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The Fund supports charities and community organisations
The Community Foundation’s Cost-Of-Living Fund has distributed £152,000 to thirty-three organisations across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. The aim of the Fund is to support charities and community organisations that help people most affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
Seeded with an initial £100,000 from the Community Foundation’s discretionary money, the Fund doubled with support from the Foundation’s existing donors plus other businesses, individuals and funders. A second funding round is now open for applications with demand expected to be high, so further contributions to the Fund are being sought.
The first round made unrestricted grants of between £3,000 and £6,000 to 33 organisations working in Newcastle (4), Newcastle and North Tyneside (1), North Tyneside (2), Gateshead (6), Gateshead and South Tyneside (1), South Tyneside (1) Sunderland (3), Northumberland (13) and region-wide (2). A full list is below.
Rob Williamson, CEO of the Community Foundation said,
“At the Community Foundation we know the vital role charities and community organisations play in supporting the most vulnerable in our communities and we support hundreds of them every year. This Fund specifically focuses on those that are facing greater demand on their services at the same time as rising costs. We want to make sure they have the capacity and resources to keep serving communities.
Just like households, charities and community organisations are facing increased fuel and building costs – up to 250% higher in some cases. And, like many employers, they are seeing increased staffing costs including helping volunteers who previously didn’t claim expenses who now need to do so. Food and clothing banks are being hit by a double whammy of donations dropping and rising costs for supplies they need to buy to replace them. Many are also subsidising their beneficiaries’ attendance at activities where inflation has not been built into existing funding and contracts.”
As day-to-day costs rise, so is demand, putting pressure further on services. Rob continues.
“Organisations are getting more referrals and direct approaches from people needing help – up to a 200 percent rise in some cases. People are asking for help with food, money, childcare, mental health support, domestic abuse, substance and alcohol abuse, or just looking for somewhere warm.
As our Third Sector Trends research has repeatedly shown, the charitable sector is resilient. In the current crisis organisations are spending cash reserves, improving energy efficiency, bulk purchasing and of course trying to grow their fundraising income. They are also closing facilities on some days, reducing journeys and visits as well as staff and volunteer numbers. So I’m delighted we’re raising more money to help more organisations through our Cost-of-Living Fund, and continuing to welcome applications at any time for our other funds.”
Round two of the Community Foundation’s Cost-Of-Living Fund is now open for applications up to £10,000. The Foundation is targeting organisations that fit one or more of the following criteria.
- income under £500,000
- community centres, village halls and other hubs
- food banks and others providing free/low-cost goods to people experiencing poverty
- money, debt and welfare advice centres
- organisations that provide services to: people in crisis including those experiencing violence/abuse; homeless and poorly housed people; vulnerable older people including those living in care settings; disabled people and people with long-term limiting health conditions including mental health issues; people on low and/or insecure household incomes; children and young people from disadvantaged areas.
You can see the full criteria and apply here
Organisations awarded funding in round 1