We’re privileged to contribute to the incredible work of charities on the frontline making a difference. The latest grants are helping seven organisations to support Ukrainian evacuees arriving in the UK and Ireland.
We responded quickly to the crisis in Ukraine by awarding an initial £250,000 to charities on the ground in Eastern Europe. This was followed by a further £250,000 donation in June 2022. With over 140,000 Ukrainian evacuees already in the UK and Ireland, we’re now responding to the urgent needs of these vulnerable people who have arrived without basic English language skills, accommodation, adequate clothing and food.
Speaking with charities working directly with evacuees has demonstrated that many churches, dioceses and Christian charities are at the forefront of providing vital support. By March 2022, over 500 churches had pledged to support Ukrainian evacuees coming to the UK under the government's humanitarian sponsorship route – this number continues to grow weekly.
To assist these frontline organisations, the Board of Trustees has awarded a total of £500,000 in grants to:
• Church Urban Fund (CUF) – £140,000 funding will help CUF to run a grants scheme on the Trust’s behalf, awarding funding between £500 and £5,000 to churches and registered Christian charities in England who are supporting Ukrainian evacuees to resettle.
• Love Your Neighbour (LYN) – A £140,000 grant will support LYN’s ‘Love Ukraine’ grants scheme, which launched in April 2022. Trust funding will enable LYN to scale the scheme further across its network of church hubs in the UK, helping to provide both emergency and longer-term support to Ukrainian evacuees as they arrive, including clothing, food, toys, advice clinics, employment support and language lessons to help them successfully settle in the UK.
• Baby Basics – Baby Basics has grown to be the largest network of baby banks in the UK, providing much-needed essentials for babies and their families. So far, the charity has supported over 1,820 Ukrainian children and families, and with a grant of £50,000, it will be able to do even more.
• Sanctuary Foundation– The Sanctuary Foundation is a newly formed charity, established in February 2022 as a rapid response initiative to inspire families, individuals, churches, community groups and businesses to welcome Ukrainian evacuees to the UK. £20,000 funding will support training for evacuee hosts, so that they have the resources they need to open their doors to vulnerable families.
• The Church of Ireland - £85,000 will support The Church of Ireland to run a grants scheme on behalf of the Trust. The Church of Ireland has already identified a number of projects within its parishes involved in supporting the integration, accommodation and safety needs of Ukrainian evacuees – all of which need vital funding support.
• The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland – £40,000 will also help The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland to operate a grants scheme to help projects working to support Ukrainian evacuees.
• The Irish Red Cross (IRC) – The IRC is the main agency supporting Ukrainian evacuees arriving in Ireland. In April, the charity took over an 8,000 square foot warehouse in Dublin, which has been kitted out to provide basic language skills, arts and crafts for children, Irish dance and yoga, and serves as a general meeting place for Ukrainian evacuees. The site also includes a computer centre and offers psychosocial support and help with resettlement and future employment in the area. £25,000 from the Trust will help replicate the warehouse model across other sites in Ireland.
Lesley King-Lewis, Benefact Trust Director, said: “We’re overwhelmed by the level of support churches and charities are providing for Ukrainian evacuees, who are arriving with nothing but the clothes on their back, scared for their futures. We’re proud to partner with these organisations to make a real difference to the lives of children, individuals and families who have experienced such devastation.”
Rachel Whittington, Group CEO, Church Urban Fund said: “Church Urban Fund would like to thank Benefact Trust for supporting our work equipping local churches to welcome refugees arriving from Ukraine and Afghanistan.
“This generosity will help us increase our support for churches who want to take action locally, but lack funding and other resources. Together, we will continue to provide practical support – food, clothing, and hygiene items – as well as trusted tools and training to help connect refugees with the local community and build networks of lasting support.”
The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop John McDowell, said: “On behalf of the Church of Ireland, I would wish to pass on our heartfelt thanks to Benefact Trust for the generous financial support they have provided to help Ukrainian refugees who have arrived here in Ireland. Our partnership with Benefact Trust is also a recognition that, with parishes which together cover the whole of the island, the Church of Ireland is well placed to identify local needs.”
