This year, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is committing an additional £200k in Funding Plus support to help prevent burnout and improve wellbeing for the people we fund.
A growing need
The emotional and practical strain on charities and community groups has grown significantly in recent years. A hostile media and political climate, ongoing funding uncertainty, and rising demand for services, have all contributed to increased wellbeing challenges across the sector. Since 2024, we have proactively offered 91 wellbeing awards, totalling £489,000, in response to these pressures, and we will continue to provide wellbeing support to the organisations we fund.
We have shared insights from previous wellbeing awards offered in our Supporting organisations to prioritise wellbeing report.
Our approach
Using insights from our learning data and funding relationships, we have identified organisations that might benefit from additional support and are offering each a dedicated wellbeing award of £5,000 intended to improve staff, volunteer or trustee wellbeing. The funding is flexible, with organisations trusted to use it in ways that best meet their needs. Past awards have been used for a wide range of activities, including team‑building, reflective practice, coaching, clinical supervision, mental health training, wellbeing packages, and improvements to working practices or culture. The only restriction is that the award cannot be used for staff remuneration.
Getting in touch
If you're interested in finding out more about Funding Plus and the support available to organisations we fund, please get in touch with Shemain Wahab, Impact Support Manager, at shemain@esmeefairbairn.org.uk.
