Hardship Grants – Charitable Foundation

Applications will only be accepted from recognised social organisations such as charities, housing associations, schools and social services acting on behalf of a family or individual in need.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available for eligible individuals and families, but only in exceptional circumstances will individual grants exceed £500.

The Foundation distributes both Zakat and Sadaqah funds; please read our Zakat Distribution Policy for more information.

To be eligible for a small grant or donation, the following criteria must be met.

Priorities

The Foundation’s trustees give priority to:

• the most financially excluded people
• families over individuals
• those with caring responsibilities
• items that will make the most difference to the individual/family’s long-term future

What we fund

Other than in exceptional cases, Hardship Grants will only be made available for:

• Household items (white goods and occasionally other items i.e. sofas, wardrobes etc.)
• Basic Living Expenses (Utilities or food)
• Work- or education-related expenses (interview clothes, school uniforms, laptops)
• Rent arrears and Council tax arrears, but only where there is a clear and obvious risk of homelessness (for rent arrears involving a social landlord please outline what support has already been offered to your tenant)
• Contribution to immigration-related costs, where the current immigration status directly causes financial hardship to the applicant

What we do NOT fund:

• Higher education tuition fees or maintenance during study (please refer to the annual Scholars’ Fund for this)
• Private school fees for primary or secondary education
• Repayments of credit card debts
• Pet care
• Water bill arrears
• Non-essential items (such as TV licences or TVs)
• Applicants who are already on an IVA or debt management solution
• Unspecified costs

We are hugely over-subscribed at present and do not have sufficient funds to award all of the requests we receive. If you have already received a grant from us we will be unable to give you another grant. Applications are assessed every six weeks and you can expect a response within eight weeks of your application.