BPL is proud to reaffirm its support for the East End Community Foundation (EECF) by backing Phase II of the Life Chances campaign, with a commitment to donate £120,000 over the next three years. This strategic partnership reflects BPL’s commitment to addressing the acute social challenges faced by communities in the East End of London, where levels of poverty and inequality are some of the highest in the country. Founding Director of BPL, Charles Berry, also joins the EECF Life Chances campaign’s Leadership Council.

Through the Life Chances campaign, which was first launched in 2021 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent cost of living crisis, BPL joins EECF in its ambition to deliver transformative change. Phase II of the campaign focuses on supporting the most vulnerable residents of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham – areas where child poverty exceeds 50%, unemployment is high, and nearly half of the pensioners live in poverty.

With over 30 years of experience in supporting companies, individuals and local authorities to invest in grassroots charities that create maximum impact, EECF has distributed £30 million since 1990 to support critical projects in some of London’s most deprived boroughs. Through the Life Chances Campaign, EECF is not only focusing on immediate relief, but also on long-term solutions such as improving mental and physical health, addressing digital exclusion by providing access to technology, as well as combating pensioner poverty by simplifying access to benefits.

Indeed, by March 2025, the Life Chances campaign is on track to support 10,000 people, including placing over 300 young people into employment, providing 600 families with internet access, and helping claim an additional £1 million in benefits for pensioners. BPL’s continued backing of this initiative emphasises the importance of collective action in the fight against inequality and the empowerment of future generations in the East End.

“We are incredibly grateful to BPL for its continued support going into the Phase II of our Life Chances Campaign.”, says Sally Bateson, Life Chances Campaign Director at EECF. “BPL’s generosity and commitment will help us to continue creating life-changing opportunities for young people, isolated older people and those facing digital barriers. Together, we are working to ensure the East End thrives, empowering those who need it most. We appreciate BPL’s partnership and look forward to the positive impact we can achieve together.”

“We are delighted to be at the table once again, reaffirming our commitment as a campaign partner for the next three years.”, says Matthew Graham, Compliance Director and Chair of the Charity Committee at BPL. “BPL has been involved since the Life Chances campaign was first launched in 2021, and the synergy between our philanthropic priorities and the vital work of the EECF is clear. Its approach to pulling resources and supporting hyperlocal organisations like those in Tower Hamlets aligns perfectly with what we believe in. We’re proud to be providing support to address the social needs that exist within local communities and helping drive real impact on the ground.”

BPL’s Founding Director, Charles Berry, also adds: “I’m delighted to join the Leadership Council for the EECF’s Life Chances campaign, to help promote its vital work and meet the ambitious fundraising target that it has set itself. The EECF’s model, to bring together a diverse range of supporters under one campaign and channel funding to local partners on our doorstep, is one which I wholeheartedly support.”

Through this partnership, EECF and BPL are creating a course to better futures, enabling local communities to thrive despite the ongoing challenges they face.

To find out more about EECF and how you can support its work, visit its website, or follow it on LinkedIn.

Further information on the organisations BPL has supported can be found here.