Our Supporters: Bay Media

We recently caught up with Leeds Community Foundation donors Bay Media. We spoke to Senior Contracts Manager, Tom Downes, about why they choose to support local communities and what they love about Leeds.

How have you been involved with Leeds Community Foundation?

This is our first year donating to Leeds Community Foundation, but we’ve been involved in the city for over a decade. Through our lamppost banner advertising contract, we’ve helped generate revenue for Leeds City Council and supported a wide range of council-led campaigns each year.

Why is it important to you to support local communities?

Working closely with local authorities across the UK, we’ve seen first-hand how important it is to support the communities we operate in. It helps build trust and strengthens the towns and cities we work alongside. Giving back is part of how we do business – we reinvest a significant portion of our revenue back into local councils (approx. £1 million per year).

We’re also proud to be a signatory of the Birmingham Business Charter for Social Responsibility, which encourages businesses like ours to make a positive impact both socially and environmentally.

What do you love about Leeds?

There’s something really special about Leeds – the energy, the creativity, and the down-to-earth spirit of its people. We’ve also loved playing a small part in celebrating its culture, especially through projects like LEEDS 2023: Year of Culture.

What advice would you give to people who are thinking about supporting Leeds Community Foundation?

We’d say the same thing the Foundation told us when we first got involved: every bit of support makes a difference. Whether it’s a large donation or something smaller, it all goes a long way in helping people and projects across Leeds thrive.

If you want to find out how you could support Leeds Community Foundation and help make a fairer Leeds for everyone, take a look at your giving options.