Success Stories
Judge our success by the people and projects we have helped fund - here are just a few ...
The Zindgani Elders Group, from Weston Favell in Northampton
Elderly Asian men are traditionally a hard group to engage in exercise – but Jay Patel was determined to try. He received a grant of £1,985 from the Northamptonshire Community Foundation to set up a health and wellbeing club for elderly Asian men - a group of people prone to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart conditions.
Jay, from Weston Favell, explained: “I noticed there were a lot of elderly men sitting for hours at a time in the local shopping centre and when I asked them what they were doing they explained they had nothing to do, felt lonely and were bored. This was leading to depression, so when I suggested setting up a group to combat this sense of isolation the feedback was great.”
Since Zindgani was established in 2000 membership has soared from 15 to over 70 people – who meet regularly to do exercise together and learn more about healthy eating.
Jay added: “This has made a huge difference to our local community – and to the families of all the men that come. Depression is reduced and people feel a sense of belonging, which is essential for us all.”
Village newsletter, Barton Today
Earls Barton’s village magazine, Barton Today, was launched in 2005 – thanks to a grant of £2,000 from the Northamptonshire Community Foundation.
The magazine – which village resident Colin Suter dreamt up – is now an integral part of the community, with contributing journalists ranging from eight-years-old right up to 80.
Colin, who has lived in the village for 30 years, said: “When the 7/7 bombings in London happened I was horrified and shocked into action. I believe that, as with terrorism, misunderstandings between people feed upon ignorance. I wanted to celebrate the diversity of the village and produce a village magazine written for the community by the community – without an axe to grind.
“The content is culturally diverse and, although it is still early days, I believe Barton Today helps bring people together. Whether we are young or old, however we choose to worship and whatever our beliefs, we are all Bartonians.”
The Hemmingwell Fruit and Vegetable Plot in Wellingborough
Schoolchildren from Wellingborough’s Hemmingwell estate and surrounding area are now able to grow their own fruit and vegetables from seed, learn about healthy eating and enjoy time on an allotment – 
thanks to The Hemmingwell Fruit and Vegetable Plot.
The project, set up earlier this year by local resident Susan Walmsley, was awarded a grant of £7,000 by the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and is a much loved addition for families on this estate –which is one of the 10 per cent most deprived wards in the UK.
Susan, who has lived in the Hemmingwell ward for eight years, said: “Not only are we introducing healthy eating at a very young age, but we are also giving these children a great form of exercise – and are transforming some disused and overgrown allotments into a valuable resource for the whole community.”
Northamptonshire's Age Concern Entertainers (ACE) 
A group of elderly tap dancers from Northamptonshire are hot footing it around the county and spreading a safety message to fellow senior citizens.
The Age Concern Entertainers – awarded a grant of £2,000 from the Northamptonshire Community Foundation – visit care homes, hold regular tea dances and have even choreographed a ‘falls prevention’ dance to promote health and safety to older people.
Performers Angela Cox, 70 and husband Peter, 74 – both from Flore near Daventry – originally met on the dancefloor when Peter left the army.
Peter explained: “It was love on the dancefloor. I was a student and we loved dancing together. We then opened Flore Dancing school and ran tap dancing classes, only retiring a few years ago. As part of ACE we now travel around the county.”
Jean Kingdon, 70, from Duston, took up tap as a child and continues to wow her five children and seven grandchildren with her moves on the dancefloor.
Jean explained: “Age is not a factor when it comes to our dancing, which is a wonderful way of boosting confidence, entertaining people and keeping fit.”