Buckinghamshire Building Society’s Community Fund’s annual grant is a highlight of our year. It’s a welcome opportunity to give back to the community that we have called home since we opened our branch in Chalfont St Giles, 100 years ago.
This Community Fund grant is designed and led entirely by our colleagues, including establishing the criteria, selection of the shortlist and the making of the final decision. It’s an opportunity for our colleagues to address the issues that are close to their hearts.
This year, our colleagues focused on initiatives that offered support to adults experiencing loneliness and isolation during life transitions. The 2025 theme, “Unseen and In Between: Supporting Adults Through Change and Connection”, sought projects that help people reconnect with their communities, rebuild belonging and purpose, and foster meaningful social connection.
The assessment process proved to be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the incredible charities that work so tirelessly to support the people of Buckinghamshire. Being presented with so many worthy causes made it difficult to make a final decision, however, after much deliberation and a vote open to all of our colleagues, we found our winner.
We’re delighted to announce that the recipient of this year’s Community Fund grant of £5,000 is Black Park Shed!
The Shed is a welcoming community workshop where creativity and connection thrive. It offers a space for people to meet, share skills, and build friendships through hands-on projects, whether restoring a treasured grandfather clock or crafting hedgehog boxes for a local wildlife hospital. More than a workshop, The Shed is a lifeline for adults facing isolation, bereavement, or major life changes. Through shared activity and conversation, it helps individuals rediscover confidence, purpose, and a sense of belonging.
We welcomed the Chairman of Black Park Shed, Tommy Musgrave, and Charity Secretary, Les Stone, to our office in Chalfont St Giles on 4th December to have our CEO, Dan Wass, to present them with the grant. It was also an opportunity for some of our colleagues to speak with Tommy and Les about the organisation and discuss their plans for the future.
“We are very grateful to be receiving a Grant from Buckinghamshire Building Society. The funding will be used to support Black Park Shed in our efforts to provide currently over 60 Members with sustainable ongoing access to Black Park Shed and its facilities. As a local Charity based in Buckinghamshire, we work to provide older men and women with somewhere to go that offers social interaction, alleviation of loneliness and support through bereavement or ill health. Older people are often seen as “invisible”, and this funding will help us make them visible and active participants in wood working projects both for themselves and delivering into the wider local community. A big thank you for seeing us.” - Tommy Musgrave, Chairman of Black Park Shed
Once again, we’d like to congratulate Black Park Shed and wish them all the best for the future. We look forward to seeing what they achieve in the future as they continue to support the local community.
We’d like to extend our gratitude to our partners at Heart of Bucks for their invaluable support in facilitating this fund.
“Heart of Bucks are delighted to have worked with Buckinghamshire Building Society to identify a suitable local organisation that was in keeping with their area of interest and charitable goals. We always enjoy the opportunity to engage with their team, and of course these additional funds made available by the business will be put to great use by Black Park Shed. A huge thank you to Buckinghamshire Building Society for being such generous supporters of the local community.” – Henry Allmand, CEO of Heart of Bucks
Thank you to all of the organisations that took the time to submit an application to us. We look forward to relaunching the fund next year, with a refreshed set of criteria.
If you would like to learn more about Black Park Shed, please click here.
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