McPhillips Community Fund Helping Strengthen Mental Health Support Across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin
A new case study from Shropshire Community Foundation highlights the growing impact of the McPhillips Community Fund. The fund has supported more than 16,000 people, showing how targeted local funding can drive meaningful change across communities in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.
Launched in 2024 to mark McPhillips’ 60th anniversary, the fund was created in partnership with Shropshire Community Foundation (SCF) to provide preventative, community-based mental health and wellbeing support across the region.
Rather than making a one-off donation, McPhillips wanted to create a structured fund that would deliver long-term impact within the communities where its workforce live and work.
Paul Inions, Managing Director of McPhillips, said:
“We didn’t want to just write a cheque; we wanted to create something structured and lasting that would make a real difference.”
The construction and civil engineering company has long embedded Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Value into its business practices, making the launch of the fund a natural extension of its commitment to local communities.
Working alongside SCF allowed McPhillips to take a strategic and evidence-led approach to its giving. Through SCF’s local expertise and grant management processes, the company was able to identify areas of genuine need while ensuring funding reached organisations capable of delivering measurable outcomes.
The fund was developed in response to growing mental health challenges across the county, including increasing levels of anxiety and depression, social isolation in rural communities, gaps in preventative support services and rising pressure on statutory services.
Using local insight alongside data from NHS Digital, the Office for National Statistics and Public Health England, the fund focused specifically on early intervention and community-led support.
In its first year, the £20,000 fund received applications totalling more than £190,000 from 47 organisations, highlighting the significant demand for accessible mental health and wellbeing support across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
Six organisations received grant funding:
- Community Resource – Buddy System
- HomeStart Telford & Wrekin – “Something More”
- Brightstar Boxing Academy – Empower Programme
- Amber Bee CIC – Mental Wellbeing in Schools
- 4 All Foundation – Weekly Mental Health Support
Collectively, the funded projects supported more than 1,250 participants and delivered measurable improvements in wellbeing, confidence and resilience.
One particularly impactful project was Community Resource’s Buddy Programme, which supports adults experiencing loneliness, anxiety and depression through trained volunteer buddies who provide emotional and practical support. Funding from the McPhillips Community Fund enabled the programme to expand its reach and train additional volunteers across the county.
The programme supported 51 individuals, with activities including walks, swimming, cafés, choirs and local community groups designed to rebuild confidence and reduce isolation.
One participant described the impact of the programme:
“Having a Buddy helped my mental health a lot. It built up my confidence and self-esteem and helped me realise that I could do ‘normal’ things again.”
The wider outcomes included increased independent participation, improved confidence using public transport and sustained engagement in community activities.
The case study also demonstrates the wider role local philanthropy can play in strengthening communities. Through partnerships with businesses like McPhillips, SCF is able to direct funding into grassroots organisations that understand local needs and can respond quickly and effectively.
As demand for mental health and wellbeing support continues to grow, initiatives like the McPhillips Community Fund demonstrate the importance of long-term partnerships between businesses, community foundations and local organisations.
Read the full McPhillips Community Fund Case Study and Impact Report here:
https://www.shropshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk/reports/
