Community foundation appeals are providing lifelines this winter
Food banks, wellbeing services, volunteer helplines, advisory groups, and other small charities and organisations have already seen a dramatic rise in need this year, and community foundations are working hard to support them through regional appeals.
According to Citizens Advice, the number of people needing crisis support has already far exceeded previous years, with two people seeking crisis support every minute.
On top of this, the soaring cost of living is also having a detrimental effect on local charities and community groups as they try to meet this year’s higher demand of services.
"Many charities and community organisations are now battling to keep running. Any further increase in costs, or a reduction in income, will threaten their survival."
- Community Foundation for Staffordshire on the concerns of local charities
Community Foundation Support
The problems created by poverty are complex and far-reaching. In our recent network survey that looked at the effects of the cost-of-living crisis on community services, our members identified that the highest demand for services currently are:
Food and essentials
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Mental health support
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Debt advice and/or benefits support
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Social inclusion
“This is the worst crisis I have seen in my seventeen years working in Withernsea. Every day I think it can’t get worse, and yet it does. I am seeing escalating numbers of people encountering problems every day."
– A volunteer from Sores Centre in Withernsea on the rise in service demand
Community foundations have launched regional appeals to support individuals, charities, and community groups through the cost-of-living crisis. From funding warm spaces and food banks to social inclusion activities and financial advice services, community foundations and their local partners want to get vital support to those who need it.
“You have given us an outlet, people to share our concerns with and people to become friends with.”
- Service users talk about the support they received from volunteers at Cook4Care, a local funded organisation that works with young carers and their families.
For more information on how to apply or donate to these appeals, visit your nearest community foundation appeal page:
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation
Berkshire Community Foundation
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
Community Foundation for Calderdale
Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
County Durham Community Foundation
Gloucestershire Community Foundation
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation
Heart of England Community Foundation
Herefordshire Community Foundation
Hertfordshire Community Foundation
Lincolnshire Community Foundation
The London Community Foundation
Milton Keynes Community Foundation
Northamptonshire Community Foundation
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
Oxfordshire Community Foundation
Quartet Community Foundation (Bristol, Bath)
South Yorkshire Community Foundation
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