The company behind a huge logistics park near Leicestershire’s border with Derbyshire has announced a multi-million pound fund to help local communities.
And the first £1 million of SEGRO’s £10 million Centenary Fund is being released immediately to provide emergency help for communities impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
SEGRO is the company behind East Midlands Gateway, a massive logistics park near Castle Donington, which has brought major names including Amazon and Nestle, to the area bringing thousands of jobs.
The firm, which owns, manages and develops warehousing and industrial space, had intended to launch the fund in May to coincide with the firm’s 100th anniversary.
However, SEGRO revised the plans to provide urgent support to members of the community who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the first year, funds will be used to help a variety of charities to provide basic necessities, such as food, medicines and household essentials, and to support other initiatives which will help alleviate the impact of the crisis.
In the longer term, the fund will focus on community projects which help young and disadvantaged people into employment and will create community spaces to support people’s training, health and wellbeing.
SEGRO has now partnered with Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation, an independent charity which enables local philanthropy by giving grants to "unsung unseen" charitable and voluntary groups that keep cities and counties healthy, safe and thriving.
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David Sleath, chief executive at SEGRO, said: “The SEGRO Centenary Fund is one way of recognising the vital role our communities have played in our success over the last 100 years and making sure we give something back by helping thousands of people now and over the next decade.
“Many of the areas where we invest are characterised by high levels of unemployment and social deprivation.
“We understand the long-term need to ensure people from all backgrounds have the skills, training and opportunities to secure meaningful employment.
“These are the areas where we are focusing the SEGRO Centenary Fund and where we feel we can make a significant difference to people’s lives.
“However, in the near term, we cannot ignore the potentially devastating and long-lasting socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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“Accordingly, we are accelerating the launch of the Centenary Fund and broadening its purpose to help address urgent needs in our communities during this time of crisis.”
Katy Green, chief executive at Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation said: “The SEGRO Centenary Fund is a welcome and exciting fund, and Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation is deeply appreciative that SEGRO has diverted the fund for this first year to those hardest hit by Covid-19 in the North West Leicestershire area.
“This is an area that already faces challenges in terms of employment and related issues and SEGRO’s much-needed support for the charitable and voluntary groups working with and in local communities will have real impact.”