2016 proved to be a year of significant change for the Rainy Day Trust.
The charity moved casework provider and became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, but also launched a whole series of new programmes, specifically designed to tackle the impact of low income in our industries.
Whether we like it or not, some people that work in home improvement or are retired from it, are struggling to survive financially. They may be working part-time for whatever reason, or have little in the way of pension provision. They might be battling illness or dealing with redundancy. Whatever the reason, most are in this position not by choice, but by circumstance. That’s where the Rainy Day Trust comes in and last year, the charity began to ratchet up the help that it can give.
The Trust provides financial assistance where and when it is needed and in 2016 the number of people that it helped grew by nearly 20%. The amount of money that we awarded grew by 23%. That means more money to more people.
But offering financial help is just one part of what the Rainy Day Trust now do. If someone needs a new washing machine because they can’t afford it themselves then that’s what the charity is here to do. But now the Trust asks the question, “Why can’t you afford it and what can we do to help you buy it yourself next time?” It isn’t about offering judgement; it’s about offering support to overcome whatever difficulty is acting as a barrier.
That is the reasoning behind designing the Trust’s new services. The Rainy Day Trust now offers free housing advice in partnership with Shelter to cover everything from dealing with difficult landlords, to what to do about mortgage arrears or how to seek help with a boundary issue. The charity has an e-learning package designed to help people re-train or upskill. The Trust supports apprentices to give them a better chance of passing their course and securing a full-time job. Then there’s the winter fuel pack which will service your boiler, and pay towards fuel bills ready for winter. Or what about telephone based counselling offering help dealing with bereavement, anxiety or stress? Finally, the Rainy Day Trust has just launched its new debt advice partnership with the Debt Advice Foundation. They will help callers deal with personal debt, identify the right solution and so reduce stress in the process.
Put all of this together and what you have is a comprehensive package of support that helps people deal with the problems that they can’t bring to work. If they are retired, the Rainy Day Trust can help them overcome those problems that seem insurmountable. Employers gain a happier workforce, less bogged down in those personal issues that can affect productivity and more stability through lower staff turnover. That’s why some of the Rainy Day Trust’s business partners now feature it in their induction packs for new staff, so that the Trust can be there right from the beginning.
For those that we help, there’s just one number to call – 0203 192 0486.
So in 2016 the Rainy Day Trust helped more people, made more grants, delivered more services and built a support pack designed to tackle the effects of poverty. What’s not to like? If you are already a partner and want to work more closely with the Trust, then email chief executive Bryan Clover at bryan@rainydaytrust.org.uk and he’ll come and brief you, your managers and team leaders. If you’re not already a partner and can see that the Trust has a massive amount to offer, then the same thing applies; drop Bryan an email. Charity and business working hand in hand? A model for the future.
Here’s looking forward to 2017 and the difference that the Rainy Day Trust can make. As it says on the Trust’s leaflets, ‘Real solutions for real people’.
