Irwin Mitchell Charities Foundation awards £246,000 to support communities across the UK

The Irwin Mitchell Charities Foundation (IMCF) has awarded more than £246,000 to charities across the UK as part of its latest Regional Impact Grants programme.

A total of 11 charities will receive grants of up to £25,000, supporting projects designed to empower communities, particularly those facing low social mobility, through education and employability initiatives and by widening access to justice.

The charities supported in 2026 are:

• Beatson Cancer Charity – Glasgow
• Future Dreams Trust Limited – London
• Haringey Migrant Support Centre – London
• Onward Lives – Preston
• Sebby’s Corner – London
• Sheffield Futures – Sheffield
• Smart Works North East – Newcastle
• SOAR Community – Sheffield
• Sunnyside Rural Trust – Berkhamsted
• The Aldingbourne Trust – Chichester
• ThinkForward (UK) – London

You can read more about the projects the donations are funding and expected impacts in the report we have produced with the IMCF.

The funding follows a nomination process launched in January 2026, with the trustees of the IMCF inviting colleagues from across Irwin Mitchell to put forward charities they have a connection to or are passionate about supporting.

Since launching the Regional Impact Grants (known formerly as the IMCF Fund) initiative in 2022, the IMCF has now distributed more than £800,000 to 47 charities, helping to fund vital local projects across the country.

The IMCF is an independent registered charity established by colleagues of Irwin Mitchell in 1997 to make a positive impact in the communities where the firm operates. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated more than £4.7 million to good causes in the UK and beyond.

Adrian Budgen, chair of the IMCF Board of Trustees said: 

“We know that local charities play a vital role in supporting communities, often reaching people who might otherwise struggle to access help. These grants are about backing that work and helping organisations deliver practical support that can make a real difference to people’s lives.

“It’s especially important that these charities were nominated by Irwin Mitchell colleagues, reflecting the personal connections and commitment to supporting the communities they are part of.”

The IMCF’s Regional Impact Grants programme enables Irwin Mitchell colleagues to support causes that matter to them while aligning with the firm’s responsible business priorities, including improving social mobility and access to justice.

The Foundation is funded through a combination of Irwin Mitchell colleague fundraising and donations from Irwin Mitchell, such as its Give As You Earn salary sacrifice scheme, with contributions matched by the firm.