265 organisations receive support through our Community Gateways Fund 

In our summer network impact survey over a quarter of our network told us that products act as gateways to other support services for the people they reach.  

Thanks to the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, we received dedicated funding of £30,000 to help smaller organisations in our network access essential products, which encourage more people to take up other support services such as counselling, debt support and refuge services.  

Recognising that the cost-of-living crisis is having an acute impact on the smaller organisations in our network,  we topped up this funding to award a further £10,000 in account credits. 

In total this £40,000 of funding distributed as £150 in credits will unlock an estimated £280,000 worth of essential items like toilet roll, hand wash, cleaning and laundry supplies, period products, clothing, baby essentials, toiletries and treats for the festive season, that’s over a £1,000 per organisation. 

Nikki Morrison Education Welfare Officer, explained what this means for the food hub she runs at the Learning Community Trust in Hadley, Shropshire: 

“We are absolutely delighted to have been fortunate to receive this credit on our account!  With the current cost of living crisis and winter and Christmas both approaching, many of our families are finding it difficult.  This will be a great help.”   

With her team of Year 9 pupils, helping out as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award for volunteering, they are adding Citizens Advice and Christians Against Poverty leaflets into food and care parcels to open up conversations with parents about money support services available.  

To see what other funding opportunities are available, please take a look at our Signpost to funding page.