Turn2us

Over 14 million people currently live in poverty in the UK, including 4.5 million children. Turn2us was set up to respond to this need.

The charity has six core objectives:

1. Deliver high-quality, practical programmes that include information and financial support so that people can build their own financial sustainability and thrive.

2. Deliver even better impact for people facing financial hardship through the co-production of our work with experts who have lived experience, in collaboration with other organizations and through a dedication to insight, evaluation, learning and improvement.

3. Build the profile of Turn2us and its work to reach people facing life-changing events and experiencing poverty and secure support for the work.

4. Develop our influence on policy, practice and public opinion, tackling the prejudice towards people experiencing poverty and insisting on their fundamental rights to access social security.

5. Invest in our culture, systems, knowledge and skills.

6. Maximise our assets and secure income ethically to achieve impact.

The charity holds a number of regular campaigns aimed at raising awareness of issues relating to poverty and raising funds for charitable activity. In 2014 the fuel poverty campaign was supported by a number of politicians including Brooks Newmark, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey, Cheryl Gillan and Dan Jarvis.

In 2015 the Independent newspaper reported "The charity is launching a new "Cut out the Cold" campaign to highlight the help that struggling people can get with energy costs. Its research suggests that seven out of 10 families have never heard of the Warm Home Discount scheme, for instance, which hands hard-up folk a £140 discount on their electricity bill. The research also reveals that half of hard-up families have not checked their eligibility for benefits while almost nine out of 10 have not checked what free charitable grants may exist. We need to see more done to help raise awareness of the financial support and help available to manage energy bills," said Alison Taylor. "It is vital that people on low incomes are not left behind.”[6]

In November 2015 the charity launched its No Cold Homes campaign to raise awareness of those struggling to afford to heat their homes. The campaign drew support from a range of high-profile celebrities who donated winter items to raise money for the charity.[7] Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren, who donated to the campaign, commenting, "I'm pleased to play a part in helping more families get the vital help they need this winter."[8]

In 2016 the charity released new research as part of the No Cold Homes campaign highlighting the extent to which people are unaware of the support that is available. In response to the findings, Turn2us brought together representatives of the 'big six' energy companies to discuss the problem, which attracted broad media coverage.[9]

In 2017 the charity launched a new campaign, #LivingWithout. The campaign draws attention to the scale and consequences of living without basic household appliances such as fridges, freezers, ovens and washing machines.

On 1 October 2009, Elizabeth Finn Care and Turn2us legally merged to form a single charity, to provide more effective help to the 14 million people currently living in poverty in the UK.[10] At the time of the reintegration it was decided that the two parts of the newly formed charity would preserve their separate identities.

In 2014 the charity embarked on a project to look into the impact of coming under one brand. As a result of the consultation, it was announced that Elizabeth Finn Care and Turn2us were to become Turn2us.[11] On 18 May 2015 the charity formally came under the Turn2us name and a new logo and strap-line was produced to reflect the changes.

When the charity began operating under the Turn2us brand in May 2015, it consolidated the charitable activity of Turn2us, Elizabeth Finn Care and Elizabeth Finn Grants under one name.[12] Elizabeth Finn Homes Limited was not impacted by the reintegration and remains a separate brand. The largest activity as a proportion of charitable expenditure is direct grant giving. In 2017/18 the charity gave £4 million to over 3,859 individuals.[13]

The other main area of charitable activity is through raising awareness of financial support through the charity website turn2us.org.uk[14] The charity's Annual Report claims that in 2017/18 almost 7 million people used the website.

Website

The Turn2us website is designed to help people find appropriate sources of financial support, quickly and easily, based on their particular needs and circumstances.

The website includes:

• A benefits calculator that helps people ensure they are receiving all the welfare benefits they may be entitled to
• A grants search containing the details of over 3,500 charitable funds (national, regional and local) that may be able to provide financial support and other services
• A confidential 'My Turn2us' online account that can be used to make enquiries and applications to grant-giving charities
• Information and resources on welfare benefits, grants and managing money
• A Find an Adviser tool to help users find local advisers, according to their needs.

Helpline

The Turn2us Helpline supports individuals who cannot access or use the Turn2us website.

The Helpline is an independent telephone and online service providing:

• Welfare benefits calculations
• Grants searches and support to apply for grants
• Information and signposting

• Youtube channel

• Official website