Four local charities to benefit from Lodders Charitable Foundation

Independent charities in Birmingham, Stratford upon Avon and Cheltenham have been named as beneficiaries of all funds raised in 2021 and 2022 by the charitable foundation set up by Lodders.

Each of the charities are local to Lodders’ offices – the Stratford Foodbank and Orchestra of the Swan in Stratford upon Avon, Network Four in Birmingham, and Cheltenham Open Door in Cheltenham.

Lodders created the Lodders Charitable Foundation (LCF) in 2016 with the aim of raising vital financial support and providing help to local charities where it can make a genuine difference.

To date, it has raised and donated more than £60,000 to independent charities, and this month (February) will hand over £2000 to each of its 2021 beneficiaries – Orchestra of the Swan, Stratford Food Bank, Network 4 and Cheltenham Open Door.

Chairman of Lodders Charitable Foundation David Lodder says: “These are difficult times for many, in particular for charities that have seen a dip in donations and fundraising, alongside a growing need for their services and support from people and communities struggling more than ever in these unprecedented times. This is true for each of the charities chosen as beneficiaries of our fundraising over the coming two years.”

Orchestra of the Swan

Founded in 1995, Orchestra of the Swan (OOTS) is an English professional chamber orchestra based in Stratford upon Avon. It is Resident Orchestra at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, The Courtyard Hereford and the Stratford Play House, and gives over 45 concerts a year. It is passionate about promoting new music and runs a program of work in care homes, schools and rural areas around the West Midlands.

Stratford Food Bank

Stratford Food Bank aims to prevent or relieve poverty in and around Stratford-upon-Avon by providing emergency food supplies to those in need, or organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty. It provides an essential life-line food parcel delivery service and is working to find ways of helping people with the personal or financial issues that bring them to the charity for help.

Network Four

Network Four is a small growing charity that since it began in 2008 has supported and engaged over 6,500 young people, adults and families in crisis thanks to a dedicated team and volunteers who strive to help transform their circumstances and give hope for the future. It has recently teamed up with a firm of shoe manufactures to set up shoe banks to provide shoes for school children.

Cheltenham Open Door

Originally founded in 1992 as Open Door at Christmas, Cheltenham Open Door is a registered charity operating from Grosvenor Street in Cheltenham thanks to a dedicated army of staff and volunteers. It is dedicated to providing support to the town’s most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and lonely people, but receives no central funding and relies entirely on donations to run.

£12000 donated

David Lodder adds: “The charities we supported in 2020 were Shakespeare Hospice, LifeSpace, and Cheltenham Open Door, and despite the difficulties of fundraising, we were able to donate £12,000 to each of these charities. I hope we will be in a position to support our new charities in a similar if not greater way this year, and be able to return to hosting and running our fundraising events that were greatly missed last year due to the pandemic.”

Find out more about The Lodders Charitable Foundation here.