We opened our Poverty Hurts Fund at the end of October 2023, to support Gloucestershire’s most vulnerable people with food, heating and energy costs, clothing and to support organisations offering essential advice to deal with the ongoing high costs of living.

Within two weeks we received applications for over £50,000 from organisations on the frontline of supporting those in need across Gloucestershire.

The stories we read in the applications were of children, young people, families, older people and people living with disabilities across Gloucestershire facing great need – for food, for warmth, for shelter, for advice and for emotional support.

We have been able to award the following grants in November/December 2023:

Cheltenham Housing Aid Centre – to deliver their housing advice service to the most vulnerable people in Cheltenham

Cirencester Opportunity Group – to offer support to the families who use their services with essential items and energy

The Door Youth Project, Stroud – to offer disadvantaged young people access to personal hygiene products and warm coats

The Family Haven, Gloucester – to offer a hot nutritious meal to the children and families they work with

Goals Beyond Grass – to support a warm space and social hub for vulnerable people in Churchdown

GL11, Stroud district – to support the coordination and delivery of warm hubs in the south of Stroud district

GL Communities – to run a community cafe with advice services in Matson and Robinswood

Gloucester City Mission – to run activities that improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of homeless people in Gloucester

Gloucester Foodbank – to support additional purchases of food to meet increased demand

Heart Heroes – to support to vulnerable families supporting children with heart conditions through the cost-of-living crisis by providing financial support with energy costs, food parcels and transport.

Listening Post – to support counselling services for people with complex needs in deprived areas of Cheltenham

Lumbs Educational Foundation – to support students struggling with the increased cost of living

The Keepers – towards the provision of a warm space and food over the Christmas period

Taynton and Tibberton WI – towards the provision of toiletries in their foodbank

We continue to receive applications for funds from across the county and are processing these as quickly as we can.

“Charities all over Gloucestershire are coming to us for vital funding to help people who need it urgently. It’s absolutely essential that we raise the funds to help them.  We can’t let them down, we must ensure that people’s basic needs around heating and eating are met in the face of poverty.”  Talitha Nelson, CEO.

In just over a year (since October 2022), through our Cost of Living and Poverty Hurts grant programmes, we have funded 80 grants totalling almost £140,000 to organisations supporting vulnerable people who would otherwise be isolated, hungry, cold and lonely. Your support has paid for:

• heating grants for elderly and vulnerable people
• over 8,000 meals
• running costs for more than 25 warm spaces
• funds to purchase basic hygiene products and clothing

We are grateful for every donation given to the Poverty Hurts appeal – the need is very significant across the county. You can read more and donate to our appeal here.