MONEY donated to our Put In A Pound appeal will help Wiltshire Community Foundation support groups working hard in communities where people are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
We are asking readers to donate £1 to the appeal, which is raising money for Wiltshire Community Foundation’s Cost of Living Crisis Fund. Money from the fund goes direct to grass roots charities and voluntary groups who are facing a surge in demand for help during the crisis.
The foundation will be able to increase any reader’s donation to Put In A Pound by 50 per cent through match funding – up to the value of £25,000 – meaning each £1 donated becomes £1.50.
The charity was founded in 1975 and supports hundreds of grass roots charities and voluntary groups across the county with grants every year, matches donors with causes they care about and is Wiltshire’s largest county-based funder.
One of the groups it regularly supports is Wiltshire Citizens advice, which is seeing a huge spike in people coming to it for help. Chief executive Suzanne Wigmore said it has seen a 31 per cent year on year rise in inquiries.
In January 2023 alone its advisors helped 1,033 individuals with 3,974 different issues, with energy debt by far the most common. Other issues include help with food, housing and benefits.
She said: ““Two years ago we were helping people because something had changed their circumstances – like losing a job, having to care for someone or a loved one dying. But now it is people who are doing absolutely everything they can to keep their heads above water but their costs are just going up and their income hasn’t matched it.”
Nationally Citizens Advice says it is helping more than three people every minute with crisis support and January was the highest month on record for the number of people coming to them who couldn’t afford to top up their prepayment energy meter.
Mrs Wigmore said: “This national picture is just the same in Wiltshire, we are seeing five or six people every day who need either emergency charitable support or foodbank support.”
The community foundation’s Joint chief executive Fiona Oliver said: “We are in regular contact with groups and charities dealing with food insecurity, mental health, homelessness, domestic abuse, isolation and loneliness and they all say that they are facing increased demand for their help because of the cost of living crisis.
“Worryingly that is coming just at the time when their own costs are rising as well, which is why this Put In A Pound appeal is so badly needed and warmly welcomed.”
Newsquest Wiltshire editor Daniel Chipperfield said: "It's no secret that when times are hard, it's those most vulnerable that get hit hardest.
"That is why it is so important for those who can spare just a little, do so. Please do what you can and you will not believe the joy and relief you can bring to someone's life."
HOW TO DONATE
There are several ways you can donate.
By credit or debit card by calling 01380 715453 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)
By post, with cheques made payable to Wiltshire Community Foundation, to Sandcliff House, 21 Northgate Street, Devizes, SN10 1JT
Online at bit.ly/putinapound or by scanning this QR code.
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