Winter warmer bundles provide emergency help as cold weather bites

As wintry weather takes hold, a winter warmer bundle provided by a charity’s trading arm is flying off the shelves to help people on a low income keep warm and cook a hot meal in the months ahead, while keeping energy bills down.

The winter warmer bundle includes items such as a thick blanket, oil filled radiator, microwave, slow cooker and air fryer and is being supplied to grant-makers trying to keep people warm and fed.

It has been put together by Family Fund Business Services, the trading arm of charity Family Fund, the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families with disabled and seriously ill children, living on a low income.

Family Fund supports families with grantsfor essential items such as kitchen appliances, clothing, bedding, sensory toys, computers and tablets, much-needed family breaks.

The charity used its expertise in procuring large quantities of essential goods from suppliers, to set up its own company, Family Fund Business Services, which gifts 100% of its profits back to the charity.

Phil Henderson, director of Family Fund Business Services said: “For our winter warmer bundle we have worked hard to get urgent access to value-for-money quantities of air fryers, slow cookers, thick blankets and oil filled radiators from suppliers.

“This means that they are readily, and easily, available for organisations such as local authorities and other charities to provide them for people struggling with the cost of living this winter and seeking emergency help to keep warm and make hot food. The demand for our winter bundle is growing by the day”.

Family Fund Business Services secures income through its expertise and collective buying power for essential goods with suppliers. It works on behalf of other charities, local authorities and housing associations seeking to help people in need

It provides value-for-money, easy access to thousands of essential products, including washing machines, furniture, energy vouchers and food vouchers for organisations supporting those facing hardship such as veterans, refugees and those struggling financially to meet their most basic needs.

Phil Henderson added: “The winter warmer bundles demonstrate a unique business model which delivers social value twice over.

“The expertise of Family Fund Business Services in securing cost-effective contracts for essential goods with suppliers, means the money of local councils, charities and other organisations goes further to help those in greatest need.

“But its work also helps to secure the future of the Family Fund charity so that Family Fund, in turn, can carry on its vital work of helping even more families with disabled children on a low income.”

Profits from Family Fund Business Services has helped the charity significantly increase its reach. Last year, Family Fund provided over 170,919 grants and services worth over £37 million to families across the UK.