When I worked at Citizens Advice in the 1990s, there were three key questions to be asked when anyone came through the door in need of help:
1. Are you in a union? – sadly not common even then, but if they were then they would have access to free legal advice and all kinds of support
2. Have you ever served in the armed forces? – because if they did then you could direct them to help from the Legion and SSAFA, who still help today alongside newcomers Help4Heroes.
3. What is your trade or profession?
Question three, could identify valuable sources of help for individuals. In the office we had a very well-thumbed copy of the Directory of Social Change’s ‘The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need’ that listed funds for all kinds of jobs: teachers, nurses, electrical engineers, sailors, people working with leather, dentists and bus drivers. In Bristol, people often had a connection to either the Fry’s or Cadbury’s factories, which meant you could apply to the brilliantly named ‘Sweet Charity’ (now GroceryAid) for financial help.
These benevolent funds and other individual grant makers who give money and goods to people in need get far less attention than funders of organisations. They have a very long history which you can tell from the old fashioned language of some of them such as my favourites the Distressed Gentlefolk's Aid Association (now Turn2Us, the trading name of Elizbeth Finn Care) and Society for the Assistance of Ladies in Reduced Circumstances (now Smallwood Trust). Many date back to the guilds of the 12th century which supported their members in sickness and old age such as The Goldsmiths’ Company which supported “poor members of the goldsmiths’ trade”. Together they make a significant difference – the latest Directory of Social Change guide lists 1,800 grant-making charities giving £297 million in funds to individuals.
The Guardian published an article in January this year which highlighted the rise in demand to benevolent funds due to “collapsing living standards and static wages, and the pressures of precarious and stressful working lives, against a backdrop of cuts to the NHS, care services and welfare benefits”. With the coronavirus pandemic upon us, this demand is likely to increase further. Many are being proactive in responding such as Hospitality Action who are giving out grants of £250 to people who have worked as chefs, bartenders and receptionists and Help Musicians who have created a fund of £5 million to help musicians with household expenses.
To find help, Turn2Us has a searchable database. Be patient and extend some kindness, if you are getting in touch with any of these benevolent funds – most of them have small teams and will be processing high volumes of applications.