As we celebrate Small Charity Week (22-29 June 2026), we are taking a moment to reflect on what can be achieved when a small charity is backed by a community of generous supporters.

In 2025/26, Church Homeless Charity awarded £360,465 in grants to people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. That’s an increase of more than 23% on the previous year, when we awarded £292,730.

Behind that figure are thousands of people whose lives were made a little easier, a little more stable, and a little more hopeful.

This year, we helped more than 3,200 people across the 21 areas where we operate. From Cornwall to the North East, our grants reached individuals and families facing some of the toughest circumstances imaginable.

For a charity with a team of just five staff members, that is something we are incredibly proud of.

Responding to growing need

The reach of our work reflects a difficult reality.

The demand for support continues to grow.

Across the country, rising living costs, pressure on housing services, and shortages of affordable accommodation mean more people are finding themselves at risk of homelessness or struggling to rebuild their lives after experiencing it.

Every week, support workers from our partner homelessness organisations apply to us on behalf of people who need help with essentials that other funding sources often cannot provide.

Sometimes that support is practical and immediate: clothing, food, travel costs etc.

Sometimes it is the support that helps someone take the next step forward: access to digital technology, therapeutic activities, or the items needed to turn an empty property into a home.

As demand has increased, so too has the need for charitable support that is flexible, responsive and centred on the individual.

Helping people move into a home

One of the biggest areas of support this year was resettlement grants.

We awarded £110,481 in resettlement grants, helping 737 people move into accommodation and begin rebuilding their lives.

For someone leaving homelessness, receiving the keys to a property is only the start. Many people move into completely empty accommodation without carpets, white goods or a bed.

A relatively small grant can provide the essentials needed to create a safe and comfortable living space. It can be the difference between simply having a roof over your head and having a place that truly feels like home.

Supporting people with life’s essentials

We also awarded £89,560 in personal grants, helping 597 people access essentials such as clothing, food, travel costs and training opportunities.

These grants often address immediate barriers that can otherwise prevent people from moving forward.

A pair of work shoes can help someone start a new job. Travel costs can enable attendance at appointments or training. Warm clothing can make a difficult winter more manageable.

While these grants may seem modest in value, their impact can be significant.

Tackling digital exclusion

In an increasingly digital world, being offline can mean being excluded from opportunities, services and support.

This year, we awarded £112,500 towards digital inclusion, helping 750 people get online.

Access to a laptop, tablet or internet connection can help people search for jobs, apply for benefits, communicate with support services, access healthcare and stay connected with family and friends.

For many people we support, digital access is no longer a luxury; it is an essential part of rebuilding independence.

Investing in wellbeing and recovery

Alongside practical support, we also recognise the importance of wellbeing and social connection.

This year, we awarded £47,924 towards therapeutic activities, helping people access opportunities that support confidence, recovery and personal development.

Experiencing homelessness can have a lasting impact on mental health and wellbeing. Therapeutic and social activities can help people reconnect with others, build confidence and develop a renewed sense of purpose.

These opportunities are often overlooked by traditional funding streams, but they can play an important role in long-term recovery.

The power of a small charity

Small Charity Week shines a light on the vital role that small charities play in communities across the UK.

Church Homeless Charity is proud to be one of them.

Unlike many larger organisations, we work with a small, dedicated team and a focused mission. This allows us to respond quickly, keep our costs low, and ensure that donations are directed where they can make the greatest difference.

Every grant we award is made possible by the generosity of our supporters.

We receive no government funding and no church funding. Everything we do is funded by people who believe that nobody should be left without the essentials they need to move forward from homelessness.

Looking ahead

The number of people we have helped this year is encouraging, but it is also a reminder that the need for support is not going away.

Every day, our partner organisations continue to identify people who need help getting online, moving into accommodation, replacing essential items, or accessing opportunities that support recovery and independence.

We want to continue meeting that need. We want to help more people move into homes, access essentials, reconnect with opportunities and rebuild their lives.

But we can only do that with continued support from our donors.

As we mark Small Charity Week, we want to thank everyone who has made this work possible. Every donation, regardless of size, has helped create real change for people experiencing homelessness.

Together, we are proving that a small charity can make a big impact. And with your support, we can reach even more people in the year ahead.