The foundation, established in 2023, aims to create “a brighter future for individuals and families living in temporary and emergency accommodation”. It does this through providing personal and project grant funding for individual and community needs.
Who does it help?
Grants are available to support individuals and families living in temporary and emergency accommodation in London.
Vulnerable groups the foundation is keen to support includes those facing homelessness, lone mothers and babies, care leavers living independently for the first time, those with mobility issues or a disability, those suffering from mental health issues, and those suffering from addiction issues.
What will it fund?
The foundation says grants can be used to pay for essential items for home or family life, support for training and education, recreational trips for children, or community projects that promote social inclusion and welfare – anything that will fulfil its mission to enhance and enrich people’s lives and wellbeing.
How much is available?
There are two types of grants:
- Project grants for up to £2,000 for organisations
- Individual grants for up to £200 which must be submitted by a referee.
There are three funding rounds throughout the year, with the next round due to open on 30 November for distribution in February 2025.
Applications are made via the foundation’s website and there is a six-stage process culminating in the recipient making a grant report about the impact of the funding.
Why is there a need?
Current figures show the number of families and individuals living in temporary and emergency accommodation in the UK is at a 25-year high. In England alone, more than 109,000 households and 139,000 children are in temporary accommodation – an increase of 10% since last year.
Individuals and families are living without basic necessities. While communities lack facilities that improve health and education. These deficiencies are impacting people’s mental and physical wellbeing while limiting their potential.
The foundation says it is vital that those living in temporary or emergency accommodation receive the support they need.
Who’s been helped?
In the first of three funding rounds for 2024, the foundation provided 38 individual grants and two project grants totalling £10,000 to deliver projects in 21 London boroughs, from Enfield in the north to Croydon in the south.
The project grants have been awarded to two organisations, including Give Youth a Break, a social inclusion and welfare charity offering educational and recreational activities for disadvantaged young people across north London via after school clubs. The funding will provide hot meals for children and young people residing in temporary and emergency accommodation.
Also awarded a project grant is Art4Space, which delivers creative workshops for displaced families living in temporary and emergency accommodation in Lambeth. The workshops encourage creative expression, support with holistic wellbeing, and provide a platform for families to connect with each other.
What’s been said?
Alexandra Taliadoros, director of the Stef & Philips Foundation, says: “We’ve already supported more than 600 children living in temporary and emergency accommodation with Christmas gifts, and now being able to grant £10,000 towards community projects and individual projects is truly incredible.
“To have made such a positive impact in such a short period of time just goes to show how vital this funding is for so many people as we go into the next funding rounds. We are immensely grateful to those who are committed to making a difference to the lives of others and supported the foundation – their generosity made these grants possible.”
- More from: https://stefphilipsfoundation.com
