A powerful wave of community support swept across Sussex as ten grassroots charities shared more than £100,000 in funding at Focus Foundation’s inaugural Angels’ Den, held at the Brighton i360 on 6 November 2025.
More than 120 charities originally applied, demonstrating the depth of local need and innovation across the county. After a thorough review, the Focus Foundation grants team selected ten outstanding organisations take part.
Over 200 guests attended, including civic leaders, business supporters and patrons, all united by one purpose to accelerate positive change in Sussex. The evening featured a networking reception, a series of high-energy two-minute charity pitches, an i360 flight, live funding allocations, and a celebration of grassroots impact.
A Philanthropic Model Brought to Sussex
The Angels’ Den concept was originally created by Mike Clare, Founder of The Clare Foundation in Buckinghamshire. Once made aware of the concept, and its ability to unlock immediate, targeted funding for local charities, Chris Goodman, Co-founder of Focus Group and Focus Foundation, sought to bring the model to Sussex.
Five “Angels” each committed £10,000 and Focus Foundation matched the total to create a £100,000 community fund for the night, empowering real people doing real work on the ground.
Launch of the New i360 Horizon Fund
In a major announcement on the night, Sarah Willingham, former Dragons’ Den investor and owner of the Brighton i360, launched the i360 Horizon Fund in partnership with Focus Foundation.
Every pound raised for the i360 Horizon Fund will be matched by Focus Foundation and distributed to charities that fall within sight of the top of the i360 tower.
Transformational Funding Awards
Brighton Table Tennis Club secured the headline award of £25,000, enabling the growth of its nationally recognised junior coach programme and expanding inclusive table tennis into more schools and neighbourhoods.
Co-founder and Director, Tim Holtam, said: “We are absolutely delighted. Our young coaches are incredible, and this funding means we can invest in their development and bring the sport into more communities across Brighton. This will genuinely help change lives.”
The Children’s Respite Trust received £17,500 from the Angels’ panel, plus an additional £13,440 activated through the audience vote and matched contributions, enabling the construction of a new outdoor space and delivery of over 2,000 extra hours of respite support for families across Sussex.
Funding Across a range of Services
| Charity | Award | Service Provision |
| Brighton Table Tennis Club | £25,000 | Youth & Community Development |
| The Children’s Respite Trust | £30,940 | Disabled Children |
| Grassroots Suicide Prevention | £12,500 | Suicide & Mental Health Support |
| The Real Junk Food Project Brighton | £8,750 | Food Poverty & Social Isolation |
| The Launchpad Collective | £8,750 | Refugee Employment |
| Pelican Parcels | £7,500 | Poverty & Social Isolation |
| MindOut (LGBTQ Mental Health) | £5,000 | Mental Health Support for LGBTQ+ |
| Springboard | £5,000 | SEND Services for Children |
| Sussex Nightstop | £5,000 | Youth Homelessness |
| WOLO Foundation | £5,000 | Family Cancer Support |
A Collective Step Forward for Sussex
Chris Goodman, Co-founder of Focus Group and Focus Foundation, said: “This was an evening of energy, generosity and unity. Angels’ Den showed what is possible when businesses, communities, and donors stand together. The organisations funded tonight work at the very heart of Sussex and their impact begins immediately. We are enormously grateful to Mike Clare for inspiring this model and to Sarah Willingham for helping us launch the new i360 Horizon Fund. This is just the beginning.”
The Angels Panel
- Chris Goodman – Co-founder, Focus Group & Focus Foundation
- Rob Starr MBE – Founder, Seico Mortgages & The Starr Trust
- Sarah Willingham – Owner of the i360; Chair of Nightcap; former Dragons’ Den investor
- Nazila Blencowe – Founder, Baron Homes Corporation
- Martin Gallagher – CEO, The Clare Foundation.
A very special thank you to our sponsors and supporters whose partnership made the event possible, Seico Mortgages, E3 Events, Galloways Accountancy, Cognitive Law, The Marcus Tomlinson Consultancy, The Clare Foundation, Action Funder, and the Brighton i360. Their generosity, collaboration and belief in community-driven change were central to the success of Angels’ Den.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Marcus Tomlinson, who not only supported the event through his consultancy but also played a pivotal role in bringing Angels’ Den to Sussex. Marcus originally met with Katie Gibson, and she instantly knew that our founder Chris Goodman would love the concept. She wasn’t wrong! In addition, Marcus generously provided free presentation training and pitch refinement sessions to all finalist charities, ensuring each organisation stepped onto the stage with confidence, clarity and impact.
For more information or to join a future funding round, visit: Apply for a grant | Focus Foundation.