Community foundation appeals are providing lifelines this winter

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

Heart of Bucks

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

Cheshire Community Foundation

Community Foundation for Calderdale

Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland

Cornwall Community Foundation

County Durham Community Foundation

Cumbria Community Foundation

Devon Community Foundation

Dorset Community Foundation

Foundation Derbyshire

East End Community Foundation

Essex Community Foundation

Gloucestershire Community Foundation

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation

Heart of England Community Foundation

Herefordshire Community Foundation

Hertfordshire Community Foundation

Kent Community Foundation

One Community (Kirklees)

Leeds Community Foundation

Lincolnshire Community Foundation

The London Community Foundation

Milton Keynes Community Foundation

Norfolk Community Foundation

Northamptonshire Community Foundation

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

Oxfordshire Community Foundation

Quartet Community Foundation (Bristol, Bath)

Somerset Community Foundation

South Yorkshire Community Foundation

Suffolk Community Foundation

Sussex Community Foundation

Two Ridings Community Foundation

Wiltshire Community Foundation