Do your Bit: Help People in Need This Winter

Vicky Parry 27th Nov 2023 No Comments

Reading Time: 4 minutes

How charity Acts 435 allow you to help people in poverty directly.

Something I have noticed since doing this job is how social groups all seem to be of a similar earning category. My wealthy acquaintances are often surrounded by other wealthy people. Similarly, poverty attracts poverty and the middle class (who seem to get the most visibility – be it via TV shows or the media) often exist in a little middle-class bubble. This leaves us with the age-old question of how to connect the socio-economic groups.

We have seen a real age of social justice campaigners due to the advent of social media. People are asking how they can help others. Often these requests get led to big charity and leave people wondering how much of their cash the people they sent it to actually got. Whilst I know lots of people desperate to help during the cost-of-living crisis – they donate to foodbanks, they try and do their bit – they often don’t know how to offer any additional help.

Christian charity Acts 435 has found a way and 100% of your donation goes to the recipient’s need and you receive a thank you update when the need has been met.

The charity has now been running for an impressive 13 years and has hit a huge milestone, giving £5 million directly to the specific needs of over 45,500 individuals in UK poverty.

Acts 435 resources local churches and charities with the ability to post requests for help for those in their community. Members of the public can then go on to the website and crowdfund for these specific needs, 100% of which are distributed to the individuals.

MoneyMagpie CEO Jasmine Birtles says that they do “exactly what I’ve wanted to do for years – it gives money directly to people who need it, without skimming off a bit from the top, as most other charities seem to do.”

“For years I’ve been wondering how I could connect kind people with money with people who need that money. Finally, I’ve found it through Acts435.”

“But with Acts435 people who want to give directly to a person, or a family that needs a hand with buying a bed for a child or a new washing machine or paying off their energy bills can do it quickly and easily, safe in the knowledge that all of their money will go directly to the person who needs it.

“It’s the best form of retail therapy I’ve ever experienced!”

These requests Jasmine describes help to provide one-off specific needs, such as; white goods, school uniform or travel costs. They provide a helping hand to someone in a crisis or facing hardship. Many are unsure where to turn in these circumstances, and local churches and charities are doing an incredible work seeking to offer a solution but often do not have the budget to help with specific items which is why they partner with Acts 435. One local charity requested help through www.acts435.org.uk with furniture for Katya* who had escaped domestic violence, giving a fresh start. Katya said:

“Words fail me. I don’t know how to thank you for the kindness you have shown towards me and my children. This support has made a huge difference to our lives. The children can sleep safe and sound in their own beds, we can put away our clothes, and have a comfortable sofa to sit on. I can now cook them the food they love and I love cooking for them. This is all down to you. Thank you for everything, I feel I’m getting back to normality now.”

During this time of national crisis, as the cost of living continues to impact many, Acts 435 is thankful to have been able to step into the gap and distribute £5 million in donations directly to the specific needs of individuals who are in genuine need of help, through a network of known churches and charities.

Executive Director, Jenny Herrera, who has been at the helm of the charity since it launched in July 2010, said:

“Acts 435 enables local churches and charities to access help for the people they are working with, but more than that, it gives people who want to help a direct, cost-efficient and effective way to meet the needs of people struggling in our nation at this time. The act of showing generosity to those less fortunate than ourselves is still alive and well in the UK and it is a privilege to have channelled five million pounds of such generous giving right to the source of the need, bringing huge impact into the lives of so many.“

So if you want to genuinely help someone out this Christmas, or to pass on an act of kindness as a Christmas gift for someone who doesn’t need presents, then go over to the website and see who you can help today.

This article was written with the help of Acts 435 as part of a ProBono partnership with Jasmine Birtles and MoneyMagpie