Berkeley Foundation Launches £300,000 Fund for Homelessness Charities

The Berkeley Foundation offering homelessness charities access to £300000 of further funding

The Berkeley Foundation has launched their Resilience Fund for 2024, offering homelessness charities access to an extra £300,000 of funding to help improve their operations.

Up to 6 organisations working in London, Birmingham or the South of England will be awarded up to £60,000 each over 2 years.

This year the organisational development grants will be available for charities and CICs working with young people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness and discrimination.

The Resilience Fund was launched in 2021 in response to the ever increasing financial pressures and demands faced by many small to medium-sized charities as the UK emerged from the Covid pandemic. Unlike some grant programmes, the funds can be invested in a charity’s foundations, thus ensuring they can meet their long-term goals when tackling homelessness.

The Resilience Fund comes with full wraparound support to help small to medium-sized charities and CIC's build their resilience to challenges. Such as improving governance, people power, financial planning, systems, or strategies.

As well as The Resilience Fund, successful applicants will have access to the Berkeley Foundation’s bespoke learning programme, and pro bono support from the wider Berkeley Group.

This announcement follows 2 successful years of resilience funding from the Berkeley Foundation, as part of their commitment to investing £300,000 in the programme every year, for 3 years.

Sally Dickinson, Head of the Berkeley Foundation, said:

“We know that many homelessness charities are facing mounting challenges, as demands on their vital services have increased. Our Resilience Fund helps our partners to get the building blocks right, and from there, it’s astounding what they are able to achieve.”

Martin Cosarinsky Campos, Director at Breadwinners Foundation, said:

“With the support from the Berkeley Foundation Resilience Fund in 2022/23, Breadwinners was able to increase our income by 43% and consequently, grow our impact by 20%, supporting 119 young refugees through our programmes. Our collaboration also led to the growth and advancement of the staff team and our innovative approach and impact were recognised through multiple awards.”

The funding model is based on long-term partnerships with a small number of charities. Working closely with real experts to make a difference in five impact areas: providing everyone with a safe place to call home, preparing young people for employment, supporting health and wellbeing, empowering young people to support themselves and their communities, and building a resilient voluntary sector.

Applications to the Resilience Fund are welcomed before 2 February 2024 via berkeleyfoundation.org.uk/grants