Our Causes
The IIF makes grants to charitable causes close to the hearts of people in the infrastructure investment industry. The vision was to create a permanent cross industry foundation, recognising that the industry plays an important role providing essential infrastructure and related services to a wide range of communities. The IIF therefore aims to help make a positive impact within the communities that the industry serves.
Members of the industry are invited to come forward with ideas as to which causes the IIF should support, which are relevant to people in the industry or it’s communities and where the Charity’s contribution can make a meaningful impact.
The Ella Project
Ella Pinney, and her husband, both worked within the infrastructure industry at the time of her diagnosis with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC), a rare head and neck cancer.
Due to it’s rarity, there hadn’t been much research into ACC. Cancers like ACC are difficult to treat and this means ACC patients often have limited treatment options. After Ella’s ACC diagnosis in March 2017, her whole life changed. From that point on, she was determined to make sure the next generation of ACC patients have more treatment options.
The industry played a key role in raising funds for The Ella Project, a UK-wide study, led by Dr Rob Metcalf based at The Christie hospital, focused entirely on ACC.
Ella tragically died in December 2021. Because of Ella’s determination and the industry’s support the project was launched and the world is now looking to The Christie for answers about how to successfully treat ACC.
The project is already making crucial steps towards finding more effective drug treatments for ACC. Any donations you can give for The Ella Project will make a huge difference.
The Social Mobility Initiative
With a mission to both empower and equip those from least advantaged backgrounds and to inspire young people through greater awareness and understanding of the industry – to attract a greater array of talent to the industry.
The IIF has selected a portfolio of partners which offer a complementary set of capabilities and foci to address barriers young people face and widen access to the infrastructure industry. With different theories of change, these partners together should deliver maximum impact by having broad reach alongside deep engagement to equip, empower and inspire least advantaged students. We have decided to focus our initial attention on school bracket, recognizing the first challenge for many talented young people is access to top universities and a lack of empowerment about their career opportunities.
The ambition is that the Social Mobility Initiative becomes a permanent feature of our industry. There are a variety of ways for organisations or individuals to get involved and positively impact the life of a young person.
A diverse portfolio of charity partners with different theories for change
-
![Career Ready logo with overlapping red and green shapes and white text.]()
Career Ready
A national social mobility charity at the heart of a network of employers and educators .
Career Ready boost social mobility by delivering a structured programme of mentoring and a paid internship, masterclasses, and workplace visits for young people from under-represented backgrounds.
In 2024 Career Ready supported 4,238 young people across its programme cohorts, providing them with the skills, self-esteem, and social capital to kickstart their futures.
Our partnership with Career Ready offers the opportunity for industry members to support students through mentoring, provide insight sessions and hosting work experience.
-
![Abstract logo with an S shape and rainbow gradient background]()
Speakers for Schools
Speakers for Schools aims to close the opportunity gap and level the playing field for all 11-19-year-olds from state schools and colleges by providing fair access to inspirational talks and fully funded work experience that will motivate and inspire and help them to reach their full career potential.
Speakers for Schools have supported more than 1.6 million young people by partnering with educators, speakers and employers from across the UK.
Our partnership with Speakers for Schools offers the opportunity for industry members to raise awareness of the sector and inspire students through either recorded broadcasts or live in person presentations.
-
![Green letter 'A' with the text 'The Access Project' on it.]()
The Access Project
The Access Project helps talented young people from under-resourced backgrounds gain access to an education at one of the UK’s top universities through a unique programme. The Access Project is recognised as an industry leader in the education and widening participation field.
The Access Project works with more than 40 schools across the country, supporting over 2,000 young people aged 14-18.
Our partnership with The Access Project supports the charity in it’s within school delivery. Industry members can also assist with mentoring and insight sessions.
-
![The Sutton Trust logo in blue, featuring a stylized "S" within a square outline.]()
The Sutton Trust
The Sutton Trust utilises rigorous and extensive research to shine a light on barriers to opportunity from the early years to the workplace, to influence national policy change with evidence-based solutions. The programmes focus on high attaining students from low income families.
Together with university and employer partners, the Sutton Trust support over 10,000 young people each year.
Our partnership with the access project funded research into the barriers for students in accessing the industry and supported the Sutton Trust in taking it’s program delivery online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Charitable Causes
Having received a number of compelling nominations from industry we have supported four new charities in 2025. They are;
Magic Breakfast: who work to ensure that no child or young person in the UK starts the day too hungry to learn
Starlight: supporting children to experience the power of play to boost their wellbeing and resilience during illness
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): Helping people end their misery, not their lives
Alternatives to Cancer: an initiative to direct financial support from the Alternative Industry in the quest to defeat cancer
These charities continue our focus on supporting disadvantaged young people within our communities or touch on causes directly impacting those within our industry.
-
Magic Breakfast makes a difference to over 300,000 children and young people every day by offering breakfasts and expert advice to tackle morning hunger in schools across England and Scotland.
The charity exists to make sure no child or young person is too hungry to learn.
-
Starlight is charity for children’s play in healthcare in the UK, supporting children to experience the power of play to boost their wellbeing and resilience during illness.
The charity advocates for play professionals, supports families, and empowers children to experience the power of play.
-
CALM’s mission is to help people end their misery, not their lives.
CALM provide life-saving services, information and advice to help anyone struggling with life navigate the issues that can make us feel miserable. Their helpline answers 28,000 calls a month, one every 59 seconds.
-
Established by Rhonda Ryan (Mercer, Head of PE - Alternatives), Alternatives 2 Cancer is an initiative to direct financial support from the Alternative Investments Industry in the quest to treat and defeat cancer, in partnership with The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London.
The Institute of Cancer Research is a world-leading cancer research organisation and the most successful academic institution globally for discovering new targeted treatments for cancer. The A2C initiative is an effort to accelerate the ICR’s work.
Get In Touch
We’d love to hear from you.