In 2008 the Society made grants to 586 regular beneficiaries, and 243 women received one-off grants for specific immediate needs. At the present time, we do not offer assistance for certain purposes including education, holidays or the repayment of loans. Suggestions where to look for help for these and other purposes are listed elsewhere.

We always respect the privacy of applicants; all information is treated with the utmost confidentiality. For this reason we do not publish photographs or names. However, the following examples are based on actual cases where we have been able to provide some help. The photographs are of models, obtained through www.sxc.hu and used courtesy of the photographers.

Miss R is aged 49. For several years she ran her own business, but has had to give this up due to ill-health. She is currently being assessed for Employment and Support Allowance, but meanwhile has to survive on £64.30 per week Income Support, with her rent and council tax paid by Housing Tax Benefit and Council Tax Benefit respectively. Miss R's finances have become very stretched, as repayments of an existing Social Fund loan are deducted from her Income Support. The Society has been able to pay an overdue bill for electricity - without this help her supply would have been disconnected.

 

"Mrs C lives alone in a small rented house"

After her divorce, Mrs C worked for many years as a secretary. She is now aged 80 and lives alone in a small rented house in the North of England. Her pension from her previous employers is only £12.25 per week, and her state pension is £105.58, so she receives Pension Guarantee Credit to top these up to £130.00, plus Pension Savings Credit of £13.10 per week. Her rent and council tax are paid in full by Housing Tax Benefit and Council Tax Benefit respectively.

For security and peace of mind, Mrs C has a telephone. She only makes about £5 worth of calls each quarter, so the line rental element of her bill is disproportionately high. The Society is able to pay this for her, and also to make a monthly allowance of £29.90 towards her day to day living costs. She has no savings, and so this year the Society made an additional needs grant to her of £300.

Mrs J is aged 47. For many years she was physically abused by her husband, and finally she fled the matrimonial home, taking with her just a change of clothing.

After a spell in a women's refuge she is making a fresh start in a different part of the country. She has been rehoused by the local authority, and hopes to find a new job soon. Meanwhile she is receiving Job Seeker's Allowance of £64.30 per week, and her rent and council tax are paid by Housing Tax Benefit and Council Tax Benefit respectively.

Mrs J is too scared to make contact with her husband, and so is unable to obtain any of her personal belongings. The flat she has been allocated is completely unfurnished, and so the Society has helped by purchasing a new electric cooker for her.

Mrs P was widowed when her husband died suddenly three years ago at the age of 59. She receives a widow's pension from his employer of £133.95 per week. She is now aged 59, and having given up her job as a cleaner shortly before her husband's death has been unable to find new employment. The law says she only needs £64.30 per week on which to live, so she does not qualify for Income Support and receives only limited help with her rent and council tax, leaving her with just £74.75 per week on which to live.

The Society pays the line rental element of her telephone bill and also provides her with a television licence. A monthly allowance of £108.25 enables her to buy necessary items which she would otherwise be unable to afford.

Miss S is aged 65. For many years she stayed at home to look after her aged parents. She later worked as a secretary, and she receives both a state pension and Pension Guarantee Credit which total £130.00 per week. In addition, Miss S receives full Council Tax Benefit - her parents left her enough to enable her to buy her flat, but she has no other savings.

The Society makes a grant of £86.50 per month towards living expenses, and pays for her television licence and the rental element of her telephone bill.

 Information correct as at 6 April 2009