Celebrating remarkable 50-year milestone

We are proud to be celebrating our 50th anniversary — marking five decades of transforming lives, supporting local communities, and  standing as the oldest community foundation in the UK and Europe.

Founded on 6 May 1975 as the Thamesdown Community Trust, we began with a simple but powerful mission: to support local voluntary groups by bringing businesses together to pool their charitable giving — believing we could achieve far more together than alone.

Our vision was set from the start by our founder, Lord Joel Joffe, a passionate advocate for social justice and charitable giving. Lord Joffe, who also served as Nelson Mandela’s lawyer during the Rivonia Trial, believed deeply in the power of communities to drive meaningful change. His vision laid the groundwork for everything we have accomplished over the past 50 years — and continues to inspire our work today.

In 1991, Thamesdown Trust merged with Wiltshire Community Trust to form Wiltshire Community Foundation, with an ambitious goal of building a £2 million endowment to create a lasting resource for supporting communities across the county.

Today, that endowment has grown to nearly £30 million. It generates steady returns each year through investments, providing a reliable, long-term source of funding for local causes. In 2024/25, these returns accounted for around 45% of our £2.5 million in total grant-making, with the rest raised through our other philanthropy activities.

So far, we have awarded over £26.8 million through 10,000 grants to charities, local groups, and individuals tackling issues including domestic violence, mental health, fuel poverty, rural isolation, and more. We’ve also helped young people access higher education or start their own businesses — changing the lives of hundreds of thousands across Wiltshire and Swindon.

As the first community foundation established in the UK and Europe, we’ve helped inspire a movement that now sees community foundations active in every corner of the UK. Today, 47 community foundations manage over £811 million in endowments and distribute more than 30,000 grants each year, strengthening local communities. Collectively, UK community foundations have awarded over £2.1 billion to local causes — a powerful testament to the impact of local philanthropy.

Reflecting on this milestone, our joint Chief Executive, Fiona Oliver, said:
"Since 1975, we’ve been privileged to build on the vision of those who established the Foundation — people who believed in the power of local communities to come together and support one another. Their foresight, along with the dedication of those who followed, laid the strong foundations we stand on today. We remain committed to continuing that spirit by strengthening and supporting communities across Wiltshire and Swindon.

"Our anniversary is a significant milestone, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible generosity of our supporters, the contribution of our partners, and the tireless work of the local voluntary sector. We simply couldn’t do what we do without them.

"As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue building on these partnerships, inspiring even more philanthropy, and championing our voluntary sector. By connecting people who care with causes that matter, we know we can keep creating lasting change.”

Our Patron, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Dame Sarah Troughton DCVO, added:
"I’m delighted to congratulate Wiltshire Community Foundation on reaching this wonderful milestone. For 50 years it has been at the heart of our county, quietly but powerfully helping those in need and supporting the organisations that do such vital work. The Foundation’s dedication to improving lives in Wiltshire and Swindon is something we can all be proud of. Long may it continue to bring people together to make a difference where it really matters."

To mark our 50th year, we’re hosting a series of events throughout 2025. Celebrations began this week with a conference recognising the voluntary sector’s contribution, followed by a Volunteers’ Lunch in June and a special anniversary celebration in July. We’re also inviting anyone who wants to make a difference to their local community to get involved and support our work — helping to shape the next 50 years of impact.

Find out more about working with us here