How Acts 435 are responding to the cost of living crisis
The following post is from our friends at Acts 435. For more information on referring to, and partnering with, this charity please visit their website.
------
As a charity Acts 435 are well placed to meet the needs of individuals impacted by economic and social change. Throughout the pandemic we saw a huge increase in need, helping more individuals annually than ever before, and we're very aware that the need for help will only continue to increase over the next few months, as individuals struggle to pay for their basic bills. We are expecting this increase not only because many will struggle with the increases in energy and food, but also due to many people finding themselves without savings to pay for unexpected items such as a broken washing machine or clothes for a growing child.
As well as the increase in need from individuals we also anticipate an increase in churches and local charities who need the extra resource that Acts 435 can provide. As many churches and community spaces open as ‘warm banks’ this winter they will be seeing first-hand the implications of the rising cost of living. We have partnered with the Warm Welcome initiative to resource churches and charities who are opening up their doors this winter.
As a charity we are aiming to respond to this deepening crisis by being prepared to help as many people as we're able during this time through the needs on our website. We will be encouraging donors to give towards the individual requests for help on our website. We are also running a specific appeal through Stewardship, which will enable us to support individuals with their energy bills further.
We are hoping that through our network of churches and local charities we will continue to be able to provide them with a valuable resource as they meet the ever-increasing need in their communities. We are getting daily requests for help, which tell the story of individuals who are being affected by the rising costs. Here are just a few examples...
________________________________________
R, a young mum to two small children, has come to us in desperate need of support for gas, electric and food. She is using a Foodbank on a daily basis, but is really struggling with anxiety and depression. R is trying her best to keep her head above water, but with the rising costs and being on a low income, she feels she is failing. If we could just give her some breathing space from the cost of living, to help with her mental well-being, this would be greatly appreciated.
M is currently being supported by the local Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre. She has made significant strides forward in managing her money and dealing with debt that has caused her to struggle for some time. However, with the cost of living rising she has found it really difficult to put any money away, leaving her stuck when needing to replace her fridge freezer.
This request is for a school uniform for a single parent who cares for two daughters and is a Kinship Carer with parental responsibility for her grandson. The cost of living crisis is hitting really hard as the children get older and the cost of their clothes increases. Her grandson is starting secondary school this September and she desperately wants to provide the uniform he needs, so he isn't different from his peers.
________________________________________
The good news is that Acts 435, alongside our fantastic supporters and donors, can help to meet these specific needs, and we’re so thankful that donations are currently meeting the needs on our website! However, as the needs of individuals increase, we will also continue to see a need for more donors coming onto our website and giving what they can.
As well as supporting our churches and local charities who partner with us we're also continuing to connect with our key partners who are also helping to tackle this emergency. In this way we hope to be able to help further during this crisis, and meet the needs of more individuals than ever before.
Can you give now?
If you are able to give directly to an individual or family, please do take a look at all the needs posted on our website. However, we want to provide as much support as we can to individuals who are struggling with the rising cost of living, and particularly those who are immediately affected by the increase in fuel costs taking place in October. Therefore we have created a fundraiser with Stewardship and funds raised through this will go to the direct needs of individuals who are struggling with the rising cost of living, and especially those who find themselves in fuel poverty. Each family or individual will be someone known to be in need by our partner churches and charities. Initially they will go directly to meet the needs on our website. However, if funds exceed this we may seek to help other individuals who are known to our partners to be in need.