UK Bill Help

The Talisman Charitable Trust has determined that additional housing support is necessary to provide lower-income citizens with a proper home. That is why it has made housing grants a point of emphasis in its charitable operations.

What is offered?

Grants are made to individuals and charities that serve individuals. The purpose of the grant is to provide relief from high housing costs, including rent and some living costs. Those who are disabled may receive special attention to help them meet their housing needs. While the charity also provides funding for education and medical treatment, housing is the primary objective.

Recipients of aid are lower-income individuals and families that are “going short” and need help to get through a difficult financial situation. Often this is combined with government benefits. Funding can be sufficient to help a poor household escape economic disaster.

How to apply?

While grants are made on behalf of individuals, they are not sent to individuals. Instead, cash grants are allocated to either another charity or a local council on behalf of an individual. It is up to the secondary social aid organisation to distribute funds to the individual and to monitor its use.

Many charities are already aware of the Trust and routinely include it as a potential source of funding for the individuals that require assistance. When seeking help with a local charity or council, clients may request that the counsellor consider the Trust as a potential source of additional funding to help accomplish their goals.

Each aid application should include full information about the recipient. Whether they are applying for benefits or other support, criteria needs to be met.

• Name and address
• Contact information
• Causes of financial distress
• Amount of funding requested
• Purpose of the grant (how it will be used to relieve poverty). Documentation of potential uses is recommended. Examples could be property improvements to aid access for disabled residents or help moving to a home that better meets the needs of the household.
• Information on sponsoring charity or local authority (entity that will oversee the grant). A local Citizens Advice Bureau is a common sponsor for aid recipients.
• Other grants may be issued by the Talisman Trust as well, including information on benefits for disabled, which is available for housing or rent needs.

Counsellors may submit a request on behalf of a beneficiary directly to the trustees:

The Talisman Charitable Trust

Basement Office

354 Kennington Road

London

SE11 4LD

No response will be provided except to those whose requests are approved. Trustees make decisions based on the best interests of the use of the Trust funds. The Trust was originally established in 1936 thanks to a gift from Baron Frederic Allred d’Erlanger. d’Erlanger was a wealthy man who made his fortune on South African railroads and department stores in South America.