Jimbo’s Fund 2022

Jimbo’s Fund was set up in 2008 by a local businessman, Jimi Heselden, to make a difference for people in Leeds. The programme funds a broad range of projects and activity that support people in the city who are experiencing hardship. Sadly, Jimi passed away in 2010, but the programme continues to support local projects across Leeds, carrying on his legacy. 

Now in its 15th year, the most recent round of the Fund was held in January 2022. In this round, 24 organisations were awarded grants, with a total of £310,000 invested. 

The organisations that were awarded funding are: 

• • • • BARCA Leeds 
      • Better Action for Families 
      • Burmantofts Senior Action CIO 
      • Caring for Life 
      • Christ Church Armley (Meeting Point) 

• • • • Connect in the North 
      • Halton Moor Amateur Boxing Club 
      • Harehills English Language Project (H.E.L.P.) 
      • Hyde Park Source 
      • Leeds Baby Bank 

• • • • Leeds Powerchair Football Club 
      • Life Connections 
      • LS-TEN 
      • Martin House Children’s Hospice 
      • Older People’s Action in the Locality (OPAL) 

• • • • Social Business Brokers 
      • Space2 Leeds 
      • Sunshine and Smiles – Leeds Down Syndrome Network 
      • The Canopy Housing Project 
      • The Wharfedale Vineyard Christian fellowship 

• • • • The Youth Association 
      • Unity in Poverty Action (UPA) 
      • Women’s Health Matters 
      • Zarach 

The funded activities include: 

• • • • Mentoring, advocacy and activities that break down barriers and enable young people to thrive. 
      • A new garden for a horticulture project enabling people who don’t have access to gardens to learn outdoor skills and grow different plants. 
      • Salary costs for a project worker to deliver an employability programme for young people who are not in education, employment or training. 
      • A project supporting people with learning disabilities, who have experienced loss, to understand their feelings and find ways to manage their grief. 

• • • • A fortnightly peer support and friendship group for people and their carers. 
      • Redistributing secondhand sports kits and equipment to children and young people who need it, so all can take part in sport and exercise. 
      • The development of two distinct employment posts to enhance and improve an organisation’s services. 

The funded activity will continue throughout 2022 and into 2023, when we will be able to report on the outcomes and impact of the grants. 

For more information on grants awarded, visit the What We’ve Funded page.