Nick Allardice’s Post

An exciting update on the impact of cash transfers:

Do you know what's more effective than cash transfers? More cash transfers! GiveWell has recently shown that GiveDirectly's approach is now 3-4 times more cost-effective than previous evaluations suggested. This impact empowers recipients with choice, maximizes aid efficiency, saves lives, and reinforces GiveDirectly as a top choice for high-impact giving Full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/dqcRQvhE

Following the brilliant update from the good folks at Data for Action, I've published a new blog summarising the work we have done to date; some of the evidence supporting the case for re-thinking how data collected by charities could be even more transformative; and the exciting new steps ahead of us. Can data collected by poverty relief charities on the need and socio-demographic characteristics of those reaching out for support become a game-changing asset in the fight against hardship and inequality in the UK? #data #innovation #dataforaction #insightinfrastructure #jrf #povertyrelief #inequality #charitysector

If you've ever used charity before, you'll be familiar with these... Whenever I go and see a charity, it is an indicator of how busy the charity is to see how many of these are lying around before it's open. It is usually like a placeholder for guests who use the charity - telling people, this is my trolley, this is where I am in the queue. I've seen places where I have seen literally hundreds of these lined up. It is a damning symbol of something that was created to help carry things. Instead, it is so much more. It is a symbol of need. It's not just used by the elderly as was once popular. Sometimes people will use buggies as placeholders too. But as the need in London grows, so, too, does the competition for the scarce resources available. That is the strange thing. Poverty has always been around, but it's not always been as blatant. Now we are thrust into a world where it is difficult NOT to see poverty. It is difficult to not see the indicators of it. And many charities keep popping up to meet the need - but how do we create a sustainable case for reducing the need entirely? Poverty is going UP by all indicators, not down. Some of that might have to do with inflation, house prices, stagnant wage growth etc - but others are more insidious. For example, the need for all producers to 'over produce'. Or for investments to go into things that do not prevent poverty, like offshore investments etc. Or to promote housing growth but without help for those at the bottom of that ladder to find a way to invest. To not invest in social care services, privatisation etc etc - you probably already know all this. How can we do something about it? We can't always do big things, but we definitely can do small things. - Buy one or two extra things at the supermarket - donate them to the foodbank. - Subscribe to charity newsletters - they'll tell you what they need for donations etc - so the next time you are thinking of decluttering yo can donate instead of chuck. - Volunteer your time. Investigate what is in your area and find out how you can help. This DOESN'T always mean coming & giving out food. It could be, coming in early to pack and then go - it could mean providing specialist support like IT help, sourcing equipment, fundraising, phone support, whatever they need really. Sourcing it and making it happen. - Set up a direct debit - doesn't have to be more than the price of your daily coffee - to whatever charity appeals to you, but check the charity commissions website to see what they spend their money on so you can invest wisely as not all charities are equal. - Research. Find out what is on offer for people. Maybe put it into a word document, send it to your friends and work colleagues so they know what charity is in their area and what might be worth investing in. Carry a list of local foodbanks and soup kitchens on you so you can give them to those less fortunate on the street (if it is of use). #charityhelp

Sadly the cost-of-living crisis is far from over, and #Charities up and down the country are dealing with the effects. Organisations like #CitizensAdvice and #TrussellTrust have been at the forefront of responding to it and providing important evidence about it, which policymakers need to understand. DSC is here to help too, with new research on #Grantmakers that give to individuals. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dneTKU2J

We identified those who are helpless and drew the attention of the Chief Judge of Ogun State to them, resulting in their release. The challenge we are facing now is raising transportation funds for three individuals from Adamawa and Benue states to reunite with their families. Releasing these individuals without proper support would be inappropriate. CJMR Halfway Home supports individuals with housing challenges after their release by providing a safe and supportive environment for them to transition back into society. Some of the ways in which CJMR Halfway Home offers assistance include: 1. Temporary Housing: CJMR Halfway Home provides temporary housing for individuals who do not have a place to stay immediately after their release. This service is for the nonindigine who cannot proceed on their journey after release from Court or completed their jail term. This ensures that they have a stable and secure environment to live in while they work on their reintegration. 2. Case Management: The organization offers case management services to help individuals navigate the challenges they may face after release such as where to lay head in the next 24 hours. This includes assistance with finding permanent housing, accessing social services, and developing a plan for their future. 3. Support Services: CJMR Halfway Home offers a range of support services to help individuals rebuild their lives. This may include job training, counseling, educational opportunities, and other resources to help them become self-sufficient. From the halfway house those with special case leave home in the morning to their various places of work and return home in the evening. 4. Reintegration Programs: The organization provides reintegration programs to help individuals adjust to life outside of prison. This may include life skills training, financial literacy education, and other programs to help them successfully reintegrate into society. Overall, CJMR Halfway Home aims to provide comprehensive support to individuals with housing challenges after their release, with the goal of helping them rebuild their lives and become productive members of society. This is the purpose of CJMR Halfway Home - to cater to the needs of those who may face housing challenges after their release, with a focus on proper reintegration processes. We are currently seeking support to raise transportation fare for those who come from a far distance and in preparation for those waiting for Governor amnesty. Support our mission by visiting our website at https://www.cjmr.com.ng and clicking on the donate button. You can donate food items. Laptop or any other Link to your loved ones. God bless you.

◼️ Support for local charity supporting older residents The Executive is being recommended to approve grant funding of up to £7,500 for a local service aimed at improving the physical and mental wellbeing of older residents. Strategic Health and Wellbeing Services (SHAWS) applied to the Community Fund Grant Scheme for £7,500 to expand the provision of Strength and Balance classes at local libraries to residents over 65 years of age with long term health conditions. Surrey Heath Portfolio Holder for Resident Services and Communities, Cllr Lisa Finan-Cooke, said: “This is a positive project from an excellent local charity which is already helping some of the most vulnerable members of our community – extending it will mean it reaches even more people. “Despite finances being tight at the moment, the recommendation to fund the grant is made on the basis that the project will help the council to achieve its strategic aims in relation to ‘Promoting healthier and more inclusive communities’, in particular the key aims of supporting those in greatest need and promoting health and wellbeing.” More information about the item at the Executive meeting of 3 December: https://lnkd.in/e5RgjJTV

The nature of individual giving in this country is changing, as evidenced by the £973 million donated to food banks last year in the UK. That’s an almighty 50% increase from the year before, but why is this shift happening and what does it mean? Well, what it definitely shouldn’t mean is yet more campaigns desperately courting Gen Zs with the tagline “it’s giving” because there have been more than enough of those. The true significance of the average donation increasing from £22 to £32 is that it points to a shift in our national outlook, which has been caused by the Cost of Living crisis. YouGov data shows that 49% of people say the crisis has made them conscious of the giving needs of their local area, while 36% are likely to donate to charities tackling homelessness and food poverty. Covid being followed by the Cost of Living crisis (and 15 years of profound Tory incompetence) has cast local issues in stark relief, inspiring people to donate to those struggling right in front of them. The charity sector needs to take note of this because, if possible, localising how you frame your cause can equip it with far greater cut-through. This is exactly what we did with our recent 360 campaign for Health Equals, highlighting how the life expectancy of babies differs drastically depending on where in the country they’re from. We were able to achieve widespread PR by tackling this issue in a pointedly local way. So, to find out more about how looking closer to home can help your campaign reach further afield, get in contact and let’s have a little chat, why don’t we? #IndividualGiving #CharityMarketing #GenZ

Every charity, government agency, church, and non-profit should be asking whether our projects align with the principle of subsidiarity and respect human agency. *Are we doing for someone what they can and should be doing for themselves?   *Are we helping people become self-reliant, or creating the conditions for dependency? *Does our work or service usurp the role of someone else who should be the main person helping our client?  *Who are the most important relationships in the life of the person we are trying to help? *Are we engaging with those people or perhaps standing in their way?  *If we are running an after-school program tutoring children, how involved are the parents or the extended family of the child? *Are the fathers invited to participate? *Are there programs that might involve and benefit the whole family? *If we are building homes in a poor area, are we hiring or at least involving people in the neighborhood? Ismael Hernandez Seth Kaplan James Whitford Vladimir Snurenco Caleb Whitmer Rachel Ferguson Rachel Wondergem https://lnkd.in/gxKzATFa

The Australian Government has made its first response to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Philanthropy including: >>> Removing the $2 minimum donation rule for tax deductions now every dollar, even those spare cents rounded up at checkout, can make a difference and be tax-deductible. >>>Ancillary funds are also getting a fresh new name and will now be called “giving funds” These simple changes remove some of the friction and confusion around giving and will lend themselves to further incentivising donations both small and large (easier for financial advisors to pitch ‘giving fund’s than explain the nuances of PAFs and PuAFs) - important in building that culture of giving. But that’s not all! To help giving funds do even more good, the government is exploring an increase in their annual distribution rate, ensuring donations reach charities faster while still growing long-term impact. Giving funds will also have more flexibility to spread larger gifts over three years, making it easier to fund big projects that create lasting change. It’s a start, and builds on the significant work they have already done to double giving, and the critical steps they recently took to boost the capacity and capability of Australian community organisations (more details in the comments via the linked Ministerial circular).