Story
The Charity
London Catalyst has been fighting poverty and ill-health in London since 1873. This year is the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the charity.
We provide funding for community health projects such as Headway West London’s support for brain injury survivors leaving hospital.
We also provide ‘Samaritan’ grants to hospital social work teams and advice services. The funds are used for emergency assistance to help people in desperate need; providing food, clothing, travel and items for personal care. Those who receive help are often caught in a poverty trap, homeless, destitute and ineligible for, or excluded from, state benefits.
H was admitted to hospital under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act and her benefits stopped. On discharge she went home to a flat with no heating. The Samaritan grant enabled us to provide food and put credit on her heating card so that her children, who had been in foster care whilst she was in hospital, could visit. Her benefits were reinstated weeks later but without the grant the anxiety and stress could have resulted in her re-admission to hospital. (Wandsworth CMHT)
T suffers psychotic episodes and was detained in hospital, a small grant provided bedding when he was discharged'. (Springfield Hospital)
V is a carer who looks after her severely autistic daughter and works providing respite care. A mix up with the DWP led to a suspension of her benefits. We helped with a grant for electric and food until her payment was received. (Brent Carers Centre)
The History
In 1873 the Lord Mayor of London brought together civic leaders to establish an appeal to help the ‘sick and poor’ of London. It was agreed that each year a collection should be made to improve the health of Londoners. The founding members of the ‘Metropolitan Hospital-Sunday Fund’ (MHSF) included Florence Nightingale, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Henry Smith MP. MHSF was renamed London Catalyst in 1999.
The Philanthropist
One of the original benefactors was George Herring (1832-1906) who was brought up in the slums of Clerkenwell and began work as a carver in a boiled beef shop. Possessing a shrewd instinct for gambling he began with horses before graduating to the stock market where he amassed a fortune. He lived modestly and championed the social reforms of the day; public hospitals, alms houses and the work of General Booth’s Salvation Army. He was a great supporter of the MHSF and challenged others to give and match his £10,000 annual donation to the charity.
The Challenge
In the current cost of living crisis poverty is endemic in London with 4 in every 10 people (39%) having an income below what is needed for a minimum standard of living, more than a quarter (27%) of those in families that include a disabled person live in poverty. (PSC Report 2023). In a time of crisis the more money we raise the more people we can help. In this our 150th year we welcome one-off donations or a regular standing order. Every donation goes directly to those in need.
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