Eligibility

Funding for Individuals in Need

Individuals in poverty that live within the Ancient Parish of Handsworth can make an application to the Charity. The postcodes to bear in mind are: B18, B19, B20, B21, B42, B43, B44. Applicants must be residents of the Charity’s geographical area for at least 6 months before being eligible to make an application.

Only applications from referral organisations that have known or worked with the individual providing information, guidance, advice or undertaking casework will be considered.

You can download a copy of the guidance here
How to apply
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The following postcodes are recognised as within the Ancient Parish of Handsworth – B18, B19, B20, B21, B42, B43, B44.

As a small Charity with limited funds and staff resources we are not able to address the underlying causes of poverty, so we are not in a position to eliminate local poverty. We look to give grants that will reduce hardship and improve wellbeing. Small grants of no more than £750 are considered by Trustees, to any one applicant in a 12-month period, to alleviate short-term difficulties that relate to a situation of poverty or social disadvantage. Grants are only awarded to applicants on a restricted income.

Grants may be made to help with essential household items and goods such as bedding, carpets, cookers, fridges, and small property repairs. Other considerations where a contribution may be made are clothing, educational books and materials, travel costs to attend educational institutions, IT equipment (such as tablets and laptops) that will be needed for accessing key services online for the household or supporting education or training.

Trustees will not consider:

  • Paying for equipment/goods/work where statutory funding is available
  • Paying wages
  • Paying legal fees
  • Settling debts
  • Paying for items/work retrospectively
  • Generally, repeat grants to individuals in the same year, and only in exceptional circumstances
Our income is derived from our investment portfolio, and we receive many more applications than we can fund.

We prefer to accept applications sent electronically but will accept postal applications. Trustees welcome applications for grants from all sections of the community that reside within the Ancient Parish of Handsworth and decisions that are made have regard to the Charity’s available funding levels. Our Equal Opportunities Policy is available on request.

We generally do not pay applicants direct and only in exceptional circumstances or make cash payments. We expect to receive an accompanying referral or sponsoring organisation supported application, where the referral organisation will act as the conduit for the grant payment or administer the grant on behalf of the applicant and ensure that evidence of the use of grant for the purposes it was given is provided.

Applications can be received throughout the year. We will endeavour to acknowledge your application within 2 weeks of receiving it. Trustees meet only 4 times a year – mid-March, mid-June, mid-September and mid-December. Applications that are deemed to be of an urgent nature can be considered by Trustees in between Trustees meeting and Trustees endeavour to advise of the outcome within a month of it being received. If your application is taken to a Trustees meeting for consideration then the outcome will be communicated within 2 weeks of the meeting.  All grant applications are assessed on an individual basis. Trustees’ decision is final and as a small Charity with limited resources, we are not in a position to enter into any correspondence or discussion with unsuccessful applicants.

If you have any questions or queries please contact us
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