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We opened our Poverty Hurts Fund at the end of October 2023, to support Gloucestershire’s most vulnerable people with food, heating and\u00a0energy costs, clothing and to support organisations offering essential advice to deal with the ongoing high costs of living.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Within two weeks we received applications for over \u00a350,000 from organisations on the frontline of supporting those in need across Gloucestershire.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n We have been able to award the following grants in November\/December 2023:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Cheltenham Housing Aid Centre<\/strong> – to deliver their housing advice service to the most vulnerable people in Cheltenham<\/span><\/p>\n Cirencester Opportunity Group<\/strong> – to offer support to the families who use their services with essential items and energy<\/span><\/p>\n The Door Youth Project, Stroud<\/strong> – to offer disadvantaged young people access to personal hygiene products and warm coats<\/span><\/p>\n The Family Haven, Gloucester<\/strong> – to offer a hot nutritious meal to the children and families they work with<\/span><\/p>\n Goals Beyond Grass<\/strong> – to support a warm space and social hub for vulnerable people in Churchdown<\/span><\/p>\n GL11, Stroud district<\/strong> – to support the coordination and delivery of warm hubs in the south of Stroud district<\/span><\/p>\n GL Communities<\/strong> – to run a community cafe with advice services in Matson and Robinswood<\/span><\/p>\n Gloucester City Mission<\/strong> – to run activities that improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of homeless people in Gloucester<\/span><\/p>\n Gloucester Foodbank<\/strong> – to support additional purchases of food to meet increased demand<\/span><\/p>\n Heart Heroes<\/strong> – 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.<\/span><\/p>\n Listening Post<\/strong> – to support counselling services for people with complex needs in deprived areas of Cheltenham<\/span><\/p>\n Lumbs Educational Foundation<\/strong> – to support students struggling with the increased cost of living<\/span><\/p>\n The Keepers<\/strong> – towards the provision of a warm space and food over the Christmas period<\/span><\/p>\n Taynton and Tibberton WI<\/strong> – towards the provision of toiletries in their foodbank<\/span><\/p>\n We continue to receive applications for funds from across the county and are processing these as quickly as we can.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCharities all over Gloucestershire are coming to us for vital funding to help people who need it urgently. It\u2019s absolutely essential that we raise the funds to help them.\u00a0 We can\u2019t let them down, we must ensure that people\u2019s basic needs around heating and eating are met in the face of poverty.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Talitha Nelson, CEO.<\/span><\/p>\n 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 \u00a3140,000 to organisations supporting vulnerable people who would otherwise be isolated, hungry, cold and lonely. Your support has paid for:<\/span><\/p>\n