The League Of The Helping Hand

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £158,639 (expenditure year ending March 2025)
• Income: £175,173
• Decision Time: 4-6 weeks
• Grant Range: £160 - £300 (one-off grants)
• Geographic Focus: National (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)
• Type of Grants: Individuals only (not organizations)
• Registered Charity Number: 208792

Contact Details

• Website: www.lhh.org.uk
• Email: secretary@lhh.org.uk
• Phone: 01444 236 099
• Postal Address: The Secretary, LHH, PO Box 342, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 5AQ

Overview

Founded on 8th November 1908 by Miss Edith Ashby, the League of the Helping Hand (now operating as LHH - Linking Help with Hope since 2022) has over a century of history providing financial assistance to individuals experiencing hardship due to illness or disability. The charity operates with a mission of “assistance with compassion” and is overseen by a board of 9 trustees and delivered by a small dedicated team. With an annual expenditure of approximately £158,639, LHH provides both one-off grants for essential items and ongoing quarterly support to around 70 regular beneficiaries. The organization has a distinguished history, having been attended by HM Queen Alexandra in 1916 and served by Princess Marie Louise as President and Patron from 1924.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

One-Off Grants: £160 - £300

• Essential white goods (cookers, washing machines, fridges)
• Beds and bedding
• Household furniture
• Flooring
• Specialist equipment not available from statutory agencies
• School uniform
• Application method: Rolling basis via third-party sponsor only

Extended Assistance (Regular Support)

• Quarterly payments to approximately 70 ongoing beneficiaries
• Helps contribute toward daily living expenses
• Includes personal contact through quarterly newsletters, birthday and Christmas cards, and annual visits from the Secretary where possible
• Application method: Identified through initial grant assessment

Carers' Breaks

• One-off payments for respite
• Subject to fund availability
• Enables carers to take time away from daily responsibilities

Priority Areas

LHH provides assistance to individuals living on very low income who are receiving appropriate welfare benefits and have exhausted all other funding sources. Specifically, they support:

• People with physical disabilities
• People with diagnosed mental health conditions (including bipolar disorder, OCD, psychiatric conditions)
• People with learning disabilities
• Carers for adults or children with disabilities
• Individuals experiencing housing-related vulnerabilities
• People fleeing domestic abuse or psychological trauma
• Those at risk of homelessness due to health conditions

What They Don't Fund

• Self-referrals (all applications must come through authorized third-party sponsors)
• Items available from statutory agencies
• Applicants who have not exhausted other funding sources
• Those not receiving appropriate welfare benefits
• Grants to organizations (individuals only)

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by a board of 9 trustees who oversee operations, with none receiving remuneration or payments. The organization is registered as a charity (No. 208792) and as a company limited by guarantee (No. 00307257). Day-to-day work is delivered by a small dedicated team including a Secretary who maintains personal contact with regular beneficiaries through annual visits where possible.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: Third-Party Sponsor Mandatory

LHH does not accept self-referrals or self-completed applications. All applications must be submitted by an authorized third-party sponsor from one of the following:

• Social Services
• Health Service (excluding GPs)
• Housing Association
• Tenancy Support Agency
• Carer's Centre
• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
• Another registered charity

Application Steps:

1. Download the application form (available in PDF or Word format) from www.lhh.org.uk
2. Read page 1 “Application Guidelines and Grant Awards Criteria” carefully
3. Have your third-party sponsor complete the form fully
4. Submit via email to secretary@lhh.org.uk or post to: The Secretary, LHH, PO Box 342, Burgess Hill, RH15 5AQ

Payment Method:

If successful, BACS payments or e-vouchers are made to the sponsoring body only. Receipt of grant awards and proof of item purchases must be forwarded to LHH for their records.

Decision Timeline

• Standard Processing: 4-6 weeks from receipt of application
• Rolling Applications: No deadlines; applications reviewed year-round
• Office Closure: Mid-December to early January (applications received during closure processed after reopening)
• Review Process: Trustees follow a “robust process” to review all grant applications

Success Rates

While specific current success rate data is not publicly available, historical data shows:

• 289 grants awarded in 2004
• 515 grants awarded in 2007

The charity supports approximately 70 ongoing beneficiaries with regular quarterly assistance in addition to one-off grants.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Contact the charity through your third-party sponsor for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrating Exhausted Funding Sources

LHH explicitly requires that applicants have “exhausted all other funding sources including statutory funding, local and occupational charities.” Successful applications clearly document:

• All statutory support applied for and received/rejected
• Other charitable funds approached
• Why those sources were insufficient or unavailable

Evidence of Low Income and Welfare Benefits

Applicants must be “living on a very low income” and “receiving the appropriate welfare benefits.” Strong applications include:

• Clear documentation of welfare benefits received
• Evidence of financial hardship
• Demonstration of living on or below the poverty line

Case Examples of Funded Projects

Recent grants have supported:

1. Jenny (53): £215 for a replacement mattress for someone with multiple illnesses including bipolar disorder, diabetes, and incontinence
2. Margaret (34): £190 for a cooker, enabling her children to move into her new flat after homelessness
3. Monica (38): £160 for a replacement tumble dryer for someone with OCD and compulsive cleaning needs
4. Ruth (48): £250 for essential household items after fleeing domestic abuse with nothing
5. Vulnerable young male: Washing machine and quarterly grants, preventing homelessness

The Charity's Compassionate Approach

LHH emphasizes “assistance with compassion” as a core value. One beneficiary noted: "I didn't have to beg and I didn't have to fill in a plethora of forms," highlighting their streamlined, dignified approach.

Another long-term beneficiary with juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis stated that "LHH's financial support is vital and has assisted with the increased costs of living with a long term health condition including the repair of a power wheelchair."

Focus on Essential Items

Successful applications focus on truly essential items that:

• Are necessary for basic living standards
• Cannot be obtained from statutory sources
• Address immediate, practical needs
• Have clear connection to the applicant's health condition or disability

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Third-party sponsorship is mandatory - ensure you work with an authorized agency to submit applications; self-referrals are automatically rejected
• Demonstrate exhausted alternatives - provide clear evidence that all statutory and other charitable funding sources have been explored and why they are insufficient
• Focus on essential, practical items - LHH funds basic necessities like white goods, beds, and specialist equipment, not luxury items
• Allow 4-6 weeks for decisions - plan your application timeline accordingly, especially avoiding mid-December to early January closure period
• Document low income and benefits - successful applicants are receiving welfare benefits and living on very low income
• Connect items to health needs - clearly explain how the requested item relates to the applicant's disability, illness, or caring responsibilities
• Consider ongoing support potential - one-off grant recipients may be considered for regular quarterly assistance if trustees identify ongoing need

References

• LHH official website: www.lhh.org.uk
• LHH “Who We Are” page: https://lhh.org.uk/who-we-are/
• LHH “Apply for Assistance” page: https://lhh.org.uk/apply-for-assistance/
• LHH case studies: https://lhh.org.uk/how-lhh-have-helped-with-one-off-grants/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=208792
• West Northamptonshire Council Directory: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/directory/local-offer/b2e7d5b0-ba9a-410a-aa59-74dc1c239e16
• Disability Information Scotland: https://www.disabilityscot.org.uk/organisation/the-league-of-the-helping-hand/