Bamboo Connect launches Hertfordshire fund with Mudlarks

Bamboo Connect has launched a community programme in Hertfordshire, including a charitable fund of GBP £25,000.

The fund is being set up with Hertfordshire Community Foundation, which will administer it. Hertford-based Mudlarks has been chosen as the programme's first long-term charity partner.

Mudlarks supports adults and young people with learning disabilities and mental health concerns across East Hertfordshire. Bamboo Connect employees selected the charity after reviewing more than 300 charities and community organisations across the county.

The programme combines longer-term funding with staff-led support. Returns from the fund are intended to provide an ongoing source of money for local causes, while Mudlarks will receive support through an initial two-year partnership.

That support will include employee donations, fundraising and volunteering. Bamboo Connect will match eligible employee donations and fundraising up to GBP £1,000 per person each year, and staff will also be given time to volunteer with the charity.

The business also plans to make further contributions to the fund linked to its wider activity. Any such payments will be funded by the company rather than passed on to clients or their customers.

Juney Mistiki, Co-founder and CEO of Bamboo Connect, said: "Doing the right thing and looking after people have always been a big part of how we work at Bamboo Connect. We wanted to turn those values into something structured and long term, rather than simply making one-off donations.

"Our partnership with Hertfordshire Community Foundation gives us the local expertise to establish a fund that can support communities over the long term, while the wider community programme gives our people a genuine role in making an impact. Mudlarks is a fantastic first partner and we look forward to supporting its work through fundraising, matched giving and volunteering, as well as the fund."

Local fund

Hertfordshire Community Foundation is an independent charity that manages more than 100 charitable funds and directs donations into grants for local groups across the county. It has awarded more than GBP £41 million in grants since 1988.

Amanda Jansen, Head of Philanthropy at Hertfordshire Community Foundation, said: "Hertfordshire Community Foundation exists to support small charities and community groups across our county, connecting them with the funding and support they need to make a difference. We work with individuals, families and organisations to help turn their charitable intentions into effective local giving. We're delighted to partner with Bamboo Connect to establish its charitable fund and look forward to helping it achieve its giving objectives and make a lasting difference in Hertfordshire."

First partner

Mudlarks runs six projects spanning horticulture, hospitality, employment, outdoor learning and community support. Its work includes therapeutic gardening and skills development, training and work experience through a café, maintenance of public spaces, support for vulnerable residents who struggle to maintain their gardens, and outdoor learning for young adults.

The charity said the two-year commitment is important because it provides both funding and direct involvement from employees. That combination gives the organisation a more predictable base of support than one-off donations.

Ricky Kaplan, CEO of Mudlarks, said: "We are thrilled to have been chosen as the first charity partner of the community programme. The two-year commitment is particularly valuable because it combines long-term charitable funding with direct fundraising, company matching and opportunities for Bamboo Connect employees to become involved in our work.

"That sustained support will help us continue creating opportunities for adults and young people with learning disabilities and mental health concerns across East Hertfordshire."

The launch adds Bamboo Connect to a growing number of businesses using place-based giving models that combine company funding with employee participation. In this case, the focus is on Hertfordshire, with the fund intended to keep money within the county and direct support to local organisations over time.