There are around 9 similar projects around the UK all based on the Bristol Reasons started by Joe Sims in Bristol.
Oxfordshire 500 began donating £500 a month on the 22nd November 2021. Since then we have given to the following listed below:
Be Free Young Carers who had a special Christmas party for 50 young carers.
A local family with small children who had got themselves into difficulties financially and with food/clothes etc.
A family who have a young son seriously ill with cancer. Parents have had to give up work to shield son so are struggling financially.
Help for 4 Afghan refugee families setting up in their own accommodation in Oxfordshire
4 families in need given access to food for 33 weeks through Sofea
Elderly couple who are struggling. She has cancer and he is her carer. Not enough money to eat properly or heat their house.
A single mother with three children. She has fibromyalgia and has had to stop work because of pain and mobility problems. She has been assessed for a disability payment but will not hear the outcome for 4 - 6 weeks.
Two donations this month. Mulberry Bush School who deal with children who have experienced extreme trauma and secondly an individual setting up home with nothing needing white goods and furnishings.
Our July donation has gone to a single mother who is having a hard time at the moment. She suffers from a chronic autoimmune illness and is unable to work. She is waiting for her benefits to come through but she is now behind in her rent and has barely any money to get through the next few weeks.
Two donations in August. One to a single mother living in a flat with two small boys. One of whom has ADHD. She is really struggling at the moment and the boys need new beds. The second donation has gone to someone who has been homeless but has just been given access to some accommodation. He has no recourse to public funds so needs help with furnishings and white goods.
Two donations in September. One to an individual who has worked hard to flee domestic abuse and work his way out of homelessness. He helps at the Gatehouse and never asks for help for himself but he is now falling into debt as his benefit support has been changed and he has to wait several weeks for payment. The other donation went to someone who is a client of Aspire. He worked as a carpenter but sadly now has become ill and is unable to cover his rent so this will tide him over until his benefits arrive.
Two donations in October. One to a CAB client who is a victim of domestic abuse and her ex partner smashed way into her property and caused considerable damage. Has no hoover, winter clothes or a TV. Very short of money. Our other donation went to a family with two small children nominated by Homestart. Mother is waiting for DBS check for a job but they need beds and clothes for the children.
November's donation went to 'Mary' who is caring for a friend's three young children whilst their mother is ill in hospital and their father is nowhere to be seen. She has three children of her own but not enough income to support them all. She has had to pawn some of her belongings for food and rent. She never complains but is very worried about their future.
Two donations in December. The first to a single mother fleeing an abusive relationship and her ex partner broke into her flat and destroyed her possessions. The second to a house in Oxford which cares for young and vulnerable mothers and their babies and pregnant young women who need a roof over their head. The house is in very bad repair.
Two donations in January. A mother who has been left with a 4 month old baby needing help until she can pay her way and secondly a victim of domestic abuse with 4 children under 12. Two of whom have been sexually abused. Needing help in setting up in new accommodation.
Two donations in February. The first to a family whose mother has suffered a brain aneuryrism and her two young children are being looked after by her partner who has had to give up his job and the second to another family where the mother has significant mental health difficulties and a neighbour is looking after her eleven year old daughter. She already has three children so money is very tight.
One donation in March to a single mother who has an autistic and non-verbal child. They are unable to communicate which leads to much frustration. A new communication iPad will help her and her daughter.
Two donations in April. Firstly someone who has had a lot of physical health problems and is homeless but has now been offered sheltered accommodation but needs funds for furniture and household essentials. Secondly a great aunt is caring for her eleven year old great nephew after his mother died from breast cancer at the end of 2022. She already has 3 young children of her own and is struggling to make ends meet. He has an elder sister in London but there is no money for him to go and see her so this money will fund his travel to London for the foreseeable future.
One donation in May to Flexicare which is a local Oxfordshire charity operating since 1985. It provides respite for families who are otherwise in virtual lockdown looking after severely disabled children. As other services have been progressively cut back Flexicare is an absolute lifeline to the many families with disabled and terminally ill children who depend on it. It mainly relies on donations and was very important in helping a friend of one of our members with her son. "As a family we will never ever forget Flexicare's invaluable help. Knowing our son was in the safest of hands, we could leave him, to do ordinary things like go out for a meal, or a walk and once to go to a best friend's wedding."
Two donations in June. A family where the mother is struggling with her mental health and managing her finances. They are relying on food banks. Her 13 year old daughter has been diagnosed with leukaemia and her rehabilitation , after an induced coma, will be long and slow. The second donation went to the primary carer of two very small children. She has debilitating dyslexia but has taken on a part time job at the local pub to pay off her arrears but she is limited in what she can do.
One donation in July went to twin 15 year old boys who were living with their mother but she has some serious drug and alcohol issues and the family were made homeless at the end of last year. The boys are being cared for under a non-permanent arrangement with a family but the boys are very sociable and active and have a a huge interest in boxing and rugby. This money will support the boys with their sporting interests and also educational needs.
Two donations in August. Death threats have been received from her late sister's husband. They were moved into housing in Abingdon in March 2023. They have very few possessions apart from clothing and a fridge. The child has asthma and PTSD and the client has a long term heart condition, joint/mobiity problems along with other health issues which leaves her unable to work and requiring a wheelchair on some occasions. There is crumbling flooring downstairs and only cardboard covering floorboards upstairs, both creating a lot of dust and causing problems for wheelchair use when needed. £500 would be a great help towards carpets. The second donation went to Tandem, a small charity, based in Oxford, run by volunteers that sets up one-to-one befriending partnerships with people who are experiencing periods of mental ill health.
Our donation in September went to Jacob who is 22. He has had a traumatic upbringing where his mother kept him living outside in a tent in her back garden, fed him alcohol at a very young age and treated him like an animal. He is now alcohol free, going to college 3 days a week and doing a construction course whilst completing his Maths and English GCSE's. He is wanting to learn to drive which the £500 would pay for, to enable him to have more opportunities for work out of Oxford.
October's donation went to a mother whose partner left her and their baby son. Her ex-partner is military which meant she had to leave their family home and find somewhere for herself and her baby boy to live. She secured a job and, after lots of battling, managed to move to other accommodation through social housing. It is a first floor flat and is expensive to rent. She has no curtains. Instead she is temporarily using sheets. But now the colder weather is approaching she would like curtains for warmth and privacy.
Two donations in November. The first to a family fleeing domestic violence. After 20 years client separated from partner in 2022. She and her 2 daughters have been living in a refuge and a Travel Lodge. The family now live in a housing association home in Oxfordshire but all 3 suffer with mental health issues. She was working as a delivery driver but after an accident claims Universal Credit and is the carer for her 2 daughters. They are slowly starting to build their life back together with support from Citizens Advice. They are struggling to furnish their new flat and have no bedroom furniture and need a bed. The second to James who recently came to the Gatehouse for some casework support. He explained his troubled past and was previously housed with Aspire. He has been offered a tenancy and he is housed in this property. He has been very grateful for the support from the Gatehouse and we would love to offer him more. A mattress, curtains and a laptop to try and access work and benefits himself, which is a great step towards his independence.
Three donations in December. The first to a 40 year old woman left with nothing after suffering years of abusive behaviour from her spouse. She has two sons aged 11 and 13 and is in temporary accommodation with no furnishings. Secondly we gave a donation to an 80 year old disabled woman who lost her husband a week ago. He left no money and she only receives £94 a week. She is trying to deal with the bereavement and money worries and the money will tide her over until her benefits can be sorted. Finally we gave a donation to a single parent fleeing domestic violence with two children aged 10 and 4.
We have given two donations this month. The first to a family for whom life is desperately difficult. They have a seriously disabled daughter in need of 24 hour care which is totally provided by her mother as father has early onset dementia. The second nominated by Homestart, to a family who are really struggling. They have very little support or furniture. All four of them are sleeping on the floor and the mother has poor mental health.
Two donations in February. The first to an individual who has been sleeping on the streets and needed a deposit for the temporary accommodation that he has been given through the Porch. This will enable him to continue his new full time employment and to move forward. Secondly we gave to a family with two young children who have taken in their 15 year old cousin who can't live with her parents as they are deemed unsafe. They want to furnish a room for her so that she has a space of her own and the fostering team feel they have gone above and beyond.
Two donations in March. The first to a single mother with 5 children whose second hand cooker has broken and she can't afford another and secondly to a grandmother who is caring for her 3 grandchildren as they cannot live with their mother as it was deemed unsafe. She is struggling with fibromyalgia and needs some financial help.
We have given two donations in April. The first to a family with two children aged 2 and 4 months. She is on maternity leave and her husband, who is self employed, is off sick due to waiting for an operation. He is not able to go back to work and they are struggling on very low income. Secondly we gave a donation to someone sadly diagnosed with breast cancer who is unable to work. She has no recourse to public funds and needs income to pay for her rent whilst having 16 weeks of chemo.
Two donations in May. The first to a carer who goes above and beyond looking after a 14 year old child who was abandoned by his parents. Secondly we gave a donation to a family of 5 (children aged 10, 8 and 1 year). The father has had an accident and can't work and mother has a postnatal illness and they are really struggling financially.
Two donations in June, The first to a single mother who is fleeing domestic violence. She has two children under 5, is suffering from PTSD and is trying to furnish their accommodation. At the moment she shares a single bed with her youngest. The second donation went to a small charity called Cornermen which focuses on male mental health and suicide prevention.
We have given three donations in July. The first to a single mother with 3 children who is really struggling financially. The second to a single father who has mental health issues. He worked for the army in Afghanistan and has limited benefits and finally to a Zimbabwean national who is a dedicated care worker who can't find work due to sponsorship difficulties.
We gave two donations in August. The first to a family of four with a seven year old who is autistic and non verbal who needs an ipad or something similar to communicate with his family and a second to A who is a long term drug user who is successfully turning her life around. She is working but needs help funding a deposit for independent accommodation. Nominated by Oxfordshire Homeless.
We gave two donations in September. The first to a young single mother who has just been offered accommodation but the flat has no furnishings and the second to a Syrian refugee with two young children. Husband is stranded in Lebanon because of the war. She is very depressed and isolated and uses the food bank continuously. She needs help financially.
We gave two donations in October. The first to a young single mother who has just been offered independent accommodation but the flat is totally unfurnished. Nominted by Homestart. The second to an Oxfordshire Homeless client who has had to flee from abuse and is attempting to raise a deposit for her new accommodation.
Two donations in November. The first to a single man, nominated by Homeless Oxfordshire, who has finally been given accommodation but it has no furnishings and he needs assistance to buy some basic things and the second, nominated by Homestart, to a single mother of 2 who has lost her mother who she was very close to and recently her partner and the father of the two boys has left. Mother is just about managing but her mental health is suffering. The youngest of the 2 boys is aggressive, unpredictable and destructive. Both boys need bedding.
Two donations this month. The first to grandparents caring for their two grandchildren as mother is unable to care for them. They are coping with significant bed wetting and their dryer has broken down. They were nominated by Oxford City Fostering and the second to a family supported by Flexicare. She is a single parent with a 12 year old severely disabled son. She is struggling to support her family and provide clothing and food for her family.
Two donations in January. the first to a family nominated by Homestart, where the father has become ill and remains in hospital. Mother and children are struggling financially and the second, nominated by City Fostering, to a family who are looking after children whose mother is awaiting trial. They need help with extra gas bills and mattresses for the children.
One donation in February to a District Nurse who has taken into her family an 11 year old boy whose parents are unable to keep him safe due to addiction and mental health struggles. He is hoping to go on a residential school trip but the carer can't afford to send him as she is struggling herself. Nominated by City Fostering
Three donations of £500 in March. The first to grandparents who are looking after an 8 year old who can't live with her mother due to witnessing domestic violence perpetrated by her mother's partner and chronic neglect. Nominated by City Fostering. Secondly nominated by Homeless Oxfordshire an individual who has lost his home and has been living on the street. The trauma of which has significatntly affected his mental health. Finally a family who have a child with down syndrome, autism and mobility issues who required surgery last year. Her needs are great and she requires constant supervision and ensuring the home is a safe place is a constant. Nominated by Flexicare.
