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 8 days
£95 needed for a monthly bus pass
K is a newly granted refugee and has started English for Speakers of Other Languages classes in central London. She is very keen to gain new skills and attend classes as much as she can, though she struggles with paying for transport, as she ends up spending most of her money on that leaving her with very little for other essential things. Support towards transport would make a huge difference and allow her to attend classes more regularly so she can start building her new life in London.
£150 needed for a shed
F is a bright and resilient woman who has recently moved into a new home. She is a survivor of domestic violence and has previously experienced homelessness. F is in need of a garden shed to use as storage. It will give her a secure place to store essential household items and belongings that currently have no suitable storage space. This would help her ongoing efforts to establish stability, independence, and a sense of security after experiencing significant hardship.
£200 needed for bunk beds
Young single mother, S, has recently moved from temporary bed and breakfast accommodation into an unfurnished one-bedroom flat with her two young children, aged four and one. They are currently sharing a single bed due to a lack of furniture. Support is requested to purchase bunk beds, providing the children with a safe, comfortable place to sleep and helping to create a more stable home environment.
£195 needed for bunk bed mattresses and a wardrobe
Young single mother, S, has recently moved from temporary bed and breakfast accommodation into an unfurnished one-bedroom flat with her two young children, aged four and one. They are currently sharing a single bed due to a lack of furniture. Support is requested to purchase bunk bed mattresses and a wardrobe, giving the children a safe and comfortable place to sleep and providing essential storage to help create a stable, settled home environment.
£175 needed for a fridge
K needs a small fridge as he lives in shared accommodation and shares a fridge, the food often goes missing or is used by other people. K is an asylum seeker currently awaiting decision and is living on Migrant Help Support which does not leave enough additional income for items such as this and makes regularly replacing food very difficult and means that he is currently mainly living off dried goods. The fridge would make a big difference to his well-being.
£200 needed for a washing machine
L is currently out of work and the only household income is Universal Credit. The current machine does not work properly and with two young children under 10 this is a problem for the family. They would have to use a launderette, which isn’t affordable. L is still trying to pay off previous debts and together with household bills and food costs, they do not have funds to replace or call out an engineer to repair the washing machine. He desperately needs a new machine.
£90 needed for a mobile phone
This man is a homeless refugee. He has been homeless for more than 1 year. He is not stable mentally and very stressed. He does not have a mobile phone and this has prevented him from proving his right to rent, work and access his Universal Credit. We would appreciate the kind support to provide him a second hand mobile phone as this will improve his mental health, social wellbeing and enable him to access his benefits.
£190 needed for a laptop
J has been a recovered addict for many years. He has been working hard to rebuild his life, volunteering full time, and living in a homeless community. He is recently recovering from alcohol addiction, which has severely impacted his health, and he is living in a safe rehabilitation facility while he recovers. J would like a laptop so he can stay in contact with his partner and his support system through this process, and to keep occupied with learning and training as he moves on with his life.
£200 needed for installing a washing machine and an air fryer
It was good to be able to chat to this client who is grateful to have been recently allocated some accommodation in a new building. However the apartment is completely unfurnished. Up until now K has been living in supported accommodation with an undiagnosed type of depression. He is a pensioner and therefore has very little finances to furnish his home and few possessions of his own. A washing machine and air fryer would both be a huge help as part of settling into his new place. Many thanks.