they attend mainstream events as equals, building genuine friendships while overcoming barriers such as isolation, confidence, safety and travel.
 
In December 2025, Focus Foundation awarded Stay Up Late a grant of £5,614 to support its Gig Buddies project in Hastings, designed to benefit 135 adults with learning disabilities and autistic people.
 
The funding is helping to cover volunteer costs and expenses, enabling Gig Buddies to accompany participants to events, share new experiences and help them feel more connected to their community.
 
Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of meeting Katie Windsor, Director of Stay Up Late and James Marlow, Head of Fundraising and Finance, to learn more about the charity and see first-hand the difference its work is making.
 
A huge thank you to the Stay Up Late team and its brilliant volunteers for breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for people to build genuine friendships, enjoy new experiences and live life on their own terms. 💙
 

Imagine having to leave every night out at 9:30 - not because you wanted to, but because the support available to you wa...
26/08/2026

Imagine having to leave every night out at 9:30 - not because you wanted to, but because the support available to you wasn’t flexible enough to let you stay.

This is the reality Stay Up Late is working to change.

The grassroots charity campaigns against restrictive social care practices and supports adults with learning disabilities and autistic people to lead full, active social lives on their own terms.

Its Gig Buddies project matches adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults with volunteers who share their interests, particularly music, nightlife and cultural events.

Together, they attend mainstream events as equals, building genuine friendships while overcoming barriers such as isolation, confidence, safety and travel.

In December 2025, Focus Foundation awarded Stay Up Late a grant of £5,614 to support its Gig Buddies project in Hastings, designed to benefit 135 adults with learning disabilities and autistic people.

The funding is helping to cover volunteer costs and expenses, enabling Gig Buddies to accompany participants to events, share new experiences and help them feel more connected to their community.

Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of meeting Katie Windsor, Director of Stay Up Late and James Marlow, Head of Fundraising and Finance, to learn more about the charity and see first-hand the difference its work is making.

A huge thank you to the Stay Up Late team and its brilliant volunteers for breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for people to build genuine friendships, enjoy new experiences and live life on their own terms. 💙

The charity changing lives in your community might be one you’ve never heard of.Grassroots charities are often created i...
19/08/2026

The charity changing lives in your community might be one you’ve never heard of.

Grassroots charities are often created in response to a challenge someone has witnessed or experienced first-hand. They understand their communities, build trusted relationships and provide support that is personal, practical and shaped around local lives.

But with small teams and limited resources, they can struggle to secure the funding, expertise and recognition they need to keep going.

You can help change that.

💗 Donate once or regularly.
⏰ Volunteer your time.
💡 Share your professional skills.
📣 Follow, share and champion their work.
🤝 Introduce them to people or businesses that could help.
🏢 Encourage your workplace to fundraise, volunteer or form a longer-term partnership.

At Focus Foundation, we connect individuals and businesses with trusted grassroots charities and meaningful ways to support them.

If you want to make a difference but aren’t sure where to begin, please contact us at [email protected].

When grassroots charities thrive, their communities grow stronger too. Let’s all play a part in creating positive change.

When is this going to be addressed?More than 130 times a day, a knife or sharp instrument is involved in a recorded offe...
18/08/2026

When is this going to be addressed?

More than 130 times a day, a knife or sharp instrument is involved in a recorded offence in England and Wales.

Over the weekend, that national statistic became a local reality when a 17-year-old boy was stabbed in central Brighton, just ten days after another teenager was convicted of murdering 16-year-old Joshua Ingram in a senseless and devastating knife attack in Seaford.

Thankfully, this time, the injuries were not life threatening, but a young person was still attacked with a weapon in the middle of a major city, and we cannot allow incidents like this to become just another headline we scroll past.

⚠️ Knife crime has fallen by 8% nationally, but 48,774 recorded offences in a single year is not a problem solved.

We need to look beyond the moment a knife is used and ask what brought a young person to that point.

Where was the early support?
Who noticed the warning signs?
Did they have a trusted adult to turn to?
Did they feel carrying a knife was their only way to feel safe?

Tackling knife crime requires more than a response after someone has been hurt. It means investing in early intervention, youth services, education, mental health support and safe spaces where young people feel heard, supported and hopeful about their future.

We need to stop staying silent. If you know someone is carrying a knife - please don't keep that information to yourself.

Fearless gives people a safe way to share information 100% anonymously - without giving a name or speaking directly to the police.

Visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fearless or call 0800 555 111.

Sharing this information could save a life.

Sources and appeal for witness statements following the incident in the comments below.

Calling all young writers, artists and big imaginations across Sussex!There’s still time to enter Focus Foundation’s Sto...
12/08/2026

Calling all young writers, artists and big imaginations across Sussex!

There’s still time to enter Focus Foundation’s Storymakers Competition and create an original story inspired by kindness, courage or community.

From welcoming someone new or standing up for a friend to helping a neighbour or dreaming up an imaginative way to make a difference, every story has the power to inspire.

From welcoming someone new or standing up for a friend to helping a neighbour or dreaming up a completely imaginative way to make a difference, every story has the power to inspire.

Entries can take the form of:
✍️ A short story or poem.
🎨 A picture book.
💭 A comic strip.

There are some fantastic prizes waiting for our winning Storymaker, including the chance to make a difference to a small, grassroots charity of their choice.

📅 Entries close on Friday 11th September 2026.

Discover the full range of prizes, competition details and how to enter here:
🔗https://bit.ly/FocusFoundationStorymakersComp

Could the next Storymaker be someone you know? Please share this opportunity with young people, families, schools and community groups across Sussex.

For many children, the summer holidays mean freedom, fun and time with family, but for families experiencing poverty, si...
04/08/2026

For many children, the summer holidays mean freedom, fun and time with family, but for families experiencing poverty, six weeks without school can bring a very different reality.

Figures show that 4 million children (27% of all children in the UK) were living in relative poverty after housing costs in 2024/25.

When schools close, families can lose access to free school meals, affordable activities and the everyday support provided by teachers and other trusted adults, and, simultaneously, food, childcare and household costs can all increase.

For parents already stretching every pound, summer can become a season of difficult choices: food or electricity, childcare or work, a day out or another essential bill.

Across the communities we support, grassroots organisations are helping families through these pressures:

💗 Pelican Parcels provides clothing, beds, nappies, toiletries and other essentials to families experiencing hardship across Sussex. Families can ask a health visitor, social worker, school, children’s centre or food bank to make a referral.

💜 Burgess Hill Pantry helps members make their household budgets go further by providing access to a wide selection of affordable food and essentials.

💗 The Real Junk Food Project Brighton rescues surplus food and turns it into affordable meals, helping families access nutritious food while reducing waste.

🩵 FareShare Sussex & Surrey redistributes surplus food to charities, schools and community organisations supporting people experiencing food insecurity.

💜 Sussex Surplus transforms fresh surplus produce into nutritious meals for the community, alongside running a weekly community café in East Brighton.

🩵 Kangaroos provides inclusive activities and social opportunities for children and young people with additional needs, while offering valuable support to their families.

💗 Springboard Charity Sussex creates inclusive play and leisure opportunities for children and young people with disabilities, while giving parents and carers valuable respite.

💜 Children's Respite Trust provides practical support and respite for families caring for children with disabilities and complex health needs, helping ease some of the pressures they face during the school holidays.

Families whose children receive benefits-related free school meals may also be eligible for free activities and nutritious meals through the Department for Education's Holiday Activities and Food programme. You can contact your local council to find out what is available in your area.

The school holidays should not mean going without. Please share this post. It could help a family find support, or help someone discover a local organisation they can donate to or volunteer with.

Brighton i360 is turning 10 and you're invited to celebrate!Tomorrow, Tuesday 4th August, residents of BN1, BN2, BN3 and...
03/08/2026

Brighton i360 is turning 10 and you're invited to celebrate!

Tomorrow, Tuesday 4th August, residents of BN1, BN2, BN3 and BN41 can take to the skies with a free flight, accompanied by a complimentary glass of fizz or a soft drink.

The celebrations will culminate in a special birthday flight at 5.30pm, complete with cake and a toast to the next ten years. 🥂

But this milestone celebrates far more than an iconic view.

Since acquiring Brighton i360 in 2025, Nightcap has been committed to securing the landmark’s future, bringing it closer to the city and ensuring it plays an active role in giving back to the people and communities around it.

We’re incredibly proud to work alongside Brighton i360 through the Horizon Fund, turning that commitment into meaningful local action.

To date, the Horizon Fund has raised an incredible £26,074 for projects across Sussex, helping:

💙 Children's Respite Trust create a calm and restorative sanctuary for children with additional needs.

💙 Love Local Jobs Foundation inspire young people to recognise their potential through Dare to Dream.

💙 Grassroots Su***de Prevention equip school communities to recognise su***de distress and begin potentially life-saving conversations.

Together, these initiatives have directly supported more than 2,000 people.

Brighton i360 has also supported 23 local charities and 19 schools and parent-teacher associations through fundraising, donations and complimentary tickets, extending its contribution throughout the community it overlooks every day.

As Sarah Willingham, CEO of Nightcap, explains:

“A landmark should contribute to the place it calls home. We want Brighton i360 to be somewhere local people feel proud of, not just somewhere visitors experience once.

“The Horizon Fund is helping local organisations make a genuine difference across Sussex, and we’re incredibly proud of what has already been achieved. As we celebrate our tenth birthday, we’re excited about building an even stronger future for Brighton i360 and for the community around it.”

Happy 10th birthday, Brighton i360! We’re proud to be part of your story and excited to continue working together to create positive change across Sussex.

📍 Free flights can be booked at the Brighton i360 ticket office on the day. Proof of an eligible address is required.

Focus Foundation’s Storymakers Competition is inviting young people across Sussex to let their imaginations lead the way...
29/07/2026

Focus Foundation’s Storymakers Competition is inviting young people across Sussex to let their imaginations lead the way and create an original story inspired by kindness, courage or community.

It could be about standing up for a friend, welcoming someone new, helping a neighbour or finding an imaginative way to make a difference. Stories can be based on real experiences or come entirely from their imagination, and can be entered as:

✍️ A short story or poem.
🎨 A picture book.
💭 A comic strip.

There are some fantastic prizes to be won, including:

• A £50 voucher for The Book Nook, Hove.
• A £250 donation to a small grassroots charity of the winner’s choice.
• The winning work bound into a book or professionally framed.
• A certificate of achievement.
• An invitation to an exclusive immersive Focus Foundation experience...

Big change can begin with the smallest act of kindness, and we can’t wait to discover the stories Sussex’s young people have to tell.

📅 Entries close on Friday 11th September 2026.

Find the full competition details and entry form here:
🔗 https://bit.ly/FocusFoundationStorymakersComp

Know a budding writer, artist or storyteller? Please share this opportunity with young people, families, schools and community groups across Sussex.

No young person should feel isolated or excluded because of their disability. Yet for those living with complex physical...
28/07/2026

No young person should feel isolated or excluded because of their disability. Yet for those living with complex physical and learning disabilities, barriers to socialising can make it difficult to build friendships and feel part of a community.

That’s why Focus Foundation is proud to have awarded SASBAH (Sussex Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus) a grant of £2,125 towards its Bourne Free Digital youth club - a safe, accessible online space where young people and young adults can connect, share experiences and enjoy meaningful social interaction.

💭 What is SASBAH?
Founded by families in 1965, SASBAH (The Sussex Association for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus) has spent more than five decades supporting children, young people and adults across Sussex living with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and related disabilities.

Today, the charity supports around 1,000 people each year through specialist advice, advocacy, respite, employment support and inclusive social opportunities, helping people to build independence and live the lives they choose.

💙 How our £2,125 grant will help:
Our funding will support the continued delivery of Bourne Free Digital, a fortnightly online youth club attended by more than 30 young people and young adults with complex disabilities.

Across 25 sessions last year, the initiative gave attendees an inclusive place to socialise, build confidence and form friendships with others who understand some of the challenges they face.

For young people whose opportunities to connect can be limited by physical, medical or communication barriers, having a consistent and welcoming community can make a real difference to their confidence, wellbeing and sense of belonging.

Through their Bourne Free Digital youth club, SASBAH is helping more young people feel seen, included and connected, no matter where they are.

Follow SASBAH’s journey and discover more about their brilliant work via the link below:

🔗 https://sasbah.org.uk/

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Focus House, Ham Road
Shoreham-By-Sea

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