In 1963 Martin Luther King Jnr wrote a letter from Birmingham gaol to his fellow clergymen and asked, “So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists will we be? Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be the extremists for the preservation of injustice or the extension of justice?” The VSB Foundation advocate civic engagement as a creative, liberating and empowering process which is at the heart of a just and resilient society.

The Trustees believe that the gift of one’s time is a generous and precious commodity to give away and is more than a simple transaction between giver and receiver. VSB Foundation has a past steeped in supporting and advocating for volunteering and this will remain a key area of interest for the Foundation.

The VSB Foundation has prioritised support to Volunteer Now as the key infrastructure body in Northern Ireland. In addition, the Trustees have supported the Director to undertake the role of Chair with the Building Change Trust. Small awards have also been made to “More Than a Flag” and “Make it Happen”.

More recently the Trustees have committed to a two-year award to Imagine! The Belfast Festival of Ideas and politics.