The cost of living crisis is impacting individuals and organisations across the VCSE sector. To support you, we’ve compiled key resources, funding opportunities, and services that can help. If you are aware of further resources that could be added, please email victoria.logan-coulsey@voda.org.uk.
If you are seeking funding for your charity or group, please visit our Funding News section.
Charity Digital Cost of Living Hub
Charity Digital’s Cost of Living Hub offers news, insights, and resources to help charities manage the crisis. Access the Charity Digital – Cost-of-Living Hub here.
NCVO Cost of Giving Crisis
NCVO provides dedicated resources and guidance for charities facing the cost of living crisis, covering financial support, governance advice, and practical tips. View the Cost of Giving Crisis resources here | NCVO
NCVO/SCVO webinar: How to manage rising energy costs - what next for charities?
Free unrestricted funding for your organisation from easyfundraising
easyfundraising helps charities, CICs, and social enterprises access free, unrestricted funding. When supporters shop online with partnered brands, a percentage of their spend is donated—at no cost to them. Register for free to start receiving donations. Read more
Helping organisations to provide safe warm spaces
This article from Zurich Insurance discusses the emergence of ‘warm spaces’, and the steps community organisations should consider taking to manage the associated risks.
Cost-of-living crisis: reporting your finances
Charity Digital explores how charities can embrace sustainable finance in times of financial uncertainty, including during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis Read more.
Charity Commission guidance about cost of living related financial difficulties in charities.
The Charity Commission recognises that many charities are facing difficult circumstances resulting from rapidly increasing costs. These financial challenges can have a major effect on charities and those who depend on them. This Charity Commissi0n guidance is for trustees, especially trustees of smaller charities, who may need help when facing difficult decisions about their charity’s financial position. It does not directly address wider issues that those in the charity may face, such as staff hardships, but guidance is available for trustees from other organisations to support with this. Read more.
The Cost of Giving Crisis Report
There’s no escaping the undeniable rise in the cost of living and it’s no wonder that charities are wondering how to react. So what can they do to keep making a difference to those that need them?
The Access Group has gathered voices from in and out of the sector to hear what advice they’d give – with some actionable tips on what to do next. Download the report here.
Business in the Community (BITC) cost-of-living action plan
Business in the Community (BITC) have launched a new cost-of-living action plan for businesses that details 12 calls to action to support you to be faster, braver and bolder in your response to the ongoing crisis. Read more here.
Cost-of-living crisis: how to meet service demand
Charity Digital explores how charities can manage rising service demands amid the cost-of-living crisis. Read here.
MyCommunity - cost of living resource hub for charity sector
NAVCA has worked in collaboration with leading community sector organisations to help community groups adapt and survive under these extremely challenging conditions. My Community contains tips, tools and advice and a specialist Cost of Living Hub to get the support you need in this difficult time:
CAF Resources for supporting volunteers
The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) have Charity Resource Hub resources to support the cost-of-living crisis including some suggestions for supporting volunteers and staff.
ACRE urgent energy advice for village halls briefing
To help rural community buildings stay open this winter, ACRE and Utility Aid have prepared some urgent advice to help the volunteers who manage these buildings save energy and stay on top of energy bills. Read more.
ACEVO cost of living resources
ACEVO has collated links to reports, surveys and important data to support civil society leaders to better understand the impact of the crisis on their organisations, stakeholders and the sector at large. Read more.
Cost of Living resources from North Tyneside Council
North Tyneside Council has created an online resource around the Cost-of-Living Crisis full of support available from the Council, advice, and signposting to other relevant organisations. This includes help for families and individuals, whether you’re working or not, including details of the North Tyneside Warm Welcome Hubs. These pages will be regularly reviewed and updated. Read more here.
North East fuel poverty support
Across the North East and North Cumbria VCSE organisations, Local Authorities and other key partners are working together to support people in this time of crisis. Warm hubs, spaces and places have been set up across our region to act as a place of welcome to those who are unable to heat their homes during this Autumn/Winter period. Read more about these activities and sources of support in the VONNE Fuel Poverty blog.
Sported launches Cost-of-Living Campaign
Sported, the UK’s largest network of community groups, has launched the Keep the Doors Open campaign, to raise awareness of the threat which the cost-of-living crisis poses to community sports organisations – and the young people they support.
Sport England resources to help sports clubs cut energy bills
Sport England has put together a new set of free resources to help sports clubs and organisations cope with the rise in the cost of living and keep their energy bills down.
Cost-of-living crisis: how to meet service demand
This article from Charity Digital explores how charities can manage rising service demands amid the cost-of-living crisis
Help for Households
Find out more about the Government’s Help for Households campaign and what support is available. Read more.
Extra support provided to fuel poor homes
People living in fuel poverty are now able to access additional support from the Fuel Bank Foundation, thanks to Britain’s energy network companies. The money will be used to provide same or next day emergency financial support to people struggling to top-up their prepayment gas and/or electricity meters. Fuel Bank Foundation will also provide additional ongoing support to help manage energy costs, working together to support families out of crisis and find better energy deals. Read more.
How to talk about fundraising in a cost-of-giving crisis
The cost-of-living crisis is inescapable for most of us. But for charities it’s also leading to a cost-of-giving crisis. How can you ask for donations when people are struggling to make ends meet? Read more.
The cost-of-living crisis: how can local philanthropy make a difference?
Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland has produced a report on areas for funding. Read the report Cost of Living Crisis – Community Foundation
Cost of Living news & events
The Catherine Cookson Trust supports a wide range of activities, including education and training, environment and conservation, arts and culture as well as general charitable purposes. The Trust’s principal aim is to identify and meet the local needs of the area in which Dame Catherine was brought up and resided. In particular, the Trust supports […]
funding opportunity is available for small charities and community organisations delivering frontline support. The Small Grants programme offers one-year grants between £2,000 and £10,000 to cover core costs, salaries, running expenses, and project costs. Who Can Apply? Organisations must meet the following criteria: Be located in an area of high deprivation (bottom 15% in urban […]
The number of charities facing financial difficulty is expected to rise this year due to an unprecedented demand for support against a backdrop of increasing costs and reduced income. That is the view of a North East restructuring expert, Chris Ferguson, who is Director of Recovery & Insolvency at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors […]
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to registered charities to support projects that equip people (18 or older in order) from disadvantaged groups with the communication skills necessary to gain employment. Priority will be given to projects that target people experiencing multiple deprivation or other groups facing major hurdles to employment, especially women, people […]
Octo Assist is a £30 million customer help fund and a collection of support schemes designed to help customers who need it most keep on top of their energy, and keep warm without worrying. Includes free electric blankets, Winter Fuel Payments, standing charge waivers and more. If you’re an Octopus customer, fill out our quick and simple online […]
Struggling with energy debt? If you’re struggling with debt its difficult to know where to turn. The British Gas Energy Trust would encourage you to contact your local Money Advice Agency for help before applying for a grant. If you get advice, this will help your chances of a successful grant application. Click here to find […]
Grants of up to £2,400 are being made available to help UK Armed Forces veterans and their families who are struggling to pay their bills due to the cost-of-living crisis. The funding is being made available through the Royal British Legion’s Everyday Needs Grants Programme to support people who need help with everyday essentials such […]
Karbon Homes’ Community Connectors can help you access our Community Investment fund. They welcome applications from not-for-profit and voluntary organisations as well as local schools. The grants aim to support projects that make a real difference to people’s lives and wellbeing within the communities in which we work. They welcome applications if your project falls […]
Grants are now available to support children and young people in the UK experiencing a crisis or emergency. The grants which are made available through the BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials programme support families with children up to the age of 17 who are living with financial, health and social difficulties by providing items […]
Tesco Stronger Starts will fund local causes whose focus is on supporting children and families across the UK. It is a rolling programme, where community groups or charities can apply for funding all year round. Applications are open to all local causes, but the current priority is to help projects that support children’s food security […]
