Helen Taylor Thompson Foundation

Who we are

The Helen Taylor Thompson Foundation (operating as CAN) is a registered charity trading as a social enterprise earning income in direct pursuit of its aims.  

We are committed to helping other charities and social ventures thrive, grow and maximise their impact and strive to achieve this by offering business support, capital and flexible affordable space.

We run 5 service offices in Central London that house around 1300 individuals from 170 exclusively social organisations and in the last 10 years we have grown our asset base from zero value to a current value of over £40m with turnover just under £6m.  All surpluses are re-invested in pursuit of our objectives to grow social impact.

This is a pivotal time to join the organisation as we are currently going through an exciting time of significant change and growth as we evolve into a Foundation that generates its funds from the direct pursuit of its charitable objectives rather than from an endowment.

We have recently merged with Education Saves Lives (formerly Thare Machi Education), a charity spreading basic health and wellbeing education throughout the world’s poorest communities using DVD’s and the web to promote lessons to communities in their own languages. 

We are currently re-shaping our Memorandum & Articles of Association to focus our impact, reviewing our Governance arrangements working with the team to assess our existing Mission, Vision and Values, growing our Board skills and at the same time completing a £50m building development to future proof the home for our Southwark based community.

Our Vision, Mission and Values:

Vision

CAN’s vision is for a strong and impactful social economy that creates a better society.

Mission

To deliver our vision for the public, our mission is to support social organisations to maximise their impact, sustainability and where appropriate, growth. We deliver on this mission by addressing the three key barriers Premises, Skill & Finance

Values

Collaborative

Generous in sector support we work collaboratively, share skills & knowledge to achieve.

Restless

Driven with a creative hunger we challenge norms, harnessing passion & energy to deliver

Inclusive

Approachable, flexible & caring, we have faith in people, respect individuality & give a voice

Bold

We take risk, act transparently with integrity, honesty & courage to challenge & be heard