Cosaraf: Hardship Grants

Overview

The Foundation delivers its objectives through the following key approaches:

• Major Grants. The trustees acknowledge the value of working with trusted third parties to deliver projects in line with its priorities to maximise the impact of its support and where other organisations have greater expertise. THIS FUND IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING FURTHER APPLICATIONS.
• Hardship Grants. The Foundation administers a small grants and donations programme to individuals and families in financial need. They provide grants up to £500, although larger grants can be made exceptionally. Applications can only be made by recognised social organisations such as charities, housing associations, schools and social services acting on behalf of a family or individual in need.

Hardship Grants

Grants of up to £2,000 are available to charities, housing associations, schools, and social services providing support for individuals and families; in exceptional circumstances individual grants will exceed £500.

The Foundation distributes both Zakat and Sadaqah funds; please read their Zakat Distribution Policy for more information.

• Sadaqah funds are available for all people of all faiths and none.
• Zakat funds are only available for Muslim applicants.

To be eligible for a small grant or donation, the following criteria must be met.

Priorities

The Foundation’s trustees give priority to:

• the most financially excluded people
• families over individuals
• those with caring responsibilities
• items that will make the most difference to the individual/family’s long-term future

What they fund

Other than in exceptional cases, Hardship Grants will only be made available for:

• Household items (white goods and occasionally other items i.e. sofas, wardrobes etc.)
• Basic Living Expenses (Utilities or food)
• Work- or education-related expenses (interview clothes, school uniforms, laptops)
• Rent arrears and Council tax arrears, but only where there is a clear and obvious risk of homelessness (for rent arrears involving a social landlord please outline what support has already been offered to your tenant)
• Contribution to immigration-related costs, where the current immigration status directly causes financial hardship to the applicant

Applications are assessed every six weeks and you can expect a response within eight weeks of your application.

Application Notes

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are taking advantage of all support offered by local services, including the referring social organisation. Other sources of funding must have been exhausted.
• Applications will only be accepted where they are made on an individual’s behalf by a third-party social organisation (e.g. charity, public body, social landlord, voluntary organisation, school etc.) acting as a referral partner, with a supporting statement from the organisation. They are unable to help individuals source a referral partner.
• The referral partner must remain involved in the application and award process from start to finish and they must be able to manage the disbursal of grants if awarded.
• Grants are only paid via reimbursement of receipts, so the referral partner must be able to make payments in advance in order to be reimbursed.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are taking advantage of all support offered by local services, including the referring social organisation. Other sources of funding must have been exhausted.
• The Foundation provides Hardship Grants to individuals in need. Some of the Foundation’s Hardship Grant fund is restricted to Muslims as it relates to Zakat donations (see Guidance for more information).