“I saw the word Roshni on the internet, and it resonated with me, here l was standing in darkness and Roshni was inviting light in my life…  the words of one (anonymous) recipient of the National Grid Community Matters Fund (Fuel Poverty Plus) fund delivered by Localgiving to Roshni Birmingham.

This fantastic charity supports black and marginalized female victims of domestic abuse, along with their children. They specialize in catering to women with ‘no recourse to public funds’, a particularly vulnerable group often overlooked by mainstream services. The ongoing cost of living crisis, the lack of council housing, government cuts and the long impact of Covid-19 all mean that Roshni Birmingham are facing more challenges than ever before. In short, domestic abuse services are over stretched and under resourced.

In the Winter of 2023, Roshni Birmingham received a £10,000 (Fuel Poverty Plus) grant from National Grid Electricity Distribution. With this funding, the Roshni team bought thick new curtains for 13 rooms in their refuge, retaining heat better, cutting already high energy bills and making the space brighter and more welcoming as well as warmer and cosier. In addition to the curtains, the fund also paid for a new duvet and fleece for every resident on arrival. Together, these items not only provide warmth and comfort but help alleviate the financial burden of equipping new accommodation.

And we are immensely proud that this important partnership between Roshni Birmingham, National Grid and Localgiving has been recognised by the 2024 Charity Times Awards in being nominated for an award in the Corporate Community Local Involvement category.

Since its launch in 2021, the Community Matters Fund has awarded £10.5 million to grassroots organisations across the Midlands, South-West and South Wales. The award to Roshni Birmingham was part of £5m of funding made available to tackle fuel poverty in the communities that National Grid Electricity Distribution serves. 

All at Roshni Birmingham ( @RoshniBham )  are proud to be nominated for this leading award, with Shaila Pervez from the team there, telling us: "As someone deeply committed to empowering our community, being nominated for a Charity Times Award is an incredible honour. This recognition not only validates the hard work and dedication of our team at Roshni but also shines a spotlight on the vital issues we strive to address every day. It serves as a powerful reminder that our efforts are making a meaningful impact, and it motivates us to continue our mission with even greater passion and determination. I am profoundly grateful for this acknowledgement and excited about the future possibilities it brings for our community."

To share just one example of the impact of the Community Matters Fund on Roshni Birmingham’s community: “I saw the word Roshni on the internet, and it resonated with me, here l was standing in darkness and Roshni was the inviting light in my life.  I took the biggest step in my life to make that call. This was the hardest thing l did in my life. I’m grateful to funders of this grant, they have listened to our needs and have made a huge difference to our lives.’’

On being nominated for this Charity Times award, Ellie Patey, Community Engagement Manager, National Grid said: “I am delighted to see the collaboration between National Grid Electricity Distribution, Roshni Birmingham and Localgiving shortlisted for this Award, recognising our collective efforts to tackle fuel poverty over the winter. Roshni Birmingham truly deserves to be celebrated for the positive difference they make for their residents, and I am proud of the support we were able to provide through the Community Matters Fund to Roshni Birmingham and other grassroots organisations alleviating fuel poverty in our communities.”

The grant was promoted, managed, and distributed by Localgiving who since 2012 has connected grassroots organisations with donations, fundraising and grants plus resources and support, helping thousands of UK community groups do amazing things every day.

Luke Upton, Head of Communications at Localgiving added: “The team here are absolutely delighted to have had our work with Roshni Birmingham and National Grid recognised by the Charity Times Awards. We are very proud to be able to support organisations making a big difference to their communities and few make as huge an impact as Roshni Birmingham, providing an invaluable support to people at an incredibly challenging time. We are excited for the Awards and good luck to all the other fantastic nominees!”

The Charity Times Awards ( @CharityTimes ) return for the 25th year, they celebrate best practice in the UK charity and not-for-profit sector, with the winners announced on 25 September 2024 at the Awards Gala dinner, taking place at London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square.