Cost of living Crisis News Round-up - Grant Funding for Individuals & Families, October 2022

Here is another collection of funding announcements and resources aimed at helping charities continue their work to help others during the country’s Cost of living Crisis.

Due to the varying nature and progress of public policies and other related activity, MVA do advise that some of the information below may have changed since the time of its issue, and whilst every effort has been made to provide up-to-date details, they ask that readers please check with each organisation’s website for the latest news.

Smallwood Trust - Cost of Living Grants Fund
National charity The Smallwood Trust have seen how the rise in the cost of living has caused an increase in applications, especially to their Grants to Individuals programme.

They also say this rise has widened the gendered poverty crisis that had already increased during and since the COVID pandemic.

In response, The Trust have expanded on their Cost of Living Fund to support women who need help with rising costs of energy and fuel bills, food, and basic essentials.

Whilst The Trust do advise that applications (new or existing) can only be made through one of their referral organisations, they reassure interested applicants of other sources of funding help.

The Trust plan to award monthly grants till December 2022, to UK women aged 18 or above, on a low income, not in work or in receipt of all benefits.

More information is available at the Funder’s website.

Sense - Cost of Living Support Fund
In response to the UK’s cost-of-living crisis, national charity Sense are distributing small grants to people with complex disabilities who are on low incomes and who are living in the family home.

In the “wake” of the pandemic, Sense say the UK is experiencing a health and social care crisis, and now an economic crisis where 4 Million disabled people are living in poverty.

Their Cost of Living Support Fund aims to provide basic financial help to people with complex disabilities who live in the family home and are on low incomes.

At the time of writing, there was no recognised deadline, suggesting this is a Continuous Rolling Programme and applications can be accepted at any time.

More information and how to apply is available at the Sense website.

Help with Costs for School Uniforms from MSE
National newscaster Money Saving Experts (MSE) recently announced the availability of grants for households on a low income and struggling with the cost of school uniforms.

To get the grant, MSE advise potential applicants would normally qualify for (but not necessarily get) free school meals. However MSE do stress that local authorities may have their own rules to apply.

They also advise that if households looking for help can't get a grant from their local council, they could also ask their school for help.

More details are available at the MSE website.

Depher
Disability and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair (Depher) provides access to affordable and vital emergency works for vulnerable people and households.

A registered Community Initiative Company, they offer partial or fully discounted costs on emergency work. This includes solutions for Gas leaks, No heating or hot water.

Relying on public donations to cover the cost of labour and materials, they work to provide FREE services during winter months and discounted services at other times.

Depher say they also provide financial help to people over 65, the disabled, and to households on low income. This help can also include buying food and paying fuel bills.

Contact Depher for more details on how they can help or visit their website.

Working to provide resources to support the charity sector achieve and succeed, The Charity Excellence Framework CIO (CEF) offer a growing list of further support for Small Businesses and Enterprise, Community Groups, Charities, and similar organisations nationwide.
To find out more, visit their website.

MVA are also continuing their efforts to provide support and advice for the Charity Sector during these challenging times with their Reference Guide to Cost Cutting Measures, available in their Advice and Support pages.

If you would like to see coverage of specific news or subject to help your charity, your project, your community group or enterprise, you can get in touch by email at info@mva.org.uk, you can also contact MVA via the website.