Young people across five UK regions are set to benefit from the 2025 Building Brighter Futures fund, a community-focused initiative dedicated to making a positive impact.
Managed by Cheshire Community Foundation after being established by EMR – a global leader in sustainable materials – the Building Brighter Futures fund supports projects which provide the next generation with key skills, experiences and the resources they need to thrive.
It champions charities and community groups whose work transforms lives in the neighbourhoods where EMR sites operate. It particularly focuses on projects assisting vulnerable young people.
EMR will be investing more than £210,000 to the fund in 2025 to make a positive impact among the communities it operates in.
The Building Brighter Future Fund assesses local needs and directs money to where it will have the greatest possible impact.
Following a hugely successful first year, Building Brighter Futures supported 23 projects in 2024 across five UK regions. Among the beneficiaries were Starling, a group delivering activities designed to increase the wellbeing and inclusion of neuro-divergent children and young people in Greater Manchester, as well as Escapeline, which addresses the criminal exploitation of children by county lines gangs in Dorset.
In 2025, the fund will support charities working to boost the wellbeing, mental health and opportunities available to communities in East Anglia, the South Coast and Kent, the North East, Greater Manchester as well as in Cheshire and Warrington. Projects must be aimed at young people between the ages of 11 and 19 (or up to 25 for those with additional needs) and be delivered between April and December 2025.
Applications for the 2025 Building Brighter Futures fund are open now and close on 12th January next year.
Cheshire Community Foundation, which manages the fund, was established in 2011 to address the needs people who live and work in the local area. It forms part of a wider network of foundations that will assess projects and direct funds over the course of the coming months.
EMR’s commitment to supporting communities where they operate is a great example of corporate responsibility in action, and we’re proud to partner with them on the Building Brighter Futures fund. By working with their local Community Foundation, EMR (and other socially responsible businesses) can ensure their investments are directed to where they will have the greatest impact. Our model combines a deep understanding of local needs with expert fund management, helping donors achieve meaningful social impact while fostering stronger, healthier communities.
EMR, meanwhile, is a world-leading supplier of sustainable materials such as low-carbon reusable steels and a wide range of recycled metals and plastics. While the company is focused on creating innovative circular economies for widely-used materials – and developing game-changing solutions for electric vehicle (EV) battery and wind turbine recycling – EMR has also built a longstanding reputation for giving back to the communities where it operates.
I’m very proud that EMR are once again partnering with the brilliant Cheshire Community Foundation to launch the 2025 BBF fund. The team at EMR are passionate about supporting young people and helping them grow so they can make a positive impact in their communities in the years ahead. Last year, the fund supported some incredible causes, from addressing the exploitation of children by county lines gangs to supporting the learning and development of neuro-divergent young people. We’re excited to see the wonderful initiatives this fund will support in 2025.
For more information about donating to the fund, applying for support and to find out more, please visit buildingbrighterfuturesfund.com