Three new funds to help improve lives in Suffolk

The Axter Climate & Community Fund has been created by Axter Limited, an Ipswich-based waterproofing design and manufacturing specialist that has been a part of the community for over 30 years.

Phillip Wilcox-Moore, Managing Director, Axter Ltd said:

“We are delighted to have set up an Axter Climate & Community Fund with Suffolk Community Foundation. We recognise the essential work SCF does in providing grant-making opportunities for smaller charities and community groups across the county, all these charities do essential work supporting the most vulnerable people and giving opportunities to those that need it most.

As part of our Climate & Community CSR commitment, we chose The Foundation because we felt this was the best way to help the most people and have the biggest impact locally. We want to provide support to our community and we are committed to helping those smaller charities, that do essential work, that sometimes goes unnoticed.”

“We are very pleased to be able to partner with The Foundation and look forward to continuing to support them for many years to come.”

[Image: Phillip Wilcox-Moore | Credit: Axter Ltd]

The Beacon Commodities Fund has been set up by Tommy and Georgie Haughton who run Beacon Commodities, a Suffolk-based gin botanicals business which supplies distilleries on six continents.

Tommy Haughton, Managing Director, Beacon Commodities said:

“Georgie and I have wanted to support more local charities/causes for some time now. We were introduced to the Suffolk Community Foundation in early 2023 and were extremely impressed by their coverage of the local area and the breadth of charities/causes they work with.

We set up the Beacon Commodities fund as a result. Even though Beacon Commodities is an international business, it is located in Suffolk and works with Suffolk people, businesses and infrastructure daily. We felt it was important to try and give something back to the local community.

We are excited about building long-term relationships with local charities/causes in order to improve the lives of children and young people in Suffolk in any way we can.”

[Image Tommy and Georgie Haughton – credit Beacon Commodities]

The West Le Basse Family Grantmaking Fund was founded by Tony West, a Senior Financial Planner at Becketts. Tony was keen to demonstrate a long-term commitment to Suffolk by creating an endowment, initially for the benefit of young people.

Tony’s decision was made following a change in jobs and the resulting sale of some of his shares.

Tony said:

“If I’d won the lottery, I would have thought about setting up a charity.  For me, this was winning the lottery, so why not?’

According to Tony, financial advice clients ‘want to talk about charity’ and should ‘absolutely be aware’ of a foundation’s benefits.

If you can be empathetic and understand others’ struggles, it only adds to your skillset as a financial planner.

We are very pleased to be able to partner with The Foundation and look forward to continuing to support them for many years to come.”

[Image: Tony West]