• 📉 Shrinking Statutory Support: A £1 billion cut in government funding has left a gaping hole in support for vulnerable groups. More charities are chasing fewer pots of money.

• 💸 Cost of Living Crisis: Individual giving has gone down since the pandemic. Only 50% of UK adults donated to charity in 2024 - 4 million fewer than in 2019.

• 🌍 Global Instability: The pandemic, conflict in different regions of the world, and global economic volatility have squeezed both public and private giving.

• 📈 Rising Costs: Charities face higher operating costs and growing demand, pushing fundraising targets even higher and increasing competition for funds.

So the climate is particularly tough at the moment. And within this context we’re a  unique organisation trying to bring about change in ways that don’t always grab the attention of funders. For charities working with refugees and asylum seekers, many funders focus on intensive, specialist casework - legal aid, housing, trauma support. These are essential services, but they’re not the only way to make a difference. 

We offer something different: a warm, community-led approach that fosters belonging through shared meals and storytelling. It’s not about solving individual crises - it’s about preventing isolation and building a network of welcome. This kind of social cohesion is powerful, but it doesn’t fit neatly into conventional metrics. Funders often want hard data: how many people got jobs, housing, or advice. As anyone who has attended a Local Welcome meal will know, the impact of these, where friendships are formed, confidence is built, and barriers are broken, is real.  However, these outcomes - though important and valuable - are less quantifiable (though we think we do a pretty good job).