Aviva’s offer to help charities through crisis

an effort to help tackle the financial pressures being brought on by the cost-of-living crisis, the Aviva Community Fund has launched an additional £2million funding for causes supporting financial wellbeing in their communities.

Non-profit organisations can now apply to the Aviva Community Fund and receive matched funding for public donations.

The extra financial support is aimed at helping people take control of their wellbeing by giving them tools to be more financially independent.

This is the first time the Aviva

Community Fund, a key part of delivering Aviva’s Sustainability Ambition, has pledged extra financial support within a three-month window.

It comes in response to the increased demand charitable organisations are facing to help those struggling with cost-of-living pressures.

Research conducted by Aviva found that almost half of employed people (43%) did not feel financially on track for the future and 65% felt they were “just getting by financially”.

This emphasises the increased pressure that will be placed on charitable causes as more people start to require their support.

The Aviva Community Fund helps registered charities or social enterprises with an income of up to £2million and which are looking to raise up to £50,000.

The Fund has raised over £5.1million for UK causes doing vital work in their communities since 2019. This includes organisations like Future Skills, which delivers City and Guilds Functional Skills English and Mathematics and Employability Skills to people who have experienced disadvantage of opportunity and require support to gain employment.

Carol Clayson, from Future Skills, said: “The cost of the qualification on the employability skills is around £12. For functional skills English and Maths, it’s about £18.

“We worked with two young men who both wanted to go to college but needed to have these qualifications. For £36 we helped them to get their English and

Maths and they’ve since started college.” Jude Brooks, Aviva’s head of communities, said: “As rising living costs see more people struggle to make ends meet, we know non-profit organisations are seeing donations decline at the same time as demand increases.

“We’re inviting local causes to apply to the Aviva Community Fund so they can continue supporting their communities at this difficult time.

“If you know of an organisation helping people in financial need, now is the opportunity to double your fundraising efforts.”

For more information, or to apply, visit www.avivacommunityfund.co. uk/costoflivingboost

Libby Sharp

Aviva