Changing Vulnerable Lives
We’ve helped people in need for over 140 years; our work remains as vital as ever.
Since 1876 Charity Link has been working to ensure that people in need are warm, safe and fed and have the basics in life that we all deserve. We believe that until these basic needs are met, it is simply not possible for people to move forward and reach their full potential.
Whatever crisis, illness, disability or difficulty someone is facing, we aim to be there to ensure that individuals and families in financial hardship throughout Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire receive help. This is only possible with the support of the local community.
We help thousands of people every year, a third of which are children and young people. And, behind every statistic, there is a personal - and sometimes heart-breaking - story. Your support really does change lives.
Debbie suffers with a number of health conditions, which make daily life and caring for her young child a real challenge. Previously working as a cleaner, Debbie now receives her income through Universal Credit and Child Benefit as she is…
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Mia lives with her teenage son. She has serious mobility issues which prevent her from taking up paid work and the limited benefits the family receives leave very little after daily essentials are purchased – particularly in the current cost…
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Arlene was referred to us by a council advisor in need of support. Arlene had gone through an extremely difficult time. She had become homeless after being cuckooed by a criminal gang that took over her property and left her…
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Rhea was referred to us by another charity. Rhea has a number of health conditions and lives with a learning disability. Her teenage daughter has also been diagnosed with mental health conditions which makes daily life challenging. Rhea is unable…
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Nita lives alone and suffers from a range of long-term health conditions, including osteoarthritis. She lives in constant pain and struggles with her mobility. Nita was referred by her tenancy support worker who realised she had no storage in her…
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Zard and his family have been struggling. With four children to look after, including one child with a disability, and being unable to work for the past two years due to a heart condition, Zard and his wife are in…
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Jack and Kirsti have spent long periods sleeping rough. They were referred to us by a homeless charity as they have recently been supported in moving into a new local authority tenancy. This gives the opportunity of a more settled…
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Simone was referred to us by a Welfare Support Officer. She is now caring for her three children on her own since her partner left the family and she has been struggling to cope with all the pressures this presents.…
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Lee, who is in his fifties, was referred to us for help by a local charity as he was in desperate need of a fridge freezer and a washing machine. Lee has worked all his adult life but at the…
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Kim was a teacher but, as a single mum, she moved to a different role so she could meet the childcare needs of her daughter, who is now 11, and this meant a reduction in her income. With the rising…
Read MoreIn the last three months together, we have helped 1791 people, including 761 children and provided £286,665 of support.
That's 1643 items to help improve vulnerable people's lives.
66
417
223
27
438
252
In the last three months together, we have helped 1778 people, including 717 children and provided £535,349 of support.
133
392
213
75
That's 2053 items to help improve vulnerable people's lives.
437
299
Who we help
Charity Link helps people of all ages and backgrounds who find themselves in financial hardship, including:
- Frail elderly people
- Victims of domestic violence
- Carers
- People with a chronic illness or disability
- Those facing mental health issues
- People impacted by job losses or those in low paid work or on zero hour contracts
- People who have been affected by family breakdown or bereavement
- Those in crisis, such as after a fire in the home
- Working families struggling to make ends meet
- Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic we have also helped thousands of people who have been directly impacted (including those who have lost jobs and livelihoods and those who are struggling due to long-COVID). Read our COVID Impact Review which outlines all we achieved together during the first year of the pandemic. Our Impact Review (found in our Downloads section) also provides further information.
- People finding themselves in need due to the cost of living crisis
Where we work
Charity Link began helping people in need in Leicester in 1876. In 1975 we expanded our work across all of Leicestershire and Rutland and in 2012 we further expanded to help those in need in Northamptonshire.
The support we offer
We help by providing everyday items that the majority of us take for granted, such as clothing, a bed to sleep in, a cooker to prepare a hot meal, and, in emergencies, food. These items may not cost much, but they can make a massive difference to people’s lives, both immediately and long term. They can help restore dignity, independence, hope for the future, and enable people to fulfil their potential in life.
How we work
We work with over 250 local organisations that are out in the community working with individuals and families in need. We support these organisations, along with professionals working with those in need (teachers, GPs etc.), to assist them in referring clients to us for support via our application process. Working in this way keeps our overheads to a minimum, increases the efficiency of our services and ensures that we get the help to those who need it when they need it most. Once a referral is received, we act immediately. If the need is urgent we can help the same day.
OUR UNIQUE SERVICE: TURNING YOUR £10 DONATION INTO £50 OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS
Our dedicated team have an expert knowledge (gained over our long history) of the thousands of benevolent funds and charitable trusts in the UK that have money to assist people in need.
This means that for every £10 donated (which funds our vital casework service), we can raise £50 from charitable trusts that are available to help people in need – 100% of that £50 goes directly to provide essential items.
Once we have obtained the necessary funding for a client, we purchase the goods so desperately needed and deliver them direct and install them if required (often via our social enterprise, The Goods Depot).
Every pound you raise or donate really will change lives.
For every £10 you donate we can raise £50 from charitable trusts.
£5
= £25
£10
= £50
£30
= £150
£100
= £500
All of that £50 goes directly to provide essential items for people in need,
meaning your kind gift really will change lives.
For every £10 you donate we can raise £50 from charitable trusts.
All of that £50 goes directly to provide essential items for people in need,
meaning your kind gift really will change lives.
£5
= £25
£30
= £150
£10
= £50
£100
= £500
"For me in these tough times you have been a huge help. I am extremely grateful – without you guys I would have really struggled. Thank you.”
