We are delighted to announce that The Fine & Country Foundation now support 16 homeless charities and projects across the world through its first ever grant scheme.

Thirteen UK-based charities, one national youth campaign and three international organisations will benefit from the grant pot.

In March 2018, homeless charities across the UK and overseas applied for up to £15,000 of funding from The Fine & Country Foundation. It was a huge success, with a wide range of projects and innovative ideas put forward by charities. In April, our Trustees assessed the applications and the final decisions were made. This May, we are distributing the donations to each charity.

The projects – UK-based

1. The Bridge Trust, Kent

Based in Tonbridge, The Bridge Trust has been given £3,078.56 to supply 16 Move-On packs. Each pack is divided into five sections: bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, cleaning and sundries. The items provided allow a formerly homeless person to move into independent accommodation and have the provisions to make the area their home. Each person is given at least six months of support to help them adjust to living independently to prevent them from slipping back into homelessness.

2. The Clock Tower Sanctuary, Sussex

Fine & Country Brighton & Hove have been huge supporters of The Clock Tower Sanctuary for a few years, so we are delighted to give £2,974 to their Life Skills programme. Homeless young people can attend the programme of 20 bite-size, AQA accredited classes in a range of subjects including: CV-writing, budgeting, healthy-eating and anger management.

3. Emmaus Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Emmaus Cambridge are undergoing an expansion project called #10 Fresh Starts. They are constructing 10 new bedrooms to bring their total to 44 rooms for their service users. Our £3,000 donation will fund the equivalent of three bathrooms.

4. Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire, Warwickshire

This project is called A Place called Home. Emmaus Coventry & Warwickshire are decorating 15 residents’ rooms and the communal area. Our grant of £3,000 will fund the flooring and carpeting for the project. As a result, their service users, known as companions, will have the opportunity to feel comfortable and grow accustomed to living off the streets so that they can make positive steps to living independently. 

5. Emmaus Suffolk, Suffolk

We are giving £3,065 for white goods so that Emmaus Suffolk can provide the white goods for the new shower room and laundrette for their 42 service users. These items include: two washing machines, two tumble dryers, installation of an external fire door and renovating the waiting area.

6. Hope4 (Rugby), Warwickshire

Our Rugby office have supported Hope4 (Rugby) for a number of years with sleep outs and donations. We are delighted to continue our £500 monthly donations which will help towards their mortgage payments. The day centre allows a refuge for homeless people to receive warm food, showers, advice, access to computers for job applications, and workshops.

7. Justlife Foundation, Sussex

Based in Brighton, the Justlife Foundation supports individuals moving into Unsupported Temporary Accommodation to adjust and settle into their new lifestyle. Our donation of £3,000 will fund 50 Move-In packs which are bespoke to the individual. They include a range of necessities including: kitchen utensils, a kettle, duvets and sheets. Additionally, some items help make their environment a ‘home’ such as a radio alarm clock and photo frame.

8. King’s Arms Project, Bedfordshire

Our grant of £3,370 to the King’s Arms Project in Bedford will supply white goods and course transport for their Move-On Housing and Pathways to Employment projects. Move-On Housing is the final step before a person becomes fully independent. Individuals are given the appropriate support to help them develop and learn skills, integrate into the community and become independent. The transport is for 140 clients to their workshops and training courses for the Pathways to Employment project.

9. The Medway Street Angels, Kent

We are delighted to give £3,000 for start-up costs to The Medway Street Angels. They are looking for new premises to host their day centre and night shelter to be run by volunteers. We will report more on the new location over the next few months.

10. Northampton Hope Centre, Northamptonshire

Gardening for Hope is a fantastic project by the Northampton Hope Centre to help individuals develop new skills, gain some voluntary experience, learn about healthy eating and to provide food for the Day Centre and Food Club. A grant of £3,000 will fund two gardening sheds.

11. St Basils, West Midlands

St Basils is one of nine members of the End Youth Homelessness campaign, who are our national partners. Our grant of £2,621.48 will fund their Life Skills programme to help young people attend the workshops on subjects including budgeting, healthy eating and cooking. The young people will receive awards and gain experience and confidence to help them move closer to independence.

12. Worthing Churches Homeless Projects, West Sussex

A grant of £3,000 will help develop the Lydnhurst Road Assessment Centre, a new 37-bed hostel which is divided into seven flats for homeless people. Each flat specialises in the needs of its residents to help each individual to receive the best help and support.

The projects – National

13. End Youth Homelessness, UK-wide

The End Youth Homelessness campaign is formed of nine homeless charities across the country, led by Centrepoint. A grant of £20,000 will go to the Safe Nights Fund. For £25, a homeless young person will receive a safe and warm bed for the night, full mental and physical health checks, education and employment advice, and they will be put onto the system so that they cannot be left behind. Our donation will provide 800 nights of sleep for homeless young people across the country.

The projects – International

14. Caritas Ile Maurice, Mauritius

Poverty in Mauritius is a larger problem than many people realise. A grant of £2,921 will provide new toilets and sanitary facilities for families to improve their health and well-being. Women and children will no longer be required to use their neighbours’ facilities, which often puts them in vulnerable situations.

15. ActionAid Bangladesh, India

The Happy Homes project will continue to receive £2,500 per month to support 150 girls aged between 6 and 18 years old. Each girl is given the opportunity to have a safe, educated and fulfilled upbringing to give them the best start once they leave Happy Home.

16. Rebuilding Thangpalkot1, Nepal

This Nepalese village, along with vast areas of country was flattened by the devastating April 2015 earthquake. We are working to build homes for the 86 families who have lived in temporary shacks and tents for the last three years. Each house costs £1,800 to build. This funds the materials and the transport for the supplies from Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, to the hillside village. We will continue our support of the village by organising expeditions such as October 2017, May 2018 and October 2018. To be part of the action, please contact foundation@fineandcountry.com or call +44(0)20 3368 8221.

Autumn grant season

The next round of applications will open from 1st-31st October 2018 for registered homeless charities across the world to apply for up to £15,000 of funding. For more information about our grant programme, please click here. Please note that we are in the process of updating the application form which will be ready shortly. 

Help us fill our grant pot by taking part in one of our fantastic fundraising events. See our full list of event this year here, or organise a bespoke event by contacting foundation@fineandcountry.com or call +44(0)20 3368 8221.

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