MoneySavingExpert Charity Fund

Martin explains why the MSE Charity was set up...

Where does the MSE Charity cash come from?

The money is generated from two sources:

• Donations from well-wishers.

  Anyone who wants to support the charity is more than welcome; for the many who have said they'd like to donate to MoneySavingExpert as it's saved them money, please donate to the charity instead.

  You can donate by contacting info@msecharity.com or by sending a cheque payable to the MSE Charity to its treasurer Tony Tesciuba, at The Chambers, 13 Police Street, Manchester, M2 7LQ. A Gift Aid declaration form can be provided on request.

• An annual donation from this site.

  A donation of over £235,000 was made to launch the charity, and it's hoped a substantial donation will continue to be made each year. This includes all of Martin's proceeds from the Thrifty Ways and Three Lessons books.

  All this cash – less some small administration costs, which aren't expected to exceed 10% of income – will go directly to the grant fund (the cost of the day-to-day operation of the charity is met by a separate personal donation from Martin).

Nine projects benefit from Nov '18 grant-giving round

Another group of organisations is about to improve the lives of people across the UK following the MSE Charity's November grant-giving round, with over £51,000 being awarded.

The round focused on building and developing resilience and the nine projects to benefit are:

• Citizens Advice St Albans District – will employ a financial capability worker to provide support and training to carers and those living with dementia, covering topics such as switching energy supplier.
  
  
• Faithworks Wessex – a registered charity which is going to work with 82 ex-offenders to provide money clinics and money management tips.
  
  
• GL11 – another registered charity, based in Gloucestershire, which will run a 'managing my money' project to support 30 people with learning difficulties to develop life skills around money, budgeting, benefits and cooking on a budget.
  
  
• Lampeter Family Centre – a registered charity based in mid-Wales, which is to run a 'cook well for less' project for 50 parents and children, including how to prepare and cook a healthy, budget-friendly meal.
  
  
• Manningham Project – this registered charity is planning to deliver eight money management courses for people with English as a second language in Bradford, focusing on six main areas: bills, budgeting, banking, borrowing, welfare and payslips.
  
  
• Money A+E – this social enterprise will deliver a 'money mentors' project to 35 disadvantaged BAME (black, Asian, minority ethnic) participants, with financial capability training and 12 of the 35 being supported to become mentors and pass on what they've learned to others.
  
  
• PACE – which stands for ProActive Community Endeavours – is a registered charity from Leicestershire. Its course will cover the practical and psychological effects and causes of debt, how to manage personal finances, and will also provide support and counselling services.
  
  
• Work Skills South West – a 'community interest company' based in Cornwall, which will deliver a 'confidence with cash' project for vulnerable young people with learning difficulties or mental health issues.

For more information on these organisations, see the MSE Charity website.

As well as the MSE Charity, there are five other charities that benefit, having been nominated and voted for by site users. For many of these, the donations have made a real difference. For example, Re-Cycle has been included in the site's selected charities for years; it sends old bicycles from the UK to the developing world, which are then fixed up. It also builds transport infrastructure.

The current charities

The last vote took place in July '08 and the following five charities were selected:

• Re-Cycle: Fighting poverty with affordable transport.
  
• Help for Heroes: Direct support for our forces' wounded.
• Shelterbox: Providing tools for the developing world.
• CAP UK: Debt-counselling charity.
• Samaritans: Providing confidential emotional support to the UK.

Donations between 1 September 2006 and 21 July 2008