The Skinners’ Benevolent Trust

Skinners’ Benevolent Trust provides immediate-needs crisis grants of up to £250, for individuals and families to purchase essential household items. Funding is available only in specific circumstances, and for those living in specific areas (certain London boroughs and West Kent). For applications that significantly exceed £250, we can make a pledge grant i.e. a grant towards the total amount of funding sought.

We do not accept applications from individuals directly. Applications can only be made on behalf of the individual by a support agency - such as social and support services, housing associations, refuge and rehabilitation organisations, and local charities.

Support agencies need to identify specific item(s), either from our Preferred Supplier (brochure supplied with application form), or from a retailer of your choice (for items not available via our Preferred Supplier).

Grants are paid either directly to our Preferred Supplier, or to the support agency. For payments to support agencies, agencies will need to have a facility to receive and monitor the grant to ensure funds are spend on the items agreed.

Funding Criteria

We can consider you for funding if you experience one or more of the following circumstances:

Experiencing mental health challenges
In recovery from substance/alcohol use
A victim of domestic violence
In receipt of a state retirement pension
Physical disability or chronic illness
A family with dependent age children on a very low income

Eligible Areas

We can consider you for funding if you live in the following areas:

The City of London (The ‘Square Mile’)
The London Boroughs of Camden, Enfield, Hackney, and Hounslow
West Kent (Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells)
Romney Marsh (Kent only)

We Don't Fund

The Skinners' Benevolent Trust will not fund the following:

Applications made directly by individuals
Computer or mobility equipment
Debts, payment of utility bills, building works/modifications
Items that have already been purchased
Requests from people who have received a grant in the previous two years

Applications

Applications can be submitted at any time and are considered on a monthly basis, depending on what funds are available. To apply, support agencies should contact our grants team for an application form. In very urgent circumstances it is possible to consider applications outside of the normal monthly cycle.

If the application is successful we will be in touch to discuss the conditions on which the grant has been made.

Awards

If an award is made, the terms of our grant will be included with notification of our decision. This will include end of year monitoring which we require that you return following your grant.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact us:

E: charitiesadmin@skinners.org.uk | T: 020 7213 0562

The Skinners' Benevolent Trust is a registered charity: number 1132640