Acts 435 - helping donors step into the gap for those with nowhere else to turn

When so many people need help, giving to charities and good causes can sometimes feel overwhelming and hard. Acts 435 is different. 100% of your donation goes directly to the specific person you choose to help, for food, or a bed or help with energy bills or white goods. Whatever it is that they are struggling to afford. In the past 13 years Acts 435 has helped over 46,000 individuals with over £5,000,000 given for small, specific items. Each of these items makes a big difference in the lives of individuals and families.

Acts 435 partners with over 600 local churches and charities who see the need in their local community first-hand. After seeing a need, either from a conversation with the individual or through a referral from other local sources (such as a school or housing association), the local partner will post the need onto the Acts 435 website. Individuals can then go onto the website and search through the needs, filtering by location or category, and then choose which need(s) to give towards - donating part of the amount, or the whole amount.

Once the request has been fulfilled the money is then transferred to the church/charity to help the individual to source the item that they so desperately need. They then are able to pass on the thanks of the individual back to the donors who gave towards their specific need, giving donors reassurance that their gift made a difference to the person that they gave to.

One of those individuals helped through the work of Acts 435 was Melanie* from Oldham, Manchester. Melanie’s electrics blew, due to an electrical fault, and ruined her toaster, kettle, microwave and vacuum cleaner. She couldn’t afford to replace the items because of her low income and a recent change in circumstances; her daughter had just turned eighteen, was no longer in full time education and therefore had been removed from Melanie’s Universal Credit claim. Adjusting to this new lower income had been difficult for Melanie, but it was also exacerbated by the rise in the cost of living.

Melanie was overwhelmed by her situation, but Acts 435 donors stepped in to help. She then wrote to thank the individuals who gave towards her need:

“I would like to say thank you to Acts 435 for their kindness and understanding of my situation. It is so difficult to ask for help, knowing that there are so many people in a terrible situation. Thank you for making me feel deserving of your help. It’s hard to make most people understand that when you are living hand to mouth, month after month and year after year, that you cannot put anything away for a rainy day. I was overwhelmed when all my essential electrical goods broke at the same time. I did not imagine that I would be able to get help for anything that seemed so trivial when compared to people who have no home and in a lot of cases no food. It’s not just the funds that I am grateful for, it’s the fact that I have been able to keep my dignity. I can’t find enough words to tell you how wonderful you people are and how much of a difference you made to our lives.”

*Name changed

If you would like to find out more about how Acts 435, or would like to donate to an individual’s need, take a look at their website: acts435.org.uk or take a look at the video below.