We will offer both monetary and material support from the Relief Fund. This includes vouchers for food, gas and electricity; new household appliances, furniture and equipment; payment or part payment of a specified item or fee; and grants for specified or general purposes.
The fund is available for people who are facing destitution or crisis. This means they regularly and consistently are not able to afford essentials (eg. shelter, food, heating, clothing); and / or are experiencing very difficult circumstances or a transition which has increased their necessary financial outgoings beyond what can be afforded. People who have No Recourse to Public Funds can be supported through this fund.
When the fund opens, we will discuss your circumstances with you and help you apply for support if you are eligible. This will involve showing evidence relating to your financial circumstances and / or crisis situation. Support will be approved for eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis, except where multiple applications are pending which may exceed the amount of funds available. If this happens we will consider multiple factors and allocate the funds appropriately.
Vouchers are offered on a discretionary basis - no application needed.
Regular donations from individuals are the most reliable way to maintain the Relief Fund. We frequently apply for grants from larger charities in order to support people through Fund - but these are not guaranteed and are often restricted in the type of support which can be provided, or the people / circumstances they can support.
We use various other approaches to support people, including applying for hardship grants or furniture schemes. This ensures the Fund supports people who are less likely to find it elsewhere.
Our 100% donation policy means 100% of all donations, whether one-off or regular (ie. monthly), made by individuals, go towards supporting people through the Fund. We don't use donations to cover any staff or administration costs. Donations may be used to cover attached delivery or installation fees, for example when purchasing a new cooker for someone.