The Fed is to be the recipient of a welcome £75,000 Community Organisations Cost of Living Grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. This is awarded to front-line organisations that offer critical services for low-income households and individuals who are under severe pressure due to the increased cost of living.

The Government funding aims to help organisation like us to meet the increased needs and demands of our communities while staying financially stable, including the associated increase in running costs.

For The Fed, this means a boost to our operating expenses for three of our community services – the Community Advice Support Team (effectively our social work team), our weekly ‘Chatty Cafe’, and Volunteer Services Department.

Together these support people who are struggling financially through various means: providing food and emergency supplies; hot meals; clothing and toiletries, and warm, safe space to meet, as well as access to housing and financial advice and information, including debt management and welfare entitlements.

Lucy Edwards, our Trusts, Foundations and Bids Fundraiser explained: “Financial pressures have had a substantial impact on the type of individual cases our social workers are dealing with. CAST. They’re more complex and time-consuming cases, as people turn to us with multiple health, social and housing issues. We are doing far more benefit claims for people and the same is the case with applications for charitable grants and school uniform aid.

“People are dreadfully worried about affording to pay for their electricity and gas: One person told us this takes up most of their state retirement pension and said, ‘I can’t afford to pay that amount and live’. Another told us: ‘I’ve had to reduce the time I’m in the house to reduce the cost’.

“Our social workers have been dealing with more cases where bailiffs or debt collectors are involved or people have been evicted, as well as referrals for parenting support to help children who are struggling with anxiety or depression.

“This funding is vital as it will enable my frontline colleagues to help people maximise their income and become more financially resilient. Moreover, it will also help us reduce social isolation, which is often a significant biproduct of living in poverty.

“It will help strengthen community ties by bringing people together and offering them a chance to socialise at our cafe or via the volunteers’ services project – and it’s especially important for the most vulnerable people in the community who often find themselves on the periphery.”

In parallel with CAST’s experience, The Fed’s Volunteer Services Department has seen an over 50% increase in requests for support. As well as offering individual support, the department runs ‘coffee-stops’ – regular events which reduce social isolation and prevent loneliness, by bringing people together for a light bite; to chat; take part in an activity and spend time out of the house. Their average attendance has increased by 83% in the last five years and for many people these groups are their only social contact.

Raphi Bloom, Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications concluded:

“We are tremendously grateful to the National Lottery for their willingness to support our work and increase our resources to meet the needs of people in our community, and proud that they demonstrate their endorsement of our services through their backing.

“However, this grant must be seen in the context of The Fed needing to raise £1 million this year alone to operate our Community Services – £2.5 million overall when also taking into account the running of our care home, Heathlands Village – and continue to provide the life transforming and indeed, at times, lifesaving support to one in seven Jewish homes across Greater Manchester.”

NB The Government’s Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK.

The photos above do not imply that those depicted have sought help from The Fed regarding financial or related issues.