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Grants in 2009

During the year ended 31 December 2009 the Society made grants to 545 regular beneficiaries, and 219 women received one-off grants for specific immediate needs. The total value of grants made to individuals was £748,511. It also made grants totalling £46,600 to other organisations working for the benefit of women in need (see below). The Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year and the shorter Annual Review can be viewed or downloaded.

Grants to other organisations

Applications from other organisations for funding in 2010 have now closed.

The following grants were approved in 2009:

A grant of £5,000 has been made to Signpost Stockport For Carers. This is to cover the core costs of a Carers Liaison worker for 8 hours a week, who will help women to complete Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Carers Allowance benefit forms. The Carers Liaison project has been ongoing for the last 5 years, and has brought in total benefits of over £3 million for the carers in Stockport.

A grant of £13,700 has been agreed for Derbyshire Unemployed Workers' Centres, to cover the core costs of a part-time a female welfare rights worker to support single female pensioners. Often these older women are wary of inviting male advice workers into their homes, and are too embarrassed to discuss benefit forms with them, especially where these call for personal details such as ailments. The post has been advertised and should shortly be filled.

A grant of £27,900 has been agreed for Manchester Action on Street Health, towards the core costs of providing opportunities for learning to female sex workers. The project will provide a safe environment in which women can learn new skills that will provide a pathway for them to mainstream employment.