Chasetown-based Tara Group is proud to announce that its charitable trust, The Noel Sweeney Foundation, has reached a landmark total of £1 million in donations since its launch in 2021 - a milestone that reflects the legacy and values of its late founder, Noel Sweeney.
Set up to support communities across the Midlands and beyond, the foundation has already supported over 150 unique causes, from grassroots charities and youth organisations to homelessness initiatives and health-focused groups, delivering support to individuals and families in need.
The foundation was established in memory of Noel Sweeney, who founded Chasetown Civil Engineering in 1974. That business has since grown into Tara Group, which includes Chasetown Civil Engineering, Cameron Homes and Keon Homes.
The landmark £1 million milestone was reached following a donation made by The Noel Sweeney Foundation to Better Way Recovery, a grassroots charity based in Lichfield. The organisation provides vital support to individuals struggling with addiction, and what sets Better Way Recovery apart is that all staff and volunteers are ex-service users themselves, bringing lived experience to their support for others.
Charmaine Sweeney, trustee of The Noel Sweeney Foundation, said: “My father was passionate about giving back and ensuring that those facing hardship were supported with compassion. To have reached £1 million in donations just a few years after launching the foundation is something we are incredibly proud of, but it is only the beginning, and we remain committed to continuing this great work in his name.
“To also achieve this £1 million total with a donation to such a locally rooted and impactful cause, brings added meaning to the milestone.”
Over the last four years, the foundation has supported a wide range of causes including St Basil’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Spark Burntwood, and Sense - for whom employees built a sensory garden dedicated to Noel. Tara Group also hosts the Chasetown Christmas lights switch-on event every year providing residents with an evening of free entertainment and refreshments. Along with providing a free Christmas pantomime for children hosted in collaboration with Chasetown FC.
Funding applications for the foundation are open to community initiatives, charities and organisations that align with the foundation’s focus areas of youth support, social mobility and homelessness.
