Community foundation's funding builds on Jimi Heselden's legacy in East Leeds

Leeds Community Foundation has announced a new step in its mission to support the city’s most vital community organisations, with the launch of several new funding rounds through its flagship scheme, The Leeds Fund.

The foundation, the region’s leading independent funder, marks its 20th anniversary this year and is breaking new ground by investing over £2 million across Leeds, responding to the mounting pressures faced by charities and community groups during this challenging time for the sector.

Community investment grants will be made possible by the release of endowment capital from ‘Jimbo’s Fund’, established in 2008 by the late Leeds businessman and philanthropist, Jimi Heselden.

Thanks to the continued partnership with the Heselden family, Leeds Community Foundation will release £2 million from Jimbo’s Fund to fund microgrants, multi-year core cost and project grants, and collective impact grants for the city. These new rounds represent not only a financial boost but a strategic shift in how the foundation adapts to the growing need on the ground.

The Leeds Fund, launched in 2016, delivers flexible support to groups tackling urgent and long-term challenges such as mental health, loneliness, employability and organisational resilience. It has provided more than £2.8 million in funding up to this point through over 350 grants, benefitting more than 23,000 people.

The foundation’s decision to unlock endowment capital underlines the urgency of the moment. Jimbo’s Fund has already made a transformational impact across Leeds. Since 2008, more than £18.4 million has been distributed through 702 grants, supporting over 43,000 people. In 2023 alone, grants from the fund reached almost 7,000 individuals, improving mental health, boosting employment opportunities, and fostering stronger community networks.

Recent investments from Jimbo’s Fund have supported everything from music and wellbeing programmes at Chapel FM in Seacroft to financial advice services in Harehills and leadership training through dance initiatives for young people.

The most visible example of Jimi’s legacy is the Old Fire Station in Gipton, which was transformed with support from Jimbo’s Fund into a thriving community hub.

It now serves as a lifeline for many, offering everything from debt advice and food parcels to gardening clubs, family activities, and mental health support. The building also houses key partners and continues to grow as a beacon of what community collaboration can achieve.

On 20 September, a Blue Plaque will be unveiled by Leeds Civic Trust to commemorate the significance of the building as a Fire Station and its transformation into a community hub thanks to the generosity of Jimi Heselden. The event is part of Heritage Open Days and will also feature the premiere of a play about the first female firefighter in West Yorkshire who was stationed in the building.

Jimi Heselden, who grew up in East Leeds, donated £23 million to the Foundation in a variety of ways before his passing in 2010. Deeply connected to the city, he believed in giving back to those less fortunate. His family continues to honour his wishes through Jimbo’s Fund, which they entrusted to Leeds Community Foundation to manage with an understanding of where support is needed most.

Speaking about the decision to draw from the fund’s capital, Steph Taylor, Chief Executive of Leeds Community Foundation, said: “We know the pressures the voluntary and community sector in Leeds is facing right now and how charitable donations can make the most impact. Demand is growing, and many charities are struggling to stay afloat. It’s vital for people affected most by those pressures that anyone who cares about the less fortunate in their communities considers how they can create a fund in life or leave a legacy like Jimi’s that will meet needs now and be invested for the future and we encourage potential donors to explore their options with us.

“Releasing capital from Jimbo’s Fund is a bold decision Jimi’s family know he would have supported to ensure we don’t lose vital services and organisations. This new and innovative way of funding them reflects our commitment to invest where it matters most – at the heart of communities.”

Since its founding in 2005, Leeds Community Foundation has generated more than £65 million in grant funding and philanthropy, directly supporting over 2,400 charities, voluntary groups and grassroots organisations.

Steph Taylor added: “The Heselden family has shown incredible foresight and generosity, allowing us to unlock part of this endowment to respond directly to today’s challenges. We are using Jimi’s legacy not just to honour the past, but to shape the future.

“This strategic release of endowment capital demonstrates Leeds Community Foundation’s leadership in evolving how philanthropic funds can be used in times of crisis. It ensures that Jimi’s gift, already a cornerstone of support in Leeds, will continue to respond to today’s most pressing needs, ensuring his hometown doesn’t just survive but thrives.”

The newly launched grants under The Leeds Fund are open to a range of groups and projects across the city, prioritising those addressing inequality, improving wellbeing, and creating opportunities for people who might otherwise be left behind. Leeds-based community groups and projects seeking funding can apply here https://www.leedscf.org.uk/open-grants/