Put a in a Pound Appeal to help most in need in Wiltshire

We are asking readers to donate £1 to help charities and voluntary groups who are seeing unprecedented demand from families and individuals struggling to make ends meet.

The foundation will be able to increase any donation by 50 per cent through match funding - up to the value of £25,000 - meaning each £1 donated becomes £1.50.

Money raised by the appeal will go into the foundation’s Cost of Living Crisis Fund, which was set up last year.

It has already distributed almost £23,000 to groups and charities providing food, mental health support, money advice, help with fuel bills or just offering somewhere warm for them to go.

Wiltshire and Swindon Credit Union lends more than £1 million a year to 3,500 active members all over the county. Its loans are designed to help families who are unable to get credit elsewhere to prevent them from going to payday loan companies with crippling interest rates or even illegal loan sharks.

Members open savings accounts and, provided they meet loan criteria, can take out loans, which are repaid monthly. Most loans are to help with unexpected expenses such as car repairs or replacing white goods but now staff are seeing requests for loans to pay everyday bills, such as gas.

Gemma Sadler, who works in credit control, said: “It’s knowing that there are people out there that desperate that they are asking for a loan so that they can buy food.

"The problem is they get a one-off payment from us but what happens next week and the week after?

“You just imagine these people sitting in the dark, the way that they talk to us, the fact you have people living like this in this day and age is just horrendous.”

The community foundation’s joint chief executive Fiona Oliver said: “Charities are under severe pressure from the sheer weight of enquiries and calls for help they are receiving so we are very thankful for the paper’s appeal.

“Foodbanks are seeing huge numbers of people coming through their doors but donations are falling and fuel, rent and other costs are soaring.

"We appreciate it is difficult for everyone at the moment but any support we get will make a huge difference to people who are facing very tough times.”

Editor Daniel Chipperfield said he was thrilled that the paper could play a small part in helping.

"It's no secret that when times are hard, it's those most vulnerable that get hit hardest," he said.

"That is why it is so important for those who can spare just a little, do so. Please do what you can and you will not believe the joy and relief you can bring to someone's life."

How to donate. 

There are several ways you can donate.

By credit or debit card by calling 01380 715453 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

By post, with cheques made payable to Wiltshire Community Foundation, to Sandcliff House, 21 Northgate Street, Devizes, SN10 1JT

Online at bit.ly/putinapound or by scanning this QR code.