The Neighbourly Warm Communities Fund (via the Neighbourly Foundation, charity 1189514) has been set up to support the charities and community groups in its network providing ‘warm banks’, food donations and low-cost-to-prepare food items.

Individuals and organisations can make donations to this fund which will be distributed over the winter period and beyond. The campaign will be “needs-led” with micro-grants provided to causes that are delivering meaningful and sustainable support for communities most affected.

Watch the video on the left to see the impact of Neighbourly's last major community fund in 2020, which benefitted over 3,000 good causes and 1M people during the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to the support of businesses like Southern Co-op, M&S, Aldi, Danone and giffgaff.

Millions of people will be seeking extra support from their communities over the winter months ahead.

The Neighbourly Community - a network representing over 24,000 local charities and good causes - has raised concern around the shortfall in support versus the increased need:

• 50% are planning to provide "warm banks" this winter - 23% for the first time
• 65% have a seen a drop in financial donations
• 63% are aiming to provide more food that requires little or no energy to prepare
• The average energy bill for community charities is expected to rise by 119% (£7,600 pa to £16,700)

What makes the Neighbourly Foundation Warm Communities Fund unique is in it's ability to reach thousands of small charities and community groups, supporting local communities in the areas most impactful to them.

The fund will be distributed across these groups as micro-grants. Just one £400 grant has the potential to:

• Provide 230 meals to struggling families and children
• Contribute to escalating energy bills for locally run spaces, community centres and warm banks
• Provide warm clothing, blankets and other resources to those most in need
• Help re-stock a food bank with long-life and 'no-cook' staples