Grace Cares backs nationwide hardship grant programme
Grace Cares, the not-for-profit on a mission to make care sustainable, have launched a partnership with the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire to support a nationwide hardship grant programme.
The programme supports both health and social care workers and older people in financial difficulty.
Under this new partnership, the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire will administer and manage applications for hardship grants, ensuring that support reaches those most in need across the UK.
The programme will be funded through Grace Cares' sustainable business model of refurbishing and selling pre-loved care equipment.
"We're delighted to join forces with the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire, whose expertise in grant management will help us extend our support to vulnerable individuals nationwide," said Hannah Montgomery, co-founder of Grace Cares.
"This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to make care more sustainable, both environmentally and economically."
The hardship grant programme supports at a critical time for both the care sector workforce and older people in the UK.
The average salary for care workers in the UK remains approximately £20,000 per year, significantly below the national average wage, with many care workers struggling to make ends meet amidst rising living costs.
Nearly two-million pensioners in the UK are living in poverty, representing approximately 18 per cent of people over 70, with many forced to choose between heating and eating during colder months.
An estimated 1.4 million older people in the UK face challenges accessing essential care services due to financial constraints.
"Care workers provide essential support to our most vulnerable, yet many struggle financially themselves," said Joseph Smith, head of business development and philanthropy of the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire.
"Similarly, too many older people find themselves in precarious financial situations after a lifetime of contribution. Grace Cares are looking to address both these pressing social issues simultaneously."
Grace Cares' innovative approach to sustainability involves collecting, refurbishing, and reselling pre-loved care equipment that would otherwise end up in landfill.
This circular economy model not only reduces waste but also makes essential care equipment more affordable while generating funds for social impact initiatives.
Health and social care workers and people over 70 experiencing financial hardship can apply for grants through the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire website starting May 2025.
Grants of up to £350 will be available to help with essential living costs, emergency situations, or specific care-related needs.
For more information, see the Grace Cares website or contact the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire on 01785 339540.
Pictured: From left - Joseph Smith, head of business development and philanthropy at Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire, Pippa Moor, Denny Middleton, Viv Lane of Grace Cares
