Fund For Human Need

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £89,049 (2024)
• Annual Income: £101,895 (2024)
• Decision Time: 1 month (urgent cases within 1 week)
• Grant Range: Up to £120 per individual
• Monthly Grants: Approximately 80 grants per month
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide
• Charity Number: 208866

Contact Details

Administrator: Mrs G Mason

Address: 6 Newlands Road, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 9JL

Phone: 01325 244992

Email: fundhumanneed@gmail.com

Applications: fhn.apply@gmail.com

Website: www.fundforhumanneed.org.uk

Chair: Revd Roger Cresswell

Email: fhnchair@gmail.com

Phone: 01543 473433

Secretary: Mr A Kemp

Email: fundforhumanneedsecretary@gmail.com

Grants Officer: fhngrants@gmail.com

Overview

The Fund for Human Need (FHN) is a small Methodist-affiliated charity established in 1960 by Revd Donald McNeill, a Methodist Minister in Tooting, South London, together with a small group of Methodists who believed they had a responsibility to help the poorest and most vulnerable people. With an annual expenditure of approximately £89,049 (year ending August 2024), FHN specialises in providing small cash grants to individuals with no access to major relief funds. The charity operates on the principle that “a little helps a lot,” making approximately 80 one-off grants each month to individuals experiencing poverty and distress. The organization is run entirely by volunteers, with 8 trustees and 12 volunteers, and no paid employees. Originally administered jointly with the Methodist Relief & Development Fund, FHN became independently responsible for fundraising after a reorganization, and now relies directly on church, individual, and public donations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Relief Payments

• Amount: Up to £120 per person (one-time only)
• Volume: Approximately 80 grants per month
• Application Method: Rolling basis via email or post
• Payment Allocation: Monthly meeting held near the end of each month

Limited Project Grants

• Eligibility: Projects working amongst the poorest communities
• Source: Restricted funds received for specific projects
• Availability: Very limited

Priority Areas

FHN's core philosophy centers on “offering love, hope and trust” while “promoting self-esteem and confidence” by recognizing that people understand their own needs best.

Priority is given to:

• Individuals who are destitute or have no income or benefits
• Particularly vulnerable populations
• Cases where a small amount of money will make a significant difference
• Refugees and asylum seekers
• Homeless individuals
• Those experiencing other kinds of personal distress

Eligible regardless of:

• Faith
• Ethnic origin
• Social group

What They Don't Fund

FHN explicitly does NOT make payments for:

• Debt repayment
• Scholarships
• University or college fees
• Individuals living outside the UK
• Projects run by other organisations

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Fund for Human Need is governed by eight trustees:

1. Rev Roger Cresswell - Chair
2. Rev Grace Cauldwell - Trustee (appointed November 2025)
3. Janice Susan Gowlett - Trustee (appointed February 2025)
4. Noel Schorah - Trustee (appointed July 2021)
5. Rev Gillian Helen Hulme - Trustee (appointed March 2019)
6. Andrew Peter Kemp - Trustee and Secretary (appointed March 2014)
7. Rev Rosemary Jane Fletcher - Trustee (appointed January 2014)
8. Karen Elizabeth Drayton - Trustee (appointed January 2013)

Administration

Mrs G Mason serves as the part-time administrator and fundraiser, handling day-to-day operations from the Darlington office.

The charity operates entirely through volunteers, with no employees receiving salaries over £60k.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Submission:

• Applications should be submitted by email or letter
• Email applications to: fhn.apply@gmail.com
• Postal applications to: 6 Newlands Road, Darlington, Co Durham, DL3 9JL

Application Content:

Applications should include:

• Circumstances giving rise to the need for a payment
• Details of any income and benefits
• Personal expenses

Recommended Approach:

It is strongly recommended that applications are made on behalf of an individual by a recognised organisation, such as:

• Registered charities
• Community groups
• Churches
• Housing associations
• NHS trusts
• Local authorities

Special Requirements:

• Asylum seekers receiving an asylum allowance MUST apply through a recognised organisation, which will receive the payment and organise any purchases on behalf of the applicant
• Recognised organisations are limited to two applications per month

Decision Timeline

Standard Applications: The charity aims to respond within one month or less

Urgent Cases: Where even a small delay will cause additional distress, FHN tries to reply within one week

Payment Allocation: A monthly payment allocation meeting is held near the end of each month

Notification: The charity replies to everyone who applies as soon as possible after each awards meeting, either by email or letter

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not publicly available, FHN makes approximately 80 grants per month to individuals. Given their focus on the most vulnerable and destitute individuals, and their relatively modest grant amounts, they appear to have a reasonable approval rate for applications that meet their priority criteria.

Reapplication Policy

The website specifies that payments are “once only” grants, which suggests that:

• Grants are intended as one-time assistance
• The same individual may not receive multiple grants
• Reapplication information is not explicitly stated and would need to be confirmed directly with the charity

Application Success Factors

Key Priorities from FHN

The Fund explicitly states their priorities, which should guide applications:

Priority is given to:

1. Those who are destitute or have no income or benefits
2. Those who are particularly vulnerable
3. Cases where a small amount of money will make a significant difference

Application Best Practices

Detail the Circumstances:

Applications should clearly set out the circumstances giving rise to the need for payment. The more specific and concrete, the better.

Financial Transparency:

Include comprehensive details of:

• Any income received
• Benefits claimed or applied for
• Personal expenses and outgoings

Apply Through Recognised Organisations:

While individuals can apply directly, FHN recommends applications come through recognised organisations (charities, churches, housing associations, NHS trusts, local authorities). This may improve credibility and processing.

Demonstrate Immediate Impact:

Show how a small grant (up to £120) will make a significant difference. FHN operates on the principle that “a little helps a lot.”

Highlight Vulnerability:

If the applicant is destitute, has no income, or is particularly vulnerable (refugee, asylum seeker, homeless, experiencing distress), make this clear.

Urgent Cases:

If there is genuine urgency where delay would cause additional distress, state this explicitly. The fund prioritises rapid response in such cases.

FHN's Philosophy

The organization describes its approach as “offering love, hope and trust” while “promoting self-esteem and confidence” by recognizing that people understand their own needs best. Applications that reflect this understanding—focusing on empowerment and individual agency rather than dependency—may resonate with the fund's values.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small grants, big impact: FHN specialises in grants up to £120 where modest amounts make significant differences—demonstrate how this specific sum will help
• Apply through partners: While not mandatory for all, applications from recognised organisations (charities, churches, housing associations, NHS trusts) are strongly recommended and may be processed more favourably
• Prioritise the most vulnerable: Applications for individuals who are destitute, have no income/benefits, or are particularly vulnerable (refugees, asylum seekers, homeless) receive priority
• One-time only: Grants are explicitly one-off payments, not ongoing support—frame applications accordingly
• Quick turnaround available: Standard response time is within a month, but urgent cases can receive decisions within a week if delay would cause distress
• Volume limits: Partner organisations can only submit two applications per month—select your most compelling cases
• Transparency is key: Provide full details of income, benefits, and expenses—the fund values clarity and honesty
• Methodist values: While grants are made regardless of faith, the charity's Methodist heritage values compassion, dignity, and social justice—applications that align with these values may resonate

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The League of the Helping Hand
• THE TRUEMARK TRUST
• Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• The Allen Lane Foundation
• Focus Foundation
• ST CLARE AND ST FRANCIS TRUST
• THE ALAN BRENTNALL CHARITABLE TRUST
• B&Q Foundation
• THE VETERANS' FOUNDATION

References

• Fund for Human Need official website: https://fundforhumanneed.org.uk/
• Fund for Human Need - How FHN Began: https://fundforhumanneed.org.uk/?page_id=24
• Fund for Human Need - Applying For A Payment: https://fundforhumanneed.org.uk/?page_id=81
• Fund for Human Need - Contact Us: https://fundforhumanneed.org.uk/?page_id=118
• UK Charity Commission Register - Fund for Human Need (208866): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/208866
• UK Charity Commission - Trustees: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/208866/trustees
• Disability Information Scotland - Fund for Human Need: https://www.disabilityscot.org.uk/organisation/fund-for-human-need/
• NGO Explorer - Fund for Human Need: https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/208866