In October this year, applications for the Autumn Grant Programme were officially opened, with nominations for charities all over the world being welcomed. We are delighted to be awarding over £45,000 to 20 charities across the UK and internationally. 

Over 18 months after the start of the pandemic, people around the world are still impacted by COVID-19, those who rely on homeless charities and foodbanks to survive are being challenged more than many. With Christmas around the corner, more and more people feel the strains and pressures of the season, and homeless charities can take a huge hit at this time of year – making our grants essential in supporting these organisations to provide not only through the festive season, but beyond too. The Fine & Country Foundation is striving to provide much needed monetary support for charitable organisations around the world, committed to fighting the causes of homelessness.    

Here’s some more information on the supported organisations and the projects which have been funded through the Autumn Grant Programme.

1. Rays of Hope Alexandra 

Rays of Hope is a non-profit organisation in northern Johannesburg. The charity manages a large number of social outreach programmes and aims to enable individuals and families to improve all aspects of their lives. Fine & Country South Africa office 'The Parks' nominated the charity to receive a donation of £3,000 which will go towards supporting 10 community-based programmes, focusing on education, vulnerable children, and work readiness in the area.

2. Beacon House Ministries 

Beacon House, a charity nominated for a grant by Fine & Country Colchester, provides primary healthcare services to people who are homeless, in insecure accommodation or at risk of homelessness in Colchester, Essex. Our donation of £1,000 from the Foundation will help towards continuing to provide services on site such as showering facilities, laundry, clothing and toiletries.

3. The Four Streets Project 

The Four Streets Project has been helping and supporting the homeless of Chichester every single night for the last three years. They exist to provide any available support to any person who is sleeping on the streets of Chichester or those known to be vulnerably housed. Their collective purpose is to provide support such as food, drink, sleeping bags, clothing and referral to agencies to people sleeping out on the streets of Chichester, a cause that will be vitally supported by a £1,500 donation, provided to the organisation after being nominated by Fine & Country Chichester.

4. Emmaus Cambridge

Fine & Country St Neots nominated Emmaus Cambridge to receive a donation of £3,000 assisting the charity in offering people who have experienced homelessness a place to call home for as long as they need it, as well as meaningful work in their social enterprise. They believe that living in a stable environment with the opportunity to gain new skills helps people to regain any lost self-esteem and confidence so they can get back on their feet.

5. Wimbledon Guild of Social Welfare 

Wimbledon Guild of Social Welfare offer everything from emotional, financial or practical support and their services aim to reduce social isolation and loneliness, help people who are experiencing difficulties and enable older people to be active and healthy in the Merton area. These services will be greatly benefitted from a £1,500 from the Foundation, after being nominated by their local Fine & Country agent in Wimbledon.

6. Helping Hands in Leamington Spa

More people than ever have needed support from Helping Hands in Leamington Spa this year and The Foundation's £3,000 donation, as nominated by Fine & Country Leamington Spa, will go a long way in continuing to allow the charity's soup kitchen to operate, as well as the day-to-day operation of the Lighthouse Charity Shop.

7. Llamau

At Llamau they believe that no young person or vulnerable woman should ever have to experience homelessness, they have supported over 67,000 young people, women and their children to date who are either homeless or facing homelessness. Fine & Country Chepstow recognised the fantastic work the charity does in their area, and so nominated them to receive a grant of £3,000.

8. SoundCafe Leicester 

Fine & Country Leicester nominated SoundCafe to receive a donation of £2,817 from the foundation, so they could continue to provide a safe creative space for people who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness in the Leicestershire area. 

9. SleepPod 

SleepPod is a simple, effective, emergency shelter that the team are working towards being made available to outreach teams and charities for them to give out to rough sleepers and refugees that haven’t managed to access existing services. Fine & Country Uckfield nominated the organisation to receive a grant of £3,000. Every £30 raised equals 1 Pod built, so we hope to see this donation go towards up to 100 new shelters being built and distributed.

10. The Amber Foundation 

The Amber Foundation in Devon, Wiltshire and Surrey support vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in transforming their own lives by helping them move out of homelessness and unemployment into bright secure futures. The charity was nominated by Fine & Country Marlborough and Devizes to be able to assist them in offering their ongoing support through teaching practical life skills, providing creative projects involving art, crafts, music, film and drama and assisting people out of employment in getting back into work. These projects will all be greatly assisted by a £1,500 grant from The Foundation.

11. The Forge Project

The Forge Project Day Centre opens five mornings per week offering food and vital support services to North Lincolnshire’s homeless and roofless. It has been providing this lifeline since 1996, helping to bring positive change in the lives of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, helping them to realise a better future. The organisation is now providing more support and a wider range of opportunities than ever before so the £2,950 grant from The Foundation, as nominated by Fine & Country Brigg is welcomed greatly.

12. AHAVA Community

AHAVA means love in Hebrew, and Fine & Country South Essex wanted to share the love by nominating the charity for a £2,995 grant. The organisation understands that when people who find themselves homeless enter their shelter or housing, they are often at their lowest point, they don’t just need a bed, they need to be listened to and cared for and shown love. 

13. Cymdeithas Gofal The Care Society 

The Care Society are a registered charity providing housing, homelessness and support services across Mid Wales. Their £1,500 grant, kindly nominated by Fine & Country West Wales, will support the organisation in delivering essential services across rural Wales, helping improve people’s quality of life and addressing increasing numbers of social issues.  

14. Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire 

Much like the St Neots branch, Fine & Country Coventry were drawn to Emmaus in their area and nominated them to receive a £1,190 grant. At Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire, formerly homeless people and people at risk of homelessness find a place where they can enjoy companionship and support. They currently have space to accommodate 17 people at their accommodation in Binley, Coventry. Everyone has their own bedroom whilst living in the community, as well as many large communal areas where they can socialise.

15. Grimsby & Cleethorpes Area Doorstep

Fine & Country Brigg nominated Grimsby & Cleethorpes Area Doorstep to receive £1,500 to be able to provide support to young people under 25 years old who have a local connection to North East Lincolnshire and are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  

16. Kingston Church Action on Homelessness 

At KCAH they support single people facing housing crisis in the Kingston Borough and help to rebuild their lives through a wide range of services. Offering much more than just advice, shelter and food - KCAH provides lasting solutions that restore the self-esteem and confidence of vulnerable people, helping them out of the vicious circle of homelessness. Fine & Country Putney hope that a grant of £1,500 will continue to assist KCAH in providing much needed care in the community.

17. Watford New Hope Trust

Watford New Hope Trust will benefit from a £1,800 grant after being nominated by Fine & Country Rickmansworth. Their provision begins with intervention services which build relationships and offer support to people who are street homeless, including an active street outreach service and drop-in services; their recovery services currently include COVID-secure recovery accommodation for up to 46 people.

18. The Shrewsbury Ark

The Shrewsbury Ark relies entirely on generous donations to survive therefore the services they provide will be vitally supported by a £3,000 donation, provided to the organisation after being nominated by Fine & Country Shrewsbury. These services include the use of facilities such as bathrooms, hot meals, emergency food parcels, clothing, toiletries, sleeping bags and access to computers, activities such as football, allotments, sculpting and art and in-house partner services including GP/nurse/podiatrist check-ups, SRP, housing advice, hairdressing, counselling and mental health support.

Other organisations across the world who benefitted from grants from the Foundation include Agir Ensemble, a charity supported by Fine & Country Mauritius with a £3,000 donation and Isivandesethu NPC a South African charity supported by a £3,000 grant in association with Fine & Country Midrand & Knysna.

Thank you to all the members of the Fine & Country network, their friends and families and the communities they belong to for all your support and efforts in being able to make this possible!

If you're thinking about planning a fundraiser in the New Year, let us know at foundation@fineandcountry.com.

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