The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced considerable funding for charity and community organisations that help vulnerable people through the cost of living crisis.
Funding worth £76 million will be provided over the course of the next three years and will look to support organisations providing a range of services, including the provision of food, shelter, safe spaces, and financial or housing advice.
This development is helping to deliver the government's commitment to levelling up the country and ensuring that everyone has access to the support they need. It is also a recognition of the vital role that charities and community organisations play in supporting vulnerable people. This funding will be available by way of grants of between £10,000 and £75,000, with funding helping to cover costs of projects and other core expenses such as office rent, utilities, staff and volunteers.
Stuart Andrew, Minister for Civil Society, said:
“We recognise this is a tough time for families and businesses across the country, as they face rising prices and higher rents or mortgage payments.
“And during tough times charity and community organisations are at the heart of society, supporting people struggling through life with care and compassion.
“To deal with a sharp rise in demand resulting from cost of living pressures, we are supporting charities with £76 million to enable these lifeline services to cope with the increased demand they are facing and continue their good work.”
With the Chancellor using the Spring Budget to announce a £101.5 million pot, the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund makes up the first part of this commitment. The remaining £25.5 million will be used across the next two years to improve the financial resilience of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, whilst also contributing to the government net zero commitment.
Chief Executive of The National Lottery Community Fund, David Knott, added:
“We are pleased to be working alongside DCMS to distribute this funding on behalf of government through the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund.
“This much-needed money will support charities and groups across England working under immense pressure to deliver critical services to communities struggling with the impact of the cost of living.”
The government's £76 million funding for charity and community organisations that help vulnerable people is a welcome announcement. The funding will help to ensure that people have access to the support they need, and it will help to prevent people from becoming homeless or falling into poverty. The funding will also help to create jobs and support the economy.
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