Leading specialist accommodation provider Stef & Philips is proud to announce £10,000 of funding to support community projects and empower and uplift individuals and families living in temporary and emergency accommodation as part of its charitable initiative the Stef & Philips Foundation.

In the first of three funding rounds for 2024, the Foundation provided 38 individual grants and two project grants totalling £10,000 to deliver projects in 21 London boroughs, from Enfield in the north to Croydon in the south.

These vital individual grants have positively impacted a diverse range of individuals; a care leaver living in a Stef & Philips property has used the grant for essential household items, for a single mother it went towards purchasing baby formula, baby clothes, and laundry services, and a refugee used the grant to purchase a warm coat and waterproof shoes. All individual grants will help enrich the lives of recipients, ensuring those in need of support can secure essential items or develop skills through education and training courses.

The project grants have been awarded to two organisations, including Give Youth a Break, an organisation that provides hot, nutritious food for youth programmes in Barnet and is aimed at children and young people residing in emergency and temporary accommodation.

Upon being awarded the project grant, Give Youth a Break said: “We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Stef & Philips Foundation for their invaluable support and this additional funding which will help families in the local community living in temporary or emergency accommodation. Many of those we support don’t have the opportunity to share mealtimes with their children – with this grant families will be able to enjoy a hot meal together.”

Also awarded a project grant is Art4Space which delivers creative workshops for displaced families living in temporary accommodation in Lambeth, the workshops encourage creative expression, support with holistic wellbeing, and provide a platform for families to connect with each other.

Commenting on the support, Art4Space, said: “On behalf of the team at Art4Space we would like to thank Stef & Philips for the wonderful support towards our creative workshops for children and young people of families in temporary accommodation. This support will make all the difference and we look forward to sharing the positive impact it will have.”

The Stef & Philips Foundation launched in 2023 in response to the difficulties the company saw families and individuals facing when living in temporary and emergency accommodation. Recognising the need for additional support beyond housing, the Foundation aims to give individuals throughout the UK better opportunities by providing them with crucial supplies, training, and education, as well as helping to develop community initiatives.

Funding initiatives such as these are critical at a time when homelessness in London is at its highest for a decade, with a 23% year-on-year increase.

Stark statistics from Shelter show that one in three adults in Britain (17.5 million people) are directly affected by the pressing housing emergency – meaning they are living in overcrowded, dangerous, unstable or unaffordable housing.

Alexandra Taliadoros, Director of the Stef & Philips Foundation said: “After launching just a few months ago we’ve already supported more than 600 children living in temporary and emergency accommodation with Christmas gifts, and now being able to grant £10,000 towards community projects and individual support is truly incredible. To have made such a positive impact in such a short period of time just goes to show how vital this funding is for so many people as we go into the next funding rounds.

“We are immensely grateful to those who are committed to making a difference to the lives of others and supported the Foundation, their generosity made these grants possible.”

The Stef & Philips Foundation has a further two funding rounds planned for 2024; the second one closed on 31 March and the third and final round runs from 1 May to 31 July.

To be eligible for Foundation support, individuals must be living in temporary or emergency accommodation in a London borough. Organisations seeking funding must focus on community initiatives promoting social inclusion and welfare for those in temporary or emergency accommodation in a London borough.

For more information about the Stef & Philips Foundation or to apply for funding, please visit www.stefphilipsfoundation.com.