The Fed is to be the recipient of a welcome £75,000 Community Organisations Cost of Living Grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. This is awarded to front- line organisations that offer critical services for low-income households and individuals who are under severe pressure due to the increased cost of living.
For The Fed, this means a boost to operating expenses for three of its community services – the Community Advice Support Team (effectively the social work team), its weekly ‘Chatty Cafe’, and Volunteer Services Department.
Together these support people who are struggling financially through various means: providing food and emergency supplies; hot meals; clothing and toiletries, and warm, safe space to meet, as well as access to housing and financial advice and information, including debt management and welfare entitlements.
Lucy Edwards, Trusts, Foundations and Bids Fundraiser explained: “Financial pressures have had a substantial impact on the type of individual cases our social workers are dealing with. People are turning to us with more complex cases with multiple health, social and housing issues. We are doing far more benefit claims for people and the same is the case with applications for charitable grants and school uniform aid.
“Our social workers have been dealing with more cases where bailiffs or debt collectors are involved or people have been evicted, as well as referrals for parenting support to help children who are struggling with anxiety or depression.”