AN award-winning entrepreneur has urged more businesses to set up funds for good causes after presenting a financial boost to a mental health charity.

Sara Davies MBE, who grew up in Coundon, County Durham, launched Crafter’s Companion from her bedroom while studying business management at York University in 2005 and has turned it into a global success.

She told her inspirational story as guest speaker at the County Durham Community Foundation Women’s Spring Lunch at Ramside Hall before handing over a £1,470 cheque to the Derwentside Mind group.

The money comes from a new charitable fund set up by Crafter’s Companion and managed by the Community Foundation (CDCF).

Crafter’s Companion staff have been empowered to run the fund and the total they raise is matched by the company. The first year objective is to raise £10,000 which will be at least doubled through match funding.

Sara, whose company now employs 130 people worldwide, said: “I wanted the company to do something under corporate social responsibility but I didn’t know how to and didn’t have the time.”

After talking to CDCF chief executive Barbara Gubbins, Sara was able to see how managing a charitable fund could be expertly handled through the Community Foundation.

“We set up a charity committee at the company so the staff could decide how to raise the money and where it should go. CDCF deals with the rest.

“It takes all the worry of it away because I have confidence that the fund is being run legally and ethically.

“What I loved was that we were able to say how the money is divided between national and local causes. It’s tailor-made for us and it’s a model I’d recommend to other companies.”

Brenda Green, manager of Derwentside Mind, said the money raised was the equivalent of providing 84 hours of talking therapy.

“We are so grateful to Crafter’s Companion and also to County Durham Community Foundation for the support they have given us over the years,” she said.

CDCF’s eighth women’s lunch – sponsored by Taylor Packaging, Haines Watts and Handelsbanken – was attended by 163 women and Barbara said it had sold out in record time.

She announced that CDCF has given away more than £33m to good causes in the past 22 years.

To find out more about launching a charitable fund, go to www.cdcf.org.uk