How you can help some of the most vulnerable people in our communities
I recently read some statistics* that shocked me about the financial impact of Coronavirus on people in the UK:
- 57% of families with children cannot afford household essentials as a result of their employment being affected by Coronavirus
- 10 million children in the UK are facing financial crisis as their parents have lost income due to the pandemic
- 7 million people in the UK have no savings and could be on the breadline in just 32 days
Our most vulnerable people in the UK face financial crisis. And unless those of us who are more fortunate help, many thousands more will find themselves penniless or in crippling debt that will outlast the virus.
I’ve recently become involved with the charity Turn2Us and speaking to their CEO Thomas Lawson and Namita Harvey, Head of Supporter Development, to understand some of the work they are doing to support the most vulnerable. They not only provide financial support to the most needy, to help them buy essentials, but they also provide advice and guidance on how they can best help themselves going forward. As Thomas told me "The Government's measures will help many people over time, but many people will fall through the cracks before then."
Turn2Us has a target to raise ￡100,000 by the end of June, which will then unlock matched funding worth ￡100,000, which is generously being offered by the Hartz Family Foundation. They've raised ￡25,000 already so need another ￡75,000 to reach their target. Any sum you donate through theBigGive will be matched, effectively doubling your donation.
Please help the most vulnerable in our society at their time of need by helping Turn2Us meet their target.
Thank you.
To view an ITV News video on the financial impact on real people
*Source: Turn2Us
Chief Executive for Turn2us, Chair for Elizabeth Finn Homes Ltd
4 年Thank you Yiannis. You express so crisply and simply the difficulties faced by families and people- and we will each be connected to someone facing this. Our family members, our friends, our colleagues, our neighbours. Turn2us is achieving real positive difference with the quick, emergency grants we make, with essential information about how to navigate our social security system and more.
Thank you so much for your support Yiannis. Providing help to the many families making impossible choices between food and shelter has been critical during lockdown. But as our society begins to open up – and financial support from the government begins to close down – millions are facing the reality of a future where they have no income, diminishing savings, and little hope of returning to the life they had before coronavirus. Turn2us's immediate support allows people a chance to cope and find some hope amidst what are very challenging times. We appreciate all the help!