Lloyd Barnes Accountancy Recruitment are one of the founding 15 members of The Exeter Foundation
The official club charity of the Exeter Chiefs, the Exeter Foundation was set up in 2011 to help promote the local community and the vision of people who live and work there.
Exeter Foundation was formed by the Executive of Exeter Rugby Club with local business people with a passion for fundraising and rugby. It is a charity that exists with the sole aim of helping other charities.
All of the money raised is donated to worthy causes in and around the city of Exeter with a focus on supporting ‘tangible’ investments.
These have included funding building and renovation works, the installation of play equipment, and assistance with buying a large number of vehicles, ranging from minibuses to a boat for the Topsham Sea Scout Group.
The Foundation is within its 11th year and to date has raised over £2.5m and has helped over 150 projects, charities and organisations.
“To reach the £2.5m milestone is a huge achievement for the Exeter Foundation,” said Tony Rowe OBE. “However, the hard work doesn’t stop here. As a board of trustees we are fully committed to continuing the excellent fundraising work that has so far been done.
“We have been lucky to see first-hand just what a difference even the smallest sum of money can make to so many people locally. Helping to improve the lives of Exeter people is our number one priority and we are delighted with the response the public have given to the Exeter Foundation over the years.
“Just dropping a pound into a bucket or sponsoring someone to ride a bike, it can make a real difference in the long run. Also, we have to thank the many people who have taken on the numerous fundraising challenges, sometimes in the very worse conditions. Without that kind of support locally we would not have hit the £1m figure, so to everyone we are eternally grateful for all of their efforts.”
Funding over the years through the Exeter Foundation has to date helped to purchase eight different vehicles, including a boat, six different play parks for children with special needs, an outdoor learning centre, an IT hub, specialist equipment for projects around the city, wheelchairs for the Exeter Hawks Wheelchair Rugby team, buddy chairs for Bolham Ward at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital and the refurbishing of two separate hydrotherapy pools.
In 2014, the Exeter Foundation also gave the first £50,000 Legacy Grant Fund to WESC Foundation to help adapt two new transition houses in Exeter for visually impaired young people.
“Our aim is to create a lasting legacy for everyone that we help,” added Mr Rowe. “Each year the Exeter Foundation continues to grow and it is all down to the support we receive from the public. Without their support we would not be able to provide the role we do, so again I thank everyone for their efforts and look forward to an even bigger and brighter future.”