Grants for Individuals
“Wow! I’m so very grateful to you and the charity for helping me and my boys through some of the most horrific times we’ve ever experienced! You’ve truly brought tears to my eyes as I can’t wait to actually make dinners and wash clothes again! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’ve made my entire week! This is amazing! Thank you!”
Grant recipient, £600 for washing machine and fridge freezer
Grants for Individuals
Our mission is to alleviate poverty. We award small grants for appliances, furniture and flooring to individuals and families facing financial hardship in our area of benefit.
Please see examples of our recent grants below. We work closely with other grant-giving charities in Camden.
Who can apply?
We accept applications directly from households on low income who live in our area of benefit (or are moving into our area) and haven’t received a grant from us in the last 12 months.
We also welcome applications made by a support worker on behalf of their clients.
Please check eligibility by looking up the address below.
What can the grant cover?
Our grants are usually for basic living needs, including household items such as kitchen appliances, furniture, beds, clothing and flooring. We may consider applications for other items.
Our average grant is around £500 and the maximum grant for direct applications is £600.
We may award higher grants if there are exceptional circumstances AND the application is made on your behalf by a support worker, so we know you are getting broader range of help.
We do not provide grants for rent arrears or debts (such as credit card or utilities) or for holidays. And we do not pay grants in cash.
How long will it take?
We respond to applications as they arrive. It can take approximately two weeks for a decision to be made, once all the required documents have been received. Then another week or two to arrange delivery of the appliance/furniture. We can usually respond more quickly if there is an urgent situation.
How to apply?
Please complete the application form and return it to the charity. If need be, you can collect a paper copy of the form at the Church Office or ask for one to be posted to you. It asks for detailed information about your circumstances, including your financial situation.
What happens next?
Assessment – our Grants Officer will read your application and then contact you for a further chat in your home or by phone.
Decision – our Grants Officer will write up a short report with a recommendation to enable our Trustees to decide. You will then be informed of the decision in writing.
Grant Award – there are several different ways to complete the grant:
- Order appliance or furniture for delivery directly to you. We prefer this for appliances as it is our policy to pay for a full service – disconnection and removal of your old appliance (if relevant), delivery and installation of new appliance and removal of all packaging.
- Provision of vouchers for preferred store.
- Direct payment to flooring company or another supplier.
- Payment to you (only considered if there are no other options).
Please note that for the last three options, you are required to provide copies of your receipts.
When can I re-apply?
You can re-apply after twelve months have passed, unless there are exceptional circumstances. And we only accept two applications over any three-year period.
Examples of recent grants
Please read our case study – an unusual award for a mobility scooter.
Here are some examples of grants to individuals that we provided recently.
An older single man with several physical and mental health conditions applied for a new fridge freezer (as his had broken) to help him maintain a healthier diet. He previously received grant of £400 for a replacement mattress in 2022. Our Trustees agreed up to £350 for a replacement fridge freezer which was ordered directly from the supplier.
A mother and young child fleeing domestic violence were rehoused in unfurnished accommodation without flooring. She brought her furniture but could not afford new flooring and had no access to credit. Our charity contributed £800 which was paid directly to the flooring supplier.
A single man living in a hostel who had been sleeping rough for ten years following eviction from his private rental due to an error with his benefits. He engaged with support at the hostel and enjoyed access to the kitchen facilities. Our charity agreed £120 for basic kitchen equipment so he can cook for himself. The grant was paid to St Mungo’s who helped him to purchase what he wanted.
A mother and her teenage son were rehoused in unfurnished property, following serious health issues arising from mould at the grandmother’s home (who they stayed with after being unable to afford private rental). She has been proactive and bought furniture second-hand and redecorated the flat herself. Camden Carers helped her to apply for several grants. A national charity gave a grant for a washing machine and small kitchen appliances. St Pancras Welfare Trust provided money for a mattress for her son’s bed. Our charity awarded £600 for a sofa, which was given as Argos vouchers.
Camden Funders
If you need additional funds, then there are other organisations within Camden who might be able to help. Camden Council has a Cost of Living Crisis Fund and Household Support Fund.
We regularly connect and share information with four other grant-giving charities – between us we cover the whole of Camden. Please see this map of Camden which shows the five charities’ areas of benefit.
We collaborate with St Pancras Welfare Trust and St Andrew Holborn & Stafford’s Charity as our areas of benefit overlap. An application to one charity may be considered by all three (as our application forms ask for permission to share information), and it isn’t uncommon for an applicant to receive a grant from more than one charity (see the last example above).
If you are a support worker, then please sign up to our Camden Funders mailing list for updates and news.