HBS Grassroots Endowment Fund
We are a mutual that strives to support our local community and give back to the people at its heart. The Harpenden Building Society Grassroots Endowment Fund forms part of this. Our fund’s purpose is to support children, health and local community projects, primarily within Hertfordshire but also in nearby Bedfordshire.
How our endowment fund supports the local community
We’re committed to supporting a wide variety of community projects, from charities and local initiatives to organisations seeking to improve health, facilities and opportunities for people across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Our Endowment Fund is just one of the many ways we give back to the local community by offering grants to projects we believe can make a big difference.
Collaborating with Hertfordshire Community Foundation
All our grants are delivered in collaboration with the Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF), an independent countywide charity that supports local grassroots organisations and children and families in crisis by encouraging local philanthropy. HCF helps identify and research suitable projects for us to fund in line with our objectives.
Our community grants
We take great pride in the work we do in the local community, from volunteering for local charities to the fundraising our colleagues do for causes close to their hearts. Our grants are another great way to support the community.
We assess all grant applications, judging each submission based on specific criteria, and analyse the impact the project will have on local people and communities in the region.
Find out more babout our latest grants below.
Interested in our past funding projects? Explore our previous grants dating back to 2009.
Our Latest Grants
HBS grant: £4,000 (multi-year grant of £4,000 per year for 3 years)
Harpenden Hopper/Connect
The Hopper provides transport facilities for the people in Harpenden (AL5 area), including those who have a special need of such facilities because they are elderly, poor, disabled, parents or guardians of young children or those living where there are inadequate public transport facilities. They also provide hire to other community groups, but the sole purpose is to be of benefit to the local community. We have previously supported the Harpenden Hopper through our grant programme and are delighted to continue that partnership with a new multi-year grant.
HBS grant: £3,738.29
Youth Talk
Youth Talk are a St Albans-based charity that provides confidential counselling and psychotherapy services to young people aged 13 to 25 across Harpenden and the wider St Albans district. Having previously supported Youth Talk through our grant programme, they are a charity close to our hearts. We are delighted to provide further funding for 2026/27, helping ensure young people experiencing mental health challenges can continue to access free counselling services, both online and in person, when they need them most.
HBS grant: £4,930
Citizens Advice St Albans and District
Our grant supports the delivery of money management and financial education workshops by Citizens Advice St Albans District, helping children and young people across the district build essential life skills. As a local charity providing free, independent and confidential advice, Citizens Advice are well placed to equip young people with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions. The programme helps participants better understand budgeting, saving and money management, empowering them to make the most of their finances both now and in the future. This is our third year supporting this intiative.
HBS grant: £3,000
Artbox Leighton Buzzard
Artbox LB are an innovative project that transforms disused British phone boxes into vibrant community art spaces. The phone boxes, which have fallen into disrepair and attracted anti-social behaviour, are repurposed to showcase local creativity and bring renewed pride to the area. With dedicated exhibition space in Leighton Buzzard limited, these unique venues provide opportunities for schoolchildren, local artists and community groups to display their work in a public setting. While the boxes remain secure when not in use, they also serve as active creative spaces, allowing artists to work on-site and engage directly with the public.
