YFM Reading donates £3,000 to Berkshire Community Foundation

As part of the celebration of its new office in Reading, YFM Equity Partners (YFM) has made a £3,000 donation to Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) which works across the region to raise and distribute money directly to vital local causes which support the lives of the most disadvantaged.

After working across the Thames Valley for over two decades, YFM officially established a permanent base in the town’s Thames Tower in the summer and wanted to support a worthwhile local cause as part of its commitment to the region.

In November, YFM used a drinks reception attended by colleagues and guests from across the local business community to raise funds for the foundation. A raffle and auction with prizes donated by Thames Valley businesses including London Cocktail Club, HMT, NVM and Wingate Point, as well as some of the companies within the YFM portfolio, succeeded in raising £2,000 for the charity.  The YFM team then decided to boost its fundraising by nominating BCF as the firm’s chosen charity for December, adding another £1,000 to its donation.

“After living here for most of my life, and as a  15-year veteran of the local market, I’d come across BCF and was aware of the valuable work they do as a hub supporting local charities and community groups throughout Berkshire,” explains YFM partner David Wrench. “Consequently, when the YFM team wanted to mark the official launch of our new Reading office, we thought it would be a great opportunity to do some fundraising for the foundation at the same time.

“It’s great to finally have a permanent base in Reading and we are looking forward to growing our presence here over the coming years as well as continuing to make a positive contribution to local businesses and communities.”

Jon Yates, CEO of Berkshire Community Foundation, commented: “We are delighted and very grateful for this donation from YFM Equity Partners and wish them great success in their new office in Reading. Helping local businesses like YFM to support those in need in their communities is a major part of our work. In the wake of the pandemic crisis, the wonderful local charities that we support have seen increasing demand for their services and we expect this to continue. It is the continued generosity of philanthropic local firms and individuals that allows us to ensure that Berkshire’s voluntary sector continue to play its vital role in tackling local needs and issues and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

The new YFM office in Thames Tower houses a four-strong team of partners, including Head of Portfolio, David Bell. The YFM Reading team was also celebrating its win at the Thames Valley Deal Awards earlier in the month where it was named Private Equity Firm of the Year.

The launch of the new office follows two recent YFM-backed investments in the region. YFM Equity Partners Buyout Fund II backed the management buyout of Eastleigh-based GHG, a well-established loss adjusting and claims management specialist. In September 2021, YFM funds also put growth capital into tech firm Vuealta, based in London, to support the business’ global expansion ambitions.