Cost of living support: Grantmakers going the extra mile

For around five years, the cost of living crisis has affected households across the UK. According to a ONS survey conducted in April 2026, it continues to be one of the most pressing issues, with 96% of respondents aged between 16 and 29 and 83% of respondents over 70 reporting concerns. 

Low-income households and marginalised communities are disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis. Jess and Kalli, DSC Senior Researchers, have created a list of charities that offer support (financial and non-financial) to people in need. 

Children and younger people 

It is estimated that 4.5 million children in the UK experience poverty, with 7 in 10 lacking essential items and food security. Here are some funders that support children and younger people. 

Buttle UK offers grants of up to £2,400 that go directly to eligible children or younger people in financial need to help with the purchase of essential items, including furniture, school uniforms and laptops.  

Cash for Kids, the official charity of Bauer Media, offers ‘Impact’ grants between £1,000 and £3,000 to families and individual children affected by poverty that live in one of the 23 Bauer radio areas in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It also offers grants of £50 per child per household to those unable to provide emergency essentials, such as clothing, school uniform and food. 

Family Action awards educational grants of around £250 to students across the UK that study in publicly funded further education institutions and receive means-tested benefits. 

Older People 

According to Age UK, nearly 2 million older people live in poverty, with one in four struggling to manage financially. The funders below focus on support for older people impacted by the rising cost of living. 

Friends of the Elderly provides grants to older people, over the state pension age, living on low incomes in England or Wales. Applicants should have savings under £4,000. Most grants are up to £600 and can be used for essential expenses such as unexpected bills and food. Applications can be made via referral from a professional or directly by the individual through the charity’s website.  

There are charities that provide tailored support to older women, who experience higher poverty rates than men. On average, women have lower retirement incomes, which reflects inequalities in lifetime earnings and pension savings.  

The St Andrews Society for Ladies in Need provides grants to older women near or at retirement age who can’t work due to illness or disability. It prioritises women who live alone with limited savings, already receiving all state support, and who have some level of education. Prospective applicants are encouraged to get in touch with the charity for an informal chat. These grants can cover everyday expenses, one-off items like white goods, or help an older woman stay in her own home. 

The Sawyer Trust supports women over 50 in need, covering expenses such as bills, rent and white goods. Applicants can live anywhere in the UK, may live alone or with family/friends, and are eligible regardless of marital status. Applications must be supported by a third party, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or a housing association. 

Health 

People experiencing poverty are more likely to report poorer health. Incidentally, the cost of living crisis may further exacerbate health inequalities and prevent some people from accessing specialist equipment or prescriptions. Here are a few funders who can help people with specific health needs. 

Cost of Cancer helps people with cancer that are actively undergoing treatment to cover costs like hospital travel and increased fuel bills. To enquire about funding, you can submit a form via their website. For further support, check out Macmillan Cancer’s directory of resources. 

The Motor Neurone Disease Association runs several funds to support individuals affected by Motor Neurone Disease and their families. Eligible individuals can receive up to £4,000 a year. Financial support can go towards food costs, specialist equipment and adaptations to homes. Applications must be supported by a qualified health and/or social care professional.  

People with disabilities or affected by ill health that are on low income and in receipt of state welfare could be eligible for financial support from the League of the Helping Hand. Applications must be made by third party sponsors, like social workers or healthcare professionals.  

Homelessness 

Crisis research published in 2022 reported that families below the poverty line “[face] an average £372 deficit between their Local Housing Allowance and the cost of the cheapest rents in their local areas”. Households that are already unable to meet their rising rents are at increasing risk of homeless. The following grant-makers provide funding to support people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. 

St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity awards emergency grants to help people across the UK who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Support helps individuals access accommodation and purchase essentials. Applications must be made through a support worker. 

For more advice and resources, please visit Shelter’s website. 

Occupation based support 

People in employment are also affected by the cost of living. There are charities that provide support to people employed or who have worked in specific sectors. Here are some examples. 

The Charity for Civil Servants supports current, former or retired civil servants or their dependents who are in need and have less than £6,000 in savings. Grants go towards unexpected costs such as essential home items, moving costs, funeral expenses, financial pressures arising from ill health, and, in some cases, household arrears. Applications can be made through the website. 

GroceryAid provides grants to those who work or have previously worked in the grocery industry in the UK, such as supermarkets, wholesalers and manufacturers. Grants are given to help in circumstances where there has been an unexpected drop in income that affects the ability to pay priority bills, such as a traumatic event, a disability or illness in the household, or those generally struggling with the cost of living for those who receive universal credit. Applications can be made on the website 

Professionals Aid Guild supports professionals and graduates in the UK who are in need. Grants are available for a range of purposes, like essential living costs and household support. Grants can also be given towards the education of eligible applicants’ children for school uniforms, books and travel costs. Application forms can be completed on the website. 

If you would like more information about what support is out there for specific professions, contact DSC’s research team.  

Community Foundations 

UK Community Foundations is a network of local funders across the UK that make grants to charities and community groups within their local areas. Each branch manages multiple funds, some of which offer financial and non-monetary support to individuals in need. Please note that the type of support available varies branch to branch.a network of local funders across the UK that make grants to charities and community groups within their local areas. Each branch manages multiple funds, some of which offer financial and non-monetary support to individuals in need.  

To see what support for individuals is available in your community, and what the eligibility criteria is, contact your local branch.   

Utilities 

In 2025, an estimated 7 million adults struggled to pay at least one bill. This trend persists into 2026, with energy bills potentially rising by £209 on average and water bills going up by around 5% on average. Support is out there if you are in financial hardship struggling to pay your bills. 

The Fuel Bank Foundation provides emergency support in a fuel crisis. You should also check with your energy provider, as they may provide money management advice and small grants to customers that are in financial hardship. For example, the British Gas Energy Trust offers grants to customers of any energy supplier who are on low income and who need to clear outstanding debt.  

Water suppliers like United Utilities manage their own charitable fund that makes grants to customers who cannot meet their water charges or who need assistance with the purchase of essential items like white goods. Contact your supplier to see if they offer hardship grants. There is also the WaterSure scheme, which helps households in receipt of benefits by capping water bills. 

Other areas of support 

The Vegetarian Charity helps vegetarians or vegans under 26 in need of educational or social welfare support. Parents or guardians can apply on behalf of a child, provided the grant benefits that child. To verify vegetarian or vegan status, two references are required. Applications can be made via the website. 

The National Zakat Foundation supports UK Muslims with grants for expenses like food and clothing. Grants can also help individuals access accommodation by assisting with rent, council tax arrears and moving costs. Additionally, the foundation’s Empowerment Programme helps beneficiaries gain access to essential skills, qualifications, and employment opportunities. Applications and more details are available on the website. 

Getting support 

Please note that this list is not exhaustive. There are lots of charitable organisations out there that offer cost of living support and advice.  

Check out the rest of our cost of living hub, available on our website, which contains further useful resources. DSC’s internal Wellbeing Team’s latest article offers some tips on managing rising costs and summarises the government’s response to the effect of the cost of living crisis. 

For fundraisers that are looking for a tool to help individuals and families access financial support, DSC’s Research Team curated the The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need. The directory contains details of around 1,800 grant-making charities giving almost £376 million in grants to individuals who need it most.  

For access to an even larger range of potential funders, we also have Funds Online. This database contains details of over 8,000 funders that have the potential to give away billions of pounds to both organisations and individuals.