The DWF foundation currently supports registered charities with an impact in one or more of the following four pillars/areas: homelessness and poverty; health and wellbeing; and employability and education. It has helped 247 charities and causes to date with average grants of around £2,000 up to a maximum of £5,000.

Five years on, and with the milestone of £500,000 in donations about to be reached this week for good causes which meet the foundations’ criteria. The charity is also launching a fifth pillar: environment and sustainability.

Sir Duncan Nichol, chair of the DWF Foundation, said: “The five year anniversary of The DWF foundation is an important milestone for all of us and I am delighted that we are able to mark this special anniversary by reaching half a million in donations to causes in need.

“The foundation gives much more than funding, supporting people to make a positive difference in local communities through donations of time, expertise and resources too. I am looking forward to expanding on that support with the introduction of our new additional focus on environmental and sustainability projects.”

Jim Davies, founder patron of the DWF Foundation, said: “I am extremely proud of what has been achieved in the first five years of the DWF foundation and it has been a pleasure to see the number of people and projects that have benefitted from the support we have been able to give.”