Toynbee Hall is a charitable organisation with an unrivalled 130 year history of helping the disadvantaged in the East End of London. Before the advent of the welfare state, Toynbee Hall was actively caring and providing crucial social services to those in need. The ethos of bringing future leaders, such as Clement Attlee and William Beveridge, face to face with poverty is one which brought much needed, radical social change to our country.

In the wake of increased austerity and cuts to social services, Toynbee Hall's work in providing free financial and legal advice is more valuable than ever. In Tower Hamlets, 49% of children and 50% of adults live below the poverty line - the highest ranking borough on both counts - and, in addition to high rates of long-term illness, unemployment and premature death, there are 9,300 households living in overcrowded accommodation.

Last year, Toynbee Hall helped 12,000 people confronted with a bleak future of economic struggle and social isolation. More needs to be done, however, and I would therefore very much appreciate it if you could help me in my modest contribution towards furthering the cause of this noble organisation.