Deadline nears to become nominated Black Country Chamber charity

Each year, the Chamber supports a charity based within the Black Country to raise funds, promote its work and celebrate its impact in the local community.

With the most recent fundraising efforts having supported Black Country Mental Health and YMCA Black Country, the current designated good cause, the Chamber is seeking applications for 2025-2026, with a January 31 closing date.

Fundraising efforts for YMCA Black Country have included speaking opportunities at key networking events and a raffle at the Chamber’s annual awards, a glittering black-tie dinner in November at the University of Wolverhampton at The Halls, attended by 420 guests. 

In May, Chamber CEO Sarah Moorhouse will take part in the National Three Peaks Challenge with the YMCA Black Country Group team to raise funds. In September, the Chamber team collectively walked 50,333 steps per day, the equivalent of climbing the three peaks to generate donations to the charity.

The charity of the year is promoted through content on the Chamber website, including news updates, along with promotion in the quarterly magazine, all to raise awareness among members, stakeholders and audiences.

To qualify, organisations must be a stand-alone charity with their own UK registered charity number, reach beneficiaries within the Black Country region, never have been a Chamber charity of the year previously and not be affiliated to any political party.

As part of the process, applicants will be asked to provide a short overview of the purpose of their charity and why they think they should become the Chamber’s good cause for 2025. Charities will also be asked to include details of any fundraising events they have planned and how they plan to engage with the Chamber to make the partnership successful.

Shortlisted charities will be invited to an interview with a panel of Chamber employees and board members, with the successful applicant to be announced in March. The new partnership will run from April 1 until March 31 2026.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce CEO Sarah Moorhouse said: “We are proud of the support which the Chamber offers annually to a good cause in our region through our charity of the year partnership, so we are looking forward to working with the 2025 beneficiary.

“We have had some very positive applications so far, with charities recognising the benefit of working with the Chamber and its members over a 12-month partnership. The Chamber cannot wait to create a fantastic opportunity for another Black Country charity to raise their profile and engage with our members about their work while raising vital funds.”