In October 2024, grant-giving charity Shanly Foundation donated £2,000 to Butterflies Bereavement Support. This donation will prove invaluable in helping the organisation develop its services assisting those who are experiencing loss.
Entrepreneur Michael Shanly launched Shanly Foundation to support organisations in need across South East England. These organisations range from centres for people with disabilities to schools, youth clubs, and woodland projects.
Butterflies Bereavement Support marks the latest in Michael Shanly’s extensive history of philanthropic offerings.
Butterflies Bereavement Support
Butterflies Bereavement Support is a non-profit organisation that serves adults in grief across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Its services include professional bereavement counselling, bereavement group drop-in sessions, and a telephone buddy service.
The non-profit offers a combination of free and low-priced services to make its sessions accessible to all. As a result, charitable funding — like Shanly Foundation’s — is essential for the organisation to operate.
Shanly Foundation Funding for Counselling Services
Shanly Foundation’s financial gift will assist Butterflies Bereavement Support as it continues to provide high-quality services. This quality is clear in the organisation’s 2024 statistics, which show that it served 143 clients across 900 counselling sessions last year.
Healthcare providers like the NHS and Mind referred clients to the charity, which provided 34% of its sessions for free — an offer made possible by generous donations. All clients reported that their counsellor made them feel welcome and listened to in a safe, trusting, non-judgemental environment.
Butterflies Bereavement Support also had 1,900 drop-in attendances throughout the year.
More Support From Shanly Foundation
Beyond those experiencing bereavement, Shanly Foundation supports people from disadvantaged backgrounds, those with physical or mental health conditions, and those experiencing homelessness.
The charity makes a difference to several communities with its grants, which include:
- Core grants: These grants are open all year and award funds of varying values to charities across many sectors. The only preference is for frontline organisations that directly support people in need.
- Action against homelessness grants: These single-year grants of £50,000 and grants of up to £150,000 over up to three years fund charities tackling homelessness. The best-fit organisations include those providing practical support for vulnerable people to develop new skills so they can secure job opportunities.
- Training and careers in construction grants: Available in the same format as the action against homelessness grants, these awards support non-profit organisations that help people launch careers in construction. The best-fit organisations represent marginalised groups, youth groups, and those unemployed long-term.
About Michael Shanly, Founder of Shanly Foundation
The philanthropic foundation’s creator Michael Shanly is also the founder of two sister companies: the regional housebuilding business Shanly Homes and the commercial property investor and developer Sorbon Estates. Both support economic development in several market towns.
In 2021, The Sunday Times featured Michael Shanly in its Giving List, which details the top 200 philanthropists in the UK. His companies provide all funding for Shanly Foundation, which has donated over £28 million to hundreds of community groups and charities since 1969.
Today, Shanly Foundation continues to donate more than £1.75 million each year. These funds help numerous individuals improve their quality of life and access the support they need. Shanly Foundation’s plans for the future involve transitioning to own Shanly Homes and Sorbon Estates, which will aid its ongoing support for local communities.