Accounting and Payroll Software Giant Brings Charity Foundation to UK with North East Launch
Sage has selected the North East as the UK launch location for its global Sage Foundation Grow programme, bringing its specialist support to charities in the region where the company was founded.
The Newcastle-based accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology company has introduced the programme to the UK for the first time, providing four North East charities with free professional support designed to strengthen their organisations and increase their impact within local communities.
Supporting North East Charities
Over a five-month period, leaders from 4Louis, FareShare North East, The Meadows and Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project have worked alongside Sage leaders and specialists.
The programme has focused on practical areas including governance, recruitment, business planning, marketing, communications and the use of artificial intelligence. The aim is to give participating charities additional knowledge and expertise to help them become more sustainable.
For charities operating with limited resources, access to specialist business knowledge can provide an opportunity to address organisational challenges that may otherwise be difficult to prioritise.
Practical Support for Local Organisations
Among the participating organisations is 4Louis, a Sunderland-based charity supporting families affected by miscarriage, stillbirth and child loss.
The organisation has already begun applying lessons from the programme to its governance and strategic planning, with the support intended to help it operate more effectively and build a stronger foundation for its future work.
Cramlington Voluntary Youth Project has also used the programme to reassess areas including its business plan, mission statement, social media activity and potential applications of AI to everyday administrative work.
The charity said the experience has helped its team explore new approaches while allowing it to focus more of its time on supporting children and families in South-East Northumberland.
Why Newcastle Was Chosen
Newcastle was selected for the first UK edition of Sage Foundation Grow because of the company’s long-standing connection with the North East. Sage was founded in the region and continues to have its global headquarters in Newcastle.
The UK programme also expands on Sage Foundation Grow’s international work. Before arriving in the UK, the initiative had supported 25 nonprofit organisations across countries including Spain, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Bringing Business Expertise to Charities
Helen Devanny, VP of Sage Foundation, said charities often encounter many of the same organisational challenges as growing businesses, while frequently having less time, funding and access to specialist support to address them.
The Sage Foundation Grow programme is designed to bridge that gap by bringing charity leaders together with Sage professionals to exchange skills, experience and ideas.
For the North East charities involved, the initiative provides access to expertise across areas such as governance, strategy, communications and technology, with the wider goal of helping them devote more resources to the communities they serve.
By launching the programme in the region where Sage began, the company is combining its international charitable initiative with a stronger focus on its North East roots and the organisations working within its local communities.