Dear

Action to address children in poverty experiencing homelessness across London.

Since March of this year, our Senior Policy Researcher, Emily, has been interviewing parents and young people with experiences of homelessness all across London in the last few years. The circumstances that led to their losing access to a stable home were, and are, complex and the systems and structures designed to support them remain both limited and under resourced. Asking for help isn't easy. Many people shared experiences of stigma, lack of advice support and digital exclusion which created barriers and delays. We're working to analyse this information and share it with you as soon as possible to aid in influencing work. We will be sending out a more detailed update about the findings in the next couple of weeks, if you want to be included in that email update, email Emily so she can add you to the list.

While we are developing our next steps, we wanted to share two important projects that you can support related to this issue. In collaboration with the APPG for Households in Temporary Accommodation, Shared Health Foundation, and Autistica, Sensory Lives have organised the first UK-wide Call for Evidence to gather parents/guardians’ experiences of living in TA with neurodivergent children. The findings will be used to campaign for better support for families living in TA, and families with neurodivergent children especially. 

The Call for Evidence runs for five weeks between 19 May and 20 June 2025. More guidance and links to submit evidence are provided in the Call to Action section below. 

In addition The Magpie Project are running surveys (also linked below) to better understand the impact of living in TA on children's diets and access to nutritious meals. This data will inform influencing work to call for better TA that meets children's developmental needs. 

Please take part and share both calls to action with others you know. 

New Spotlight Interview with 4in10 member Daughters of Charity Services

We are very pleased to be able to share with you the latest in our ongoing series of spotlight interviews, this time with Mark at Daughters of Charity Services. Make sure you read right to the bottom of the newsletter to find out about their work or just click here.

Best wishes

Katherine, Emily and Maddie  

Calls to Action

• Sensory Lives Project, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Households in Temporary Accommodation, Shared Health Foundation, and Autistica have organised the first UK-wide Call for Evidence to gather parents/guardians’ experiences of living in TA with neurodivergent children.
• In Kind Direct are running their  Summer of Play Campaign' which is trying to encourage more children playing outside during the summer and they are calling for more members to join 

• Save the Children have a new MP action which asks for the government to scrap the two-child limit. Please take a minute or two to send it - this is the single most effective thing the Government can do to stop child poverty levels rising.  

• The Magpie Project are asking people to share their experience of living in temporary accommodation without a kitchen by completing their anonymous survey  Please share with anyone in your networks who may be keen to take part. 
• Young Roots are asking people to contact their MPs and ask them to vote in favour of amendment NC27 to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. A template letter can be downloaded here.
• The Advice Services Alliance (ASA) is calling for evidence on solutions to recruitment, retention, training, and support issues in London's advice sector. The online form is short, and you do not have to answer all questions. It should only take 10-15 minutes.

Training and Events

• London Youth are delivering Trusted Youth Allies Training – equip yourself with the skills to support young people, victims, and witnesses of crime. Build confidence in safeguarding, responding to disclosures, and providing the right support on various dates over May and June
• Trussell are hosting a Guarantee Our Essentials mass Lobby Day on Wed, 18 June in Westminster, London SW1 - specific venue to be confirmed. Arrival will be from 10.30am and the day will end between 4pm-6pm depending on MP time
• HEAR network are hosting a workshop on 'digital inclusion for disabled volunteers' as part of 40th anniversary of volunteers week on Thurs, June 5 · 12:30 - 4pm at Voluntary Action Islington,200A Pentonville Road N1 9JP. This practical workshop provides key insights into how disabled volunteers access and use digital technologies and equips participants with the skills and knowledge to improve digital accessibility and inclusion for disabled volunteers.

Reports, Data and Resources

• The Resolution Foundation has produced a report which is an assessment of the rumoured options for easing the two-child limit
• Public First has produced some research showing their is 'widespread public support for government action to reduce child poverty' and CPAG have done some analysis of what it shows
• Trussell have released their latest food bank usage stats
• CPAG have written a response to the proposed changes to sickness and disability benefits 
• Impact on Urban Health have written an article in the New Statesman called Inside the hidden homeless crisis 
• Save the Children have written an article in the New Statesman called Those in power need to listen to children and young people. We’re the key to their future'

Jobs and Trustee Vacancies 

Funding Opportunities

Sir Halley Stewart Trust

The Sir Halley Stewart Trust has a particular focus on supporting innovative research projects and new pioneering development projects, primarily through the provision of salary costs.

It funds medical, social and religious projects, with education being a theme that runs across all three grant-making areas.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss prospective applications with the Trust in advance.

The 9 October 2025 round is open to new applications. Currently, this grant round is due to close on 30 June 2025, but may need to close earlier due to the volume of applications being received. 

Magdalen Hospital Trust 

Magdalen Hospital Trust funds charities with an income under £150,000 working with vulnerable children and young adults, especially those at risk of sexual and other forms of exploitation. One-off grants to covers project costs which could include: training for work and personal development; clubs and play schemes; safeguarding education; mental health support and counselling; emergency care.

Submission dates for applications this year are:

For July meeting between 19th May and 20th June 2025
For November meeting between 1st and 31st October 2025 

D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust 

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust funds United Kingdom Registered Charities operating in the UK in the fields of the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement – please read specific areas of interest and priorities for support in our Downloadable Guidelines

The Trustees will consider applications for core costs or projects and are very conscious of the work involved in applying for a grant and encourage charities to consider whether their work aligns with the Trust’s priorities for the next three years before submitting an application. 

Spotlight Interview with  Mark Corea, Research and Policy Officer at Daughters of Charity Services

Daughter of Charity Services is a charity that works with people and the media to inspire content and communication that changes hearts and minds. 

1. How are you helping to tackle child poverty in London?
One of the projects in our family, St Vincent’s Family Centre, provides a range of services to families in need, particularly in the Westminster area. The services include a drop in and creche service, classes and therapy for families, as well as a food bank service. We also have projects serving people in need in Manchester and Glasgow.

At a head office level, tackling child and family poverty is one of the five priorities in our 2024–2027 strategy. We work in partnership with other charities, including members of the Catholic Social Action Network (CSAN), to raise awareness and influence policy through co-signing letters, policy papers, and working on campaigns together.

Later this year, we will also be launching a research project focusing on the lived experiences of families affected by poverty in London, based on the experiences of our projects and other data that we’ll gather.

2. Tell us something you are excited about?
We have many things to be excited about at the Daughters of Charity Services. We recently launched our ‘Emerging Poverties Briefing’ through which we collate stories and updates on poverty in London and across the country and goes out to about 150 subscribers.

We are also excited to launch our paper on poverty among Asylum Seekers and Refugees, which discusses policy papers and other literature on this topic, to understand the causes and solutions to this poverty. Later in the year, we’ll be launching a large research project on child and family poverty in the UK, as well as a smaller project on social care in Scotland.

3. Share with our members something positive about your organisation’s achievement or service?
Our member projects are diverse and span across the UK. Our Westminster-based social care service, Vincentian Care Plus, provides domiciliary care for Westminster City Council. For two years running, 2024 and 2025, they have won a High Commendation at the Homecare Awards for their work supporting people affected by homelessness at Edward Alsop Court in the London Borough of Westminster. The model of enablement they run is inspiring and we are extremely proud of their achievement and recognition for supporting vulnerable Londoners.

4. What can other network members learn from you or find out more about through you?
Other networks can learn about the Vincentian approach to serving the people most in need and the history of the Daughters of Charity in Britain. They are a truly unique group of women who have dedicated their whole lives to serving people in poverty, and we exist to continue their legacy. Our Vincentian Values ensure that all of our staff live this legacy out.

We run a variety of services throughout the UK, ranging from supporting vulnerable families and older people in Westminster to supporting Roma families in Glasgow and families of prisoners in Manchester.

Other Vincentian charities include Depaul UK, the Passage, and the St Vincent de Paul Society. These charities share the same ethos as us, and they all carry out great work in London and throughout the UK.

5. What would most help you achieve your goals?
As a small charity more collaboration with other charities would help us achieve our goals. We are proud to be part of some great networks, including 4in10, NCVO and the No Child Left Behind campaign, and Caritas Social Action Network. By joining up messaging and working together on campaigns with other charities of all sizes, it strengthens our voice as a small charity and we believe a united voice strengthens the message of our advocacy and campaigning.

6. Why did you join 4in10? What do you enjoy about being part of the 4in10 network?
We joined 4 in 10 as it is a large network of like-minded charities who are all keen to serve the most vulnerable in our society, which is our fundamental purpose. The events and the newsletter service are particularly helpful, as it makes it easy to network with charities across the city that serve people in need.

You are welcome to pass this newsletter onto your networks. We welcome new members and although much of what we do is available to members and non-members, members are the first to know and get first chance to book training and so on.

As well as your reports, news and data, please send us information about small local grant givers, discounts and vouchers available, new support services, in fact anything that might help alleviate the impact of poverty in small ways and support other organisations to do their work. We will continue to demand systemic change but hope that these tips will be of immediate use. Anything you can share send it our way!

Check your entry on the 4in10 database of all voluntary organisations changing and challenging the impact of poverty on London’s children and their families. Let us know of any errors or changes you would like and please tell us about any organisations we may have missed.

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