Why use the Gateway to invest in Wakefield District?
​The Gateway enables high quality provision in a district of high need
Wakefield is the 52nd most deprived district in England (out of 296 local authorities) and 17% of neighbourhoods in Wakefield are highly deprived (across England the average is 10%).
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 2025.
The Gateway provides a means to better and more consistent investment for the district
​Overall grant funding per person in Wakefield District remained consistently below the national average between 2019 and 2023 (MyCake data) and there is a clear regional imbalance in philanthropic giving across the UK. In 2024, Yorkshire and the Humber ranked only 9 out of 12 UK regions in the total value of non-government grants received. The region received £3.19 per person in non-government grant funding, around half the national average and one of the lowest across the UK.
Source: Supercharging Philanthropy Report from The Centre for Social Justice, 2025.
Wakefield District has fantastic provision from our VCSE sector
Wakefield District is home to a Community Anchor Network and hundreds of VCSE organisations. The Gateway helps to address some of the district’s funding challenges and builds on our assets, ensuring that funding goes where it will have the biggest impact.
Invest in Wakefield District
The Gateway simplifies your investment in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in Wakefield District. For public sector procurement teams, corporate partners, philanthropists and other grant makers who want to fund trusted VCSE organisations supporting local communities.
Our processes provide consistency to the way we work, but no two funding opportunities are the same – the Gateway can be used to facilitate a range of approaches to investing in the VCSE sector. We provide expert insight, working collaboratively with investors to find an approach that fits your aims and objectives and achieve meaningful, lasting impact.
We use the term VCSE as shorthand for charities, community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Our funds can be open to any or a selection of these.
What the Gateway offers
A direct route to trusted VCSE providers, particularly to smaller organisations who work at a hyper-local level
A meaningful way to demonstrate your CSR or ESG responsibilities
Reduced administrative burden and specialist support available from the Gateway Team
Opportunity to coproduce your funding with local organisations
Completed due diligence with quality assurances of organisational governance and track record
Compliance with responsible funding principles from IVAR
We make it simple for you to invest in achieving real social value. Get in touch with us today to find out how.
Frequently asked questions
What funders say about the Gateway
Hazel Brook, Commissioning Manager for Adult Social Care and Support, Wakefield Council
“Scott and Helen were helpful and professional throughout. This was my first experience of going through the Framework and the process was very efficient. Colleagues who were part of the funding panel were also pleased with the process, distribution of documents and everything clear and timely.”
Contact for a conversation
If you have any questions or would like to discuss how you can use the Gateway to invest in Wakefield District's VCSE sector, the Gateway Team would be more than happy to help.
Get in touch so we can get the conversation started.