Julia Rausing Trust’s three-year donation to our Welfare Grants Programme

Thanks to a generous donation of £750k over three years from The Julia Rausing Trust, our Welfare Grants Programme will be able to support even more families who are finding things tough right now.

These grants help pay for essentials like a cooker, fridge and a bed to sleep in. They offer comfort, dignity and a little breathing space when things feel overwhelming, helping individuals and families get back on their feet.

Meeting basic needs

Poverty and inequality mean that many families and individuals struggle to meet basic needs. As a result, the number of households living in poverty has increased. Research by Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that more than 1 in 5 people in the UK (21%) were in poverty in 2022/23 – 14.3 million people. Of these, 8.1 million were working-age adults, 4.3 million were children and 1.9 million were pensioners.

Our welfare grants are available nationally and we have focused our programme on making a real, practical difference to people when they are at their lowest ebb, providing immediate support but also showing people that they are not alone, and providing a way for people to raise themselves up and move forward.

Financial emergencies, such as a broken cooker, or not having a bed for children to sleep in, can hugely exacerbate difficult situations. As part of a wider support package a welfare grant can make a substantial difference when it’s needed most, helping people to work through the bigger issues they’re facing such as fleeing abuse, or managing mental health issues.

We are incredibly grateful to The Julia Rausing Trust for their generous three-year donation to our Welfare Grants Programme, it will enable us to reach more families struggling without essentials.