The Foundation is a London based charity; its founder previously lived, and the majority of the trustees do live, in north London.  The founder, Nicolai Tangen, was born and brought up in Kristiansand, Norway; other Trustees also have connections to Norway.  The Foundation values these links and has supported a number of causes in north London and in Norway, including those set out below.

The Foundation supports a very wide range of UK charities through the annual ‘Give Back’ programme, through which members of staff of AKO Capital have the opportunity to nominate a charity to receive a grant from the Foundation.  As well as nominating charities, the staff collectively determine the recipients of the larger grants.  The trustees are delighted that certain charities introduced to the Foundation through this initiative have subsequently developed deeper, multi-year relationships with the Foundation – examples include Generating Genius, Lively Minds, and OnSide.  

The Foundation also matches certain charitable donations made by members of staff of AKO Capital.

London

Hampstead Theatre

The Foundation has been an important partner over several years, including in the creation of ‘The Next Decade’ Fund for the commissioning of new plays from leading playwrights.

Maytree

The Maytree Suicide Respite Centre is the only place of its kind in the UK and fills a gap in services between the medical support of the National Health Service and the helplines and drop-in centres of the voluntary sector.  

Doorstep Homeless Families Project

The Foundation has made two grants to support Doorstep in its mission to provide homeless families living in temporary accommodation in north London with access to services, so that they can enjoy a better quality of life. 

Norway

Den Norske Turistforening

DNT aims to promote active and environmentally friendly outdoor activities, such as trekking and ski trekking, and to preserve the natural and cultural landscape: it is Norway’s largest outdoor life organisation. The Foundation proposes to make a grant to allow DNT to build a new cabin in the Setesdal Vesthei mountain area in Norway, which will serve as a starting point for treks and will also provide information about the natural and cultural heritage of Setesdal Vesthei including the area’s herds of wild reindeer.

Fontenehuset Norge and Fontenehuset Arendal

The Clubhouse model of psychosocial rehabilitation is an international community mental health service model that helps people with a history of mental illness or vulnerability to rejoin society and to maintain their place in it.

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