New research from Turn2us, part of the national charity Elizabeth Finn Care, has revealed a stark lack of awareness of the support available through charitable grants amongst those aged over 55 in financial hardship, and the measures they are taking before seeking help.
Over three-fifths (61%) of Turn2us website users aged 55 and over said they were completely unaware of charitable grants before finding out about this help through Turn2us.
Worryingly, more than two-fifths (41%) had been struggling financially for over a year before checking what support could be available to them.
As a result of their situation, over three-fifths (61%) have been forced to cut back on food and heating, and almost two-fifths (39%) had to rely on the financial support of family and friends. In addition, a third (33%) have resorted to using credit cards to pay for bills and other essentials.
Turn2us has released these new research findings to coincide with the launch of its grants awareness campaign ‘Go for a Grant’. The campaign is encouraging anyone in financial hardship to use the free online Turn2us Grants Search tool to check their eligibility for grants and other support depending on their particular needs and circumstances.
There are over 3,000 grant-giving charities available in the UK, distributing £288 million in grants and services to individuals in need every year. Each charitable fund is set up to assist people on low incomes according to their current or previous occupation, the area they live or for a specific health condition or disability.
Individuals who have used our Grants Search tool have seen an average annual income increase of over £2,400 in regular charitable grants and over £550 in one-off grants.
The ‘Go for a Grant’ campaign is being supported by a number of charities across the UK to increase awareness of the help available to those in need. As part of the campaign, Turn2us is also releasing a new research report providing insights in to how the grant-giving charity sector operates and plans for future developments.
For more information about the campaign, please visit www.turn2us.org.uk.
