Food bank, homelessness support and other poverty relief charities are sharing £5.25m in funding from the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust to support their work over Christmas.

A total of 49 charities, including those with a UK wide focus as well as local organisations in east Cheshire, Gloucestershire and London, will benefit from this annual Christmas donation from the philanthropists’ trust.

This is the fifth year the Rausing’s Trust has run its Christmas giving campaign, with this year’s total is double the amount given last year.

The largest grant of £3.5m is being handed to food bank charity The Trussell Trust, which also benefitted from the funder's 2022 emergency foodbank appeal.

The Trussell Trust estimates 600,000 people will use its food bank services between December and February amid the cost of living crisis. This will be the highest level of need it has recorded.

“Food banks in our network are facing their most challenging winter yet, expecting to provide more than a million emergency food parcels over the next three months which equates to a parcel every 8 seconds,” said Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie.

“As we see more people experiencing hardship and needing to access a food bank, many for the first time, we’re extremely grateful to Julia and Hans Rausing for their generous support.

“This remarkable grant will help ensure that our network of food banks can continue to provide much-needed support in their communities, as we continue to work towards a future where everyone can afford the essentials.”

Homelessness charity Glass Door is also benefitting, from £400,000 over the next two years to fund a shortfall in its emergency winter accommodation in West London, which supports 105 people a night.

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire Community Foundation has received £30,000 for its ‘poverty hurts’ appeal, which provides food and clothing to deprived communities in Gloucestershire.

“Christmas is a time for giving, and it is clear from our conversations with charities across the UK that many people are going to find this year exceptionally difficult,” said Julia and Hans Rausing.

“The cost-of-living crisis over the past 12 months has left more people in need of support while charities have fewer resources to provide help.

“The charities we are supporting this year are all making a significant difference to those in need, bringing some seasonal cheer to people facing a challenging winter. We encourage others who have the means, to give generously to charities delivering excellent work across the UK this festive period.”

---