Give just five pounds this Christmas
"Thank you so much for the money, it means the absolute world to me to be able to feed my three children and get them a few bits for Christmas. This time of year is so hard, especially with electricity and gas bills, so your kindness and generosity mean everything. Thank you so much, C."
We're aware that for many this winter turning the heating or hot water on will feel like a luxury and for others simply won't be able to afford it. But, what do those in that position do when their washing machine breaks, or their child grows out of their school shoes?
Last year, before the cost of living crisis really began, many sources reported that a fifth of UK adults had less than £250 in savings (Yorkshire Building Society, Joseph Rowntree Trust). This winter it is likely that those who are struggling will have little or no savings to see them through a crisis, a broken appliance or to just simply turn the heating on.
This impact will be felt more widely than ever; not just those on the lowest incomes will feel the squeeze this year - and we're anticipating the need for one-off financial help to increase. You can read more about our reflections on this here.
We're also aware, as Jenny highlights in her video below, that while those on lower incomes will be hit hardest, that actually many of us are also feeling the squeeze due to the increasing living costs in the UK.
Therefore, this Christmas, we're asking if you can join in with a community of other donors to support those most in need, and give #justfivepounds. If many of us give just five pounds, together with donations from others, we will help to lift a burden and bring hope to an individual, or family, this Christmas.
To give#justfivepounds to a need take a look at the ones below, or look at the other ones on our website: acts435.org.uk/needs
"Hi everyone, I write this letter with great joy and pleasure. Your kind generous donations have placed a wonderful fridge freezer in my kitchen for this coming Christmas and New Year. You have also given me trust in humanity. Words cannot express my gratitude to wonderful people whom I have never met. You are wonderful and I do thank you and applaud you all. It now leaves me to wish each and everyone of you a wonderful Christmas and a spectacular New Year. You have made mine! Thank you and respect to you all, R."
'W' said thank you so much to all concerned for help with his bills over Christmas. He has all of his children living with him now and is safe and settled and your help has eased his worries at this stressful time of year and has allowed them to enjoy their first Christmas.
Give to an urgent need today!
The average time for a need to be fully funded is currently 2 days
£125 needed for a double bed
E has two children, one young child and one away at university during the week. They had to flee their home and were unable to take anything with them. We have helped them get established, but the eldest child is without a bed frame. E works part-time but had her hours cut just before Christmas, leaving her with a much reduced income. She also receives benefits, including disability benefit due to mental health struggles, and carers benefit, as she is a carer to her father.
£100 needed for a replacement phone
Our client, R, is an asylum seeker who arrived in our area three months ago, having left his family in Kuwait, and receives £9 per week in financial support. He has engaged with our organisation, attending different activities such as English language classes, chess club and lunch, sport and cultural events each week. R's phone is not working and he would be very grateful for your support in enabling him to replace his phone.
£200 needed for a tumble dryer
S lives with her partner and 5 children. S supports the family by working but she is on a low income so the family are struggling financially and have debts with no savings. S has a tumble dryer but it has broken and is irreparable. As the family is so large there is daily laundry needing washing and drying. There is no outside space to dry the washing at the property so a tumble dryer is an essential. Any help to get one would be gratefully received.
£200 needed for career coaching for an ex-offender
J is an ex offender who was referred to us by Clean Sheet - a Christian organisation who help ex-offenders. He is a former Special Educational Needs Coordinator and lost his job due to his offence. He is an intelligent and gifted man but without purpose or self-confidence, working in a temporary factory job. The coaching will help him find a meaningful career (that is not disqualified by his record) and will show him the gifting he has and the next steps for him.
£120 needed for three months gym membership
S is a newly granted refugee who has now finished her six month membership at Better Health where she used to go to the gym almost everyday. This massively helped with her mental health and she needs some help to get a three month membership for her local gym, to continue going. S struggles with her mental health without exercising, so any help would be greatly appreciated.
£200 needed for a washing machine
L and her husband and teenage son have been living in temporary accommodation for some months and have just moved into social housing which is completely unfurnished. The family are in employment but on a fixed low income and have got into debt with living in temporary housing and the cost of moving. They have no other source of income and need a washing machine for their new home as there is no launderette service nearby and they cannot afford launderette charges so they are struggling to wash their clothes etc.
£100 needed for a single bedframe
Single mum of 5 children, living in a 2 bedroom property in a really deprived area. As a charity we are working with mum to try and make the home more liveable and organized so she doesn't feel so overwhelmed. Mum has bipolar and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder so she finds life incredibly tricky. We are hoping that some donations towards a new bedframe for her son will provide a bit more space in one of the bedrooms. A small bit of space, but a worthwhile bit of space to have.
£180 needed for clothes and shoes for a family of 4
R is an asylum seeker from Pakistan. She is with her husband, son (19) and daughter (13). They left Pakistan because their families were trying to force their daughter into marriage and they were being threatened due to their lack of compliance. The family are currently living in an asylum hotel with very little income. All four family members are in need of clothes and shoes suitable for a British winter.
£120 needed for clothes
Z, our client, is an asylum seeker who arrived in our area two months ago, having left his family in Kuwait, and receives £9 per week in financial support. This client has engaged with our organisation, attending different activities such as English language classes, chess club and lunch, sport and cultural events each week. Z needs help to buy clothes as he doesn't have any, and would be very grateful for your support.