The 2010s began with a new Conservative Prime Minister, the London 2012 Olympic games and Lady Gaga at the top of the charts.
A tumultuous ten years followed, seeing the UK vote to leave the European Union, Britain’s first same-sex marriages, and political divisions around austerity and immigration. Internationally, the United Nations launched its Sustainable Development Goals, and global agreements around climate change moved forwards.
At SFCT, the Trusts supported a wider range of work than ever. The new entities formed in this decade – Gatsby Africa and the Woolbeding Charity (formed to complete the remaining work of the closing Monument Trust) – brought SFCT to the total number of entities it is made up of today. SFCT moved to its current office at The Peak, initially with Alan Bookbinder as Director, followed briefly by Robert Bell and then, in 2019, the current CEO Karen Everett.
The stories that follow give a sense of the expert interventions made by the Trusts in the 2010s – from open data around grantmaking to reforming careers guidance for young people; from transforming sectors in East Africa to investing in world-leading classical music. Amidst these larger programmes, the stories of individuals shine through. A grant for a new washing machine assisted a patient in difficult circumstances; looking after hens helped care home residents connect - and good palliative care made all the difference to a family.
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