Increasing the limit for requests for help
You may have noticed that the monetary limit for requests for help has increased on our website, which means that our local partners can now post requests up to the upper limit of £200 (instead of the previous £150). This is a decision we have recently made, with our Trustees, to make sure that we can continue to help individuals with the items that they need most.
Why?
With the rising cost of living in the UK we have been made aware that it is becoming increasingly difficult for our Advocates, and their recipients, to find larger items within the previous limit of £150.
Therefore, we have made the decision to increase the limit for requests to £200. However, as with our previous limit on requests, we ask our Advocates to only use this upper limit where absolutely necessary for specific larger items, such as cookers, washing machines and fridge freezers.
Although we have increased the upper limit for each request, one household is still able to have up to three requests. This means that we can enable our donors to help individuals and families in a crisis, but highlights that we're not an on-going financial support.
Alongside the guidelines around the upper limit we also have in place other guidelines on some items, and have increased or stipulated these where we feel necessary. We have placed reasonable limits for some specific items, such as £100 for a mobile phone or £75 for a microwave.
How do we keep track of these limits?
With the launch of our new website and back-end systems in June 2022, we were able to integrate some new processes. One of these processes is that each request posted by our local partners gets read by our staff team before it goes live onto the website. This enables us to question and, where needed, amend the amount or request. This process helps us to keep the system fair for every applicant, making sure all our guidelines are adhered to.
As we increase the limit on each request we're very thankful to all our donors, each giving what they can; whether meeting a need in full or giving towards a request. In 2022 the most popular amount donated was £50, which on its own wouldn't be sufficient to meet in full one of the requests on our website. That's what we love about Acts 435 - it is as people donate, alongside others, to the same need, that they can together support an individual in crisis. We are trusting that in spite of the cost of living crisis continuing to impact so many, our donors will still step up with us in generosity to continue to meet the needs of those seeking our help, even as we increase the maximum limit of our requests.
Give to an urgent need today!
The average time for a need to be fully funded is currently 2 days
£200 needed for fitting and supplying a bedroom carpet
This single mum is on a low income and has five children with additional needs. The children's father walked out several months ago, leaving them distraught. The children have smashed and destroyed items in the home as they cannot cope or understand, and currently are in need of a carpet as the one they had was soiled and needed throwing out. The living conditions are really poor as mum is so stressed and exhausted, and the boys' bedroom is just floorboards. Please can you help?
£200 needed for an electric cooker
This single mum is on low income and has five children with additional needs. Father walked out and took some household items several months ago, which has affected the children enormously, to the point that the teenagers reactions were self harm and to break things in the house, as they could not understand. Mum, who is absolutely stressed and exhausted, has no cooker and is relying on neighbours to cook for her. Please can you help?
£100 needed for food and bus travel
W, who is currently sofa surfing, is waiting for financial assistance from the Home Office, which is pending. He is at subsistence level and desperately needs vouchers for a month's worth of food, and an Oyster top-up for bus travel to GP and legal appointments.
£200 needed for a television and a fridge freezer
J, who has mental health issues and Autism, does not go out of the house, due to his health issues. He relies heavily on his television to communicate with the outside world, and he is struggling because this has broken down, along with his fridge freezer. J has his food delivered from a supermarket, but has had to throw out all his food, having no spare money to replace both items. This is causing him a lot of anxiety and stress.
£200 needed for a washing machine
K, who is struggling with financial hardship at the moment, has two young children to care for. Her current washing machine has recently broken and she cannot afford a new one. We would like to be able to bless this family with a washing machine. K is trying to get back on her feet after suffering with poor mental health and domestic abuse. Thank you.
£200 needed for a cooker and a fridge freezer
E is a single parent to a young daughter who has recently lost her job through redundancy and is claiming Universal Credit benefit. She has also recently split up from her partner and has moved into her own property. E, who is struggling to furnish her home, has had support from family and friends to get some furniture, as she walked out with nothing and needs help to purchase a cooker and fridge freezer to settle in her new home.
£195 needed for a bed and mattress
S told us how he ended up in prison, but this turned his life around and he was trained to be a Samaritan. After leaving prison, he was homeless and in hostels, and helped as many people as he could. S now has his own property and would like help to get a bed and mattress as he cannot afford these himself. His income is Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment. S is unable to work as he lost a leg, due to diabetes, and relies on a wheelchair. He would be grateful for any help. Thanks.
£200 needed for carpet fitting
E is a working mum with two children who have been diagnosed with autism. She is the only working adult, as her partner has a long-term, debilitating health condition. Currently they have no flooring in their house, except the kitchen and bathroom. The lack of flooring impacts on heating bills and safety issues for the children. We are hoping our amazing Acts donors will help this family with the cost of carpet fitting.
£200 needed for a double pushchair/buggy
This family has a girl aged one and a boy aged four who has a health condition and struggles to walk far. He is going to nursery and starts reception in September 2026. They have been told that the boy will always struggle with walking, so need a double buggy to accommodate both children day to day for school runs and so on. The cheapest suitable one they can find is £250. The father works full time and the mother cannot work because of health issues.