THE NATIONAL BENEVOLENT CHARITY

We've been making welfare grants to people in the UK for over 200 years. We are one of only a handful of charities in the UK which helps those over 18 and is not restricted by age, gender, ethnicity or previous employment. This means that we reach far and wide and often those people who do not "fit" other types of help. The people who come to us have suffered a life changing event, illness or incident or a breakdown in the benefits system which has left them in dire circumstances and often in destitution.  Two thirds of our applicants are women, many with caring responsibilities and the majority of all applicants are under 40. Our grants are sometimes the only source of help they can find and act as a lifeline - the difference between eating a decent meal or buying school uniform, paying for heating or having a bed to sleep on.

We are light touch, fast, practice due diligence and are respected by referrers as a place of last resort for their clients. We get the grants ( money or goods) direct to people in need. 

Our staffing overheads are covered by our existing funds, so every penny donated goes straight to recipients and their families.

Our guiding values are that we are open to respond to individuals needs and circumstances, we are compassionate, never forgetting that people are at the heart of what we do and that we collaborate with others to make a greater difference. 

We believe that no one plans to be destitute and most people would prefer to live in a society where the gap between rich and very poor is not so great.