Turn2us (elizabeth Finn Care)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £3.3 million (2023-24)
• Grants Made: 2,200+ individuals supported annually
• Decision Time: 5-10 working days (Edinburgh Trust); varies by fund
• Grant Range: £500 - £1,500 (varies by fund)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)
• Target Beneficiaries: Individuals in financial hardship
• Application Method: Through referral partner organizations only

Contact Details

Main Office: 33-39 Bowling Green Lane, London, EC1R 0BJ

Phone: 020 8834 9200

Email: ceooffice@turn2us.org.uk

Website: www.turn2us.org.uk

Registered Charity: 207812 (England & Wales), SC040987 (Scotland)

Partnership Enquiries: For organizations interested in becoming referral partners, contact through the website's partnership pages

Overview

Elizabeth Finn Care, operating as Turn2us since 2015, was founded in 1897 and is one of the UK's leading anti-poverty charities. With an annual income of £45.3 million and charitable expenditure of £42 million (2023-24), the charity has evolved from its origins supporting “distressed gentlefolk” to serving anyone in the UK facing financial insecurity.

Turn2us operates through a distinctive model: rather than accepting direct applications from individuals, they work with partner organizations who make referrals on behalf of people they support. In 2023-24, they distributed £3.3 million in direct grants to over 2,200 individuals. Beyond grant-making, their online tools reached 5.8 million people, with their Grants Search database used over 950,000 times and their Benefits Calculator completed 2.5 million times.

The charity is currently implementing its 2023-2028 strategy “Tackling Financial Insecurity Together,” which balances immediate practical support with systemic advocacy work. CEO Thomas Lawson emphasizes that “Financial insecurity cannot be solved by any single organisation or approach,” highlighting Turn2us's collaborative ethos and their commitment to co-production with people who have lived experience of financial hardship.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GRANT WRITERS: Turn2us does NOT make grants to charitable organizations for their operations or projects. They make grants TO individuals in financial need, working through referral partner organizations. Organizations can apply to become referral partners to help their clients access these grants.

Active Grant Programs:

Turn2us Edinburgh Trust

• Amount: Usually £500-£1,000 (average currently £1,200)
• Eligibility: Edinburgh residents (EH1-17, 28-30 postcodes) with household income below £16,000 and limited savings
• Decision Time: 5 working days with complete documentation
• What it covers: Household items, clothing, everyday living costs, training courses
• Application: Through 40 registered referral partners only
• Notes: Grants don't need to be repaid and no receipts required

Turn2us Response Fund

• Amount: Varies based on need
• Eligibility: People who have experienced a life-changing event in the last 12 months; British/Irish nationals or UK/Ireland residents
• What it covers: Essential items for financial stability, wellbeing, and independence - including household goods, house adaptation, funeral expenses, respite
• Application: Through accredited intermediary partners only
• Notes: Can only be accessed once per person; currently under review with partner list temporarily unavailable

Turn2us Elizabeth Finn Fund (CURRENTLY CLOSED)

• Status: Closed to new applicants while being redesigned
• Previous Amount: £1,000 (single) or £1,500 (couple rate)
• Previous Eligibility: Professional background required (degree-level occupations, business owners, artists); savings under £4,000; low income
• Note: Turn2us recommends using their Grants Search to find alternative funds while this program is redesigned

Life-Changing Events Covered

The Response Fund specifically supports people dealing with:

• Disabilities (new diagnosis or condition worsening)
• Bereavement
• Domestic abuse
• Illness or injury
• Mental health crises
• Job loss/reduced income
• Relationship breakdown
• Insecure housing
• Other unexpected challenges severely impacting quality of life

What Turn2us Offers to Partner Organizations

• Grants Search Database: Access to information on 1,400+ charitable grants (3,500+ funds total)
• Benefits Calculator: Tool for advisers to help clients identify benefit entitlements
• PIP Helper: Launched Autumn 2024, simplifies Personal Independence Payment applications
• Training and E-learning: Resources for advisers supporting people in financial hardship
• Partnership Support: Collaborative relationship with routine contact, insights sharing, and grant-making statistics

What They Don't Fund

• Direct applications from individuals (must go through partner organizations)
• Grants to charitable organizations for their own operational costs or projects
• Full-time undergraduate or postgraduate university students
• People outside UK/Ireland or without British/Irish nationality/residency

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Governance and Leadership

Senior Leadership Team

Thomas Lawson, Chief Executive (appointed March 2019)

• Previously CEO of Leap Confronting Conflict
• Known for his focus on systemic change and anti-oppression work
• Key quote: “Our research tells us that the UK has a big problem with financial insecurity that effectively puts 15 million people on a cliff edge. Failure to reach people at the point of crisis means many find themselves trapped in a cycle of repaying high interest on borrowed money, plunging them into debt.”

Arvinda Gohil OBE, Chair of Trustees (appointed May 2025)

• Taking over from Carrie Stokes
• Brings extensive governance experience

Gillian Palmer, Chief Financial Officer

Board of Trustees

The charity is governed by a voluntary board of trustees who provide non-executive oversight. Recent trustees include:

• Marcia Bluck: HR and EDI expertise
• Edwina Johnston: Finance and safeguarding background
• Kalm Paul-Christian: Investment banking experience

The board emphasizes lived experience and co-production in all critical work, ensuring decisions are informed by people who have experienced financial insecurity.

Application Process and Timeline

How Organizations Can Work with Turn2us

Turn2us does NOT accept applications directly from individuals. All grants are made through referral partner organizations.

For Organizations Seeking to Become Referral Partners:

Edinburgh Trust Referral Partners:

• Current Status: NOT accepting new referral partners
• Existing Network: 40 registered referral partners in Edinburgh
• Process: When open, involves establishing key contact links and collaborative working agreements

Response Fund Referral Partners:

• Current Status: Under review; partner list temporarily unavailable
• Requirements: Organizations must be trained and accredited intermediary partners
• Who Can Apply: Referral partners can only make applications for people they are already working with

General Partnership Opportunities:

• Open to national charities, local community groups, and local councils
• Turn2us works to understand what financial insecurity means to your communities
• Recommends appropriate Turn2us tools for your client base
• Can embed tools in advisers' workflows and client referral pathways

Contact: Visit turn2us.org.uk/services-for-organisations/partner-with-us to explore partnership options

For Individuals Seeking Support:

Individuals cannot apply directly but should:

1. Contact local advice agencies, Citizens Advice, or community organizations who may be Turn2us referral partners
2. Use the Turn2us Grants Search (grants-search.turn2us.org.uk) to find other charitable funds they may be eligible for
3. Use the Turn2us Benefits Calculator to ensure they're claiming all entitled benefits
4. Visit the Turn2us website to find their referral partners directory

Decision Timeline

Edinburgh Trust:

• Target: Within 10 days of application
• Often faster: Many decisions within 5 working days
• Fast-track: Minimal documentation required - no additional supporting documents requested

Response Fund:

• Timeline varies
• Partners work with Turn2us to process applications
• Currently under review so timelines may be subject to change

Elizabeth Finn Fund:

• Previously took up to 2 weeks to process initial enquiries
• Currently closed for redesign

Success Rates

Specific approval rates are not publicly disclosed. However:

• In 2023-24: Supported 2,200+ individuals with £3.3 million
• In 2022-23: Supported 3,000 individuals with £4 million
• Additional £650,000 distributed to people with complex needs through partnership with Sense charity (2022-23)
• The Edinburgh Trust's streamlined process and minimal documentation requirements suggest a positive approach to applications

Reapplication Policy

Response Fund: Can only be accessed once per individual

Edinburgh Trust: Policy not publicly specified; consult with referral partners

Elizabeth Finn Fund: Previously allowed reapplications; new policy will be announced when fund reopens

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Not a Source of Organizational Funding: Turn2us does not fund charitable organizations' operations or projects - they fund individuals in crisis. If you're seeking grants for your organization's work, Turn2us is not appropriate.

1. Valuable for Client Services: If your organization supports people in financial hardship, becoming a referral partner can add significant value to your service offer, providing direct financial assistance to complement your advice and support.

1. Tools Are Freely Available: Even if not a formal referral partner, any organization can use Turn2us's free online tools (Grants Search, Benefits Calculator, PIP Helper) to support clients.

1. Partnership Is Competitive: Both Edinburgh Trust and Response Fund are currently not accepting new referral partners or are under review, suggesting careful curation of their partner network. When opportunities arise, emphasize holistic support and existing relationships with vulnerable clients.

1. Quick Decisions Possible: The Edinburgh Trust's 5-day decision time is exceptionally fast for grant-making, making it valuable for clients in immediate crisis.

1. Broader Than Grants: Turn2us reached 5.8 million people in 2023-24, mostly through their online tools rather than direct grants. Consider how your organization might use these tools even without formal partnership.

1. Strategic Direction: Turn2us is increasingly focused on systemic change and place-based work. Organizations that can demonstrate impact beyond individual grants (community engagement, advocacy, lived experience leadership) may be particularly attractive partners.

References

1. Turn2us Official Website - www.turn2us.org.uk
2. Charity Commission Register - Elizabeth Finn Care, Charity No. 207812 - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/207812
3. Turn2us Annual Report 2023-24 - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/news-and-media/latest-news/annual-report-2023-24
4. Turn2us Edinburgh Trust Information - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/apply-for-grants/turn2us-edinburgh-trust-grants
5. Turn2us Response Fund Information - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/apply-for-grants/turn2us-response-fund-grants
6. Turn2us Elizabeth Finn Fund Information - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/apply-for-grants/turn2us-elizabeth-finn-fund-grants
7. Turn2us Partnership Information - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/services-for-organisations/partner-with-us
8. “Turn2us strengthens leadership with the appointment of a new Chair of Trustees” - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/press-releases-and-comments/turn2us-strengthens-leadership-with-the-appointment-of-a-new-chair-of-trustees
9. “Unforeseen life events plunge over 15 million Brits into financial insecurity” Press Release - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/press-releases-and-comments/unforeseen-life-events-plunge-over-15-million-brits-into-financial-insecurity
10. Turn2us Grants Search Database - https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/