Foundations Independent Living Trust Limited

Charity Number: 1103784

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £373,539 (income 2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Fast-tracked for urgent cases
  • Grant Range: £199 average grant (National Gas Safety Hardship Fund)
  • Geographic Focus: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
  • Application Method: Through Home Improvement Agency caseworkers only

Contact Details

Website: www.filt.org.uk

Email: info@filt.org.uk

Phone: 0300 124 0316

Note: Individuals cannot apply directly. Applications must be made by Home Improvement Agency (HIA) caseworkers on behalf of clients.

Find Your Local HIA: www.findmyhia.org.uk

Overview

Foundations Independent Living Trust Limited (FILT) is a registered charity (1103784) founded as the charitable arm of Foundations, the UK Government-appointed national body for Home Improvement Agencies in England. FILT operates by distributing Corporate Social Responsibility and charity funds to Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs), Care and Repair offices in Scotland, and Care & Repair Cymru in Wales, enabling caseworkers to provide invaluable support measures to older and vulnerable people.

In 2023-24, FILT had a total income of £373,539 and expenditure of £457,208. The organisation's mission is to relieve persons in need, particularly the elderly, disabled or unemployed, by providing or assisting in the provision of home improvements. FILT's delivery model focuses on providing fast and effective service through local delivery partners who assess customer need and carry out necessary work, helping people feel warm, safe and well in their own homes.

The Trust was previously chaired by Baroness Elizabeth (Kay) Andrews OBE (2010-2014), who became FILT's first patron in 2015, demonstrating high-level support from figures with significant expertise in social housing and heritage sectors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

National Gas Safety Hardship Fund

Partnership with Gas Safe Charity since 2013. Average grant: £199

  • Purpose: Gas safety interventions including replacement, repair and servicing of dangerous, faulty gas appliances and installations
  • Recent allocation: £275,000 with additional £50,000 available
  • Impact: Over 1,000 small grants provided, often matched by others
  • Delivery: Through HIA network in England; Care and Repair offices in Scotland; Care & Repair Cymru in Wales

Health Through Warmth (HTW) Crisis Fund

Applied for by HIA caseworkers in England on behalf of clients

  • Eligibility: Clients meeting HTW scheme criteria, resident in England (excluding Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Merseyside, Halton and certain other areas)
  • Funding covers: Draught proofing, reflector radiator panels, boiler and central heating system replacement

Warm at Home Programme

Previously operated programme (evaluation published 2016)

  • Scale: £637,000 programme helping 3,600 people over 12 months
  • Delivery: 71 Home Improvement Agencies across 183 local authority areas
  • Leverage: For every £1 distributed, programme produced almost £4 of benefits
  • Additional funding generated: £76,761 to contribute to work undertaken
  • Impact: Average grant per intervention £199

Priority Areas

  • Gas safety: Critical interventions for vulnerable households with dangerous or faulty gas appliances
  • Energy efficiency: Measures to help homes be warmer and more affordable to heat, reducing fuel poverty
  • Home safety: Front door grab-rails, minor repairs enabling independent living
  • Warmth measures: New boilers, central heating systems, draught excluders, windows, reflector radiator panels
  • Hospital discharge support: Funding to speed up hospital discharge by ensuring homes are safe and warm
  • Social isolation reduction: Improvements that help people remain independent and connected
  • Health-critical works: Safety-related works for older and/or vulnerable householders on means-tested benefits

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct applications from individuals
  • Direct applications from organisations other than accredited HIAs
  • Applications outside the specific fund criteria (e.g., geographic exclusions for certain funds)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Jacqueline Winstanley BSc (hons) - Chair (appointed 27 February 2019)

Global Disruptor & Innovator with work recognized as good practice in the UK and internationally, particularly in Inclusive Economic Growth, Workforce Retention, Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Play, Childcare, Parks and Open Spaces.

Nick Huston - Trustee (appointed 20 November 2018)

Has worked in senior roles in the housing sector for over 25 years across both private and social sectors. More recently served as a Director at a national charity managing a £26 million Redress fund on behalf of Ofgem and Central Government.

Jonathan Trigg - Trustee (appointed 11 March 2015)

Began his working life in the Army before joining Deutsche Bank, then returned to public service in Local Government as an Executive Director. Became Director of CEL Ltd in June 2010, headed a management buy-out creating Astral, and remains its CEO.

No trustees receive remuneration or benefits from the charity.

Patrons and Former Leadership

Baroness Elizabeth (Kay) Andrews OBE

Former Chair of FILT (2010-2014), became FILT's first patron in 2015. Former Chair of English Heritage (2009-2013). Author of Welsh Government report on Culture and Poverty (2014) exploring harnessing the power of arts, culture and heritage to promote social justice.

Lord Richard Best

Life Peer created in 2001, sits on crossbenches. Retired at end of 2006 after 18 years as Director of both the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. Chair of Hanover Housing Association, Vice-Chairman of All Party Parliamentary Group on Urban Development, and Hon Treasurer of All Party Parliamentary Group on Homelessness and Housing Need.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

FILT does not have a public application process. Individuals and organisations cannot apply directly to FILT for grants.

Application Process:

  1. Vulnerable individuals seeking support must contact their local Home Improvement Agency (HIA)
  2. HIA caseworkers assess client need and eligibility
  3. Caseworkers apply to FILT funds on behalf of eligible clients
  4. FILT distributes funds to HIAs who then deliver the work

Finding a Local HIA:

  • Visit www.findmyhia.org.uk and search by postcode
  • England: Home Improvement Agencies
  • Scotland: Care and Repair offices
  • Wales: Care & Repair Cymru

For HIAs Seeking to Access FILT Funds:

Contact FILT directly at info@filt.org.uk or 0300 124 0316 to discuss fund availability and partnership opportunities.

Decision Timeline

FILT is designed to deliver fast and effective service. The Warm at Home evaluation noted “the timeliness of the WAH intervention and being able to provide immediate relief to householders” as a major advantage. Specific decision timelines vary by fund and urgency of client need, with emergency grants prioritised for cases of hardship and urgency.

Success Rates

Specific application success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, historical data shows:

  • In 2012-13: FILT helped more than 7,000 people and distributed over £600,000 in grants
  • Warm at Home Programme: Helped 3,600 people over 12 months through 71 HIAs
  • National Gas Safety Hardship Fund: Over 1,000 small grants provided since 2013

Reapplication Policy

Information not publicly available. HIAs should contact FILT directly for guidance on reapplications for clients who may need additional support.

Application Success Factors

FILT is designed to fill a gap in service provision - the Warm at Home evaluation found that the programme helps people “who were suffering from ill health and enduring cold or unsafe conditions in their homes, but who were just above the income eligibility criteria for other energy efficiency schemes.”

Key Success Factors for HIA Caseworkers:

  1. Demonstrate urgency and hardship: Emergency gas safety issues and urgent health-critical works are prioritised
  2. Show client vulnerability: Target beneficiaries are over 60, on low income, or with disability/long-term illness
  3. Leverage additional funding: FILT values partnerships where funding leverages other support (historical ratio: £2.40 for every £1.00 distributed)
  4. Holistic approach: Demonstrate how the intervention connects clients to health and social care services they wouldn't otherwise access
  5. Fast-track for hospital discharge: Applications supporting safe hospital discharge are viewed favourably
  6. Evidence of fuel poverty: Show how the intervention will help clients afford to heat their homes
  7. Health and wellbeing outcomes: Demonstrate expected improvements in client warmth, safety, wellbeing, and reduced social isolation

Types of Interventions Most Commonly Funded:

  • Gas safety critical works (boiler replacement, appliance repair/servicing)
  • Warmth measures (central heating systems, draught proofing, radiator panels)
  • Minor safety adaptations (grab-rails, draught excluders)
  • Energy efficiency improvements reducing fuel bills

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct applications: You cannot apply directly to FILT. Grants are distributed exclusively through Home Improvement Agency caseworkers on behalf of vulnerable clients.
  • Find your local HIA: Use www.findmyhia.org.uk to locate HIAs that can access FILT funding on behalf of eligible individuals.
  • Modest but high-impact grants: Average grants are around £199 but have significant impact on vulnerable people's safety, warmth and independence.
  • Fills a funding gap: FILT specifically targets people just above income thresholds for other schemes but still experiencing hardship.
  • Fast response: Designed to provide immediate relief for urgent cases, particularly gas safety emergencies and hospital discharge support.
  • Leverage matters: FILT values partnerships that generate additional funding and connect clients to wider support services.
  • Geographic coverage: Operates UK-wide through different delivery partners (HIAs in England, Care and Repair in Scotland and Wales).

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References

  • FILT website: www.filt.org.uk (Note: Website was inaccessible during research but contact details verified through Charity Commission records)