Dreams founder unveils new charity 'hub' in Bucks

Governance | Tania Mason | 12 Apr 2010

The founder of bedrooms business Dreams has set up a new charity that is developing a 12-acre property in Buckinghamshire that he hopes will become home to up to 30 different charities.

Entrepreneur Mike Clare is chair of the Clare Foundation, a new charity whose mission is to help other charities become more efficient and effective at delivering their missions.

The Clare Foundation’s first major project is the purchase and development of the 12-acre Sanderton estate near High Wycombe in Bucks, into a ‘charity hub’ that will house a community of charities who will share knowledge, skills and services.

The 50,000 sq ft office complex (pictured), which opens officially on Thursday, provides subsidised serviced office accommodation for around 300 people as well as conferencing and function facilities for hire.

The Foundation’s head of development, David Lawrance, described the project as “like a Regus for charities” but said the intention was it would grow into a “centre of charity excellence”.

Lawrance said the property already had a signed letter of intent to move in from one national charity but could not yet disclose who it was.

Lawrance said its remit is to “advise, educate and train charities to run themselves better”.

The Foundation has also joined forces with the Foundation for Social Improvement to deliver an introductory training programme comprising eight fundraising courses at the Saunderton estate from April to December this year, Buckinghamshire. The subsidised courses include instruction on developing a fundraising strategy, securing major gifts and managing volunteers.

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