# TELUS brings its community board model to the UK with £1 million for good causes - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/10/02/telus-brings-its-community-board-model-to-the-uk-with-1-million-for-good-causes/ - Published: 2025-10-02T15:18:39+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake **Global communications and technology company TELUS is launching its first Community Board in the UK in London, together with £1 million of investment for charities.** The funding is expected to benefit thousands of young people through dozens of grassroots non-profits across Greater London, with a focus on health, education, the environment, and digital inclusion for youth. The funding from the TELUS Great London Community Board will be awarded by mid-2027. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) ## TELUS Community Boards TELUS describe its Community Boards as a proven model of community-led philanthropy“ putting funding decisions in the hands of local community leaders”. Since 2000 TELUS and its staff have contributed over **£1 billion** and 2.4 million volunteer days globally. Its Community Boards have supported more than **11,000 programmes**, supporting over **35 million children and young people**.   The Greater London board is the 21st TELUS Community Board worldwide. The funding will be awarded by mid-2027 and funding decisions will be made by a newly established local group of respected community leaders, ensuring support reaches organisations that can make the greatest impact on young lives. ## “Social capitalism” Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS, describes the company’s approach as“ social capitalism”. He explained: “For more than two decades, our TELUS team members around the world have passionately embraced our give-where-we-live philosophy and made TELUS the most giving company on the planet”. > “Our… TELUS Community Boards truly embody this philosophy and contribute significantly > to the legacy of giving we are building for the benefit of our communities and > citizens, globally. > “With the introduction of our Greater London Community Board our team is honoured > to launch this board with an inaugural £1 million in support of grassroots organisations > across Greater London, empowering local leaders to deliver programmes that will > help thousands of young people reach their full potential. ## TELUS Great London Community Board Chaired by **Johnny Hornby**, Founder & CEO of T&P and member of WPP’s Executive Committee, the inaugural board includes leaders from across the public, private, and social sectors: * **Fiona Adams**, Executive Vice President, Managing Shareholder and Co-Chair of the Global Corporate Practice, GreenbergTraurig * **Austin Daboh OBE**, Executive Vice President, Atlantic Records UK * **Mark Fabes**, CIO, pladis * **Dr. Julia Fan Li**, Co-Founder & CEO of Micrographia Bio * **Jenny Halpern Prince MBE**, Founder & CEO, Halpern * **Alice Harrison**, Director, Sales & Customer (International), TELUS Agriculture& Consumer Goods * **Simon Le Bon MBE**, Lead Singer, Duran Duran and philanthropist * **Brad McCallum**, Director Sales, EMEA, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods * **Sophie Pender**, Founder, 93% Club Charity * **June Sarpong OBE**, TV Broadcaster, Speaker, NED, Author and Founder of Corporate Cinc * **Olivia Spencer**, Marketing Manager, TELUS Health * **Dr. Nick Taylor**, CEO & Co-Founder, Unmind * **Stephen Galliano**, Chief Customer Officer, Workplace Options Johnny Hornby, Founder & CEO of T&P and member of WPP’s Executive Committee said: > “The TELUS Community Board model is unlike anything I’ve seen in UK philanthropy. > It brings decision-making closer to the ground, ensuring local organisations, > often overlooked by traditional funding models, get the support they need to thrive”. Following its first meeting, the Board has announced initial grants to 18 organisations, including: * **Lady Garden Foundation** – Expanding gynecological cancer awareness and education among young women across Greater London; * **Enter Tech Opportunities CIC **– Empowers neurodivergent females and non-binary young people with tech training, soft skills, and mentorship for employability; * **Orange Bow** – Providing young men with peer support networks and digital resources to address mental health and promote social connection; * **The Amos Bursary** – Equipping students from low-income backgrounds with digital and employment skills for academic and professional success; and * **The Great London Friendship Project** – Helps young adults outside of education, employment, or training build confidence, reduce loneliness, and gain skills, structure, and peer networks to re-engage with training and employment. To mark the launch, TELUS team members joined grant recipients and guests for a ** TELUS Day of Giving**, a hands-on volunteer event. ## How to apply for funding Registered not-for-profits working with youth in Greater London are invited to submit [grant applications](http://telus.com/greater-london-cb) that align with the Board’s funding priorities and demonstrate measurable impact. Eligible organisations include: * Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) * Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) – may also be registered as a Charity or a Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee (CICLG) * Trust * Unincorporated Association * Community Benefit Societies (CBS). “Ideally, the CBS will also be registered as charitable with HMRC, however this is not essential”. Funding available is single year grant funding, up to £20,000. The board states “please allow 12 weeks following the application deadline to receive a response”. * **[Corporate fundraising partnerships in March 2025](https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/03/07/corporate-fundraising-partnerships-in-march-2025/)( 7 March 2025) * **[Corporate charity partnerships in October 2025](https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/10/01/corporate-charity-partnerships-in-october-2025/)( 1 October 2025)**