FOR Ellena Jackson, a chance encounter with a little-known fund brought much-needed relief when she was struggling for money.
The 43-year-old left her teaching job last Easter and soon found it was hard to keep on top of her groceries and bills.
The scheme has dished out more than £10m in free cash[/caption]
After being unemployed for a couple of months, Ellena was in dire need of financial assistance.
Ellena was working as a teaching assistant, but suddenly found she had to leave her job to care for her grandmother, who has dementia.
Living in her grandmother’s one-bedroom flat, Ellena struggled to make ends meet amid the rising cost of living.
She explained: “I didn’t know where to go, not knowing what’s out there especially if you are working or have a part-time job.
“Some people don’t necessarily know there are places that can help.”
Fortunately for her, she was checking in on her TSB banking app one day when she spotted a pop-up on her screen about a platform called Lightning Reach.
Lightning Reach is a platform which helps those struggling with money find grants they could be eligible for.
Ellena told The Sun: “I knew that I needed some help, but honestly didn’t know where to turn.
“While on my Internet banking app, I spotted information about financial assistance available through a platform called Lightning Reach, so decided to give it a go.”
“I hadn’t applied for government help, but I didn’t have anything coming in, so it was kind of like a lifeline for me,” she added.
When the £200 came through, it was a “massive relief”.
She used the money for everyday bills and essentials, helping her get through a tough month.
Ellena, who lives in London, was reluctant to apply for benefits or other schemes.
“I think when you’re a certain age – I’m 43 – you were brought up not to ask for help or take financial help,” she explained.
Ellena had never heard of Lightning Reach before, but that click turned out to be a game-changer.
Getting the cash
After following a link to Lightning Reach and filling in a short form about her situation, a whole list of grants popped up that Ellena could apply for.
Lightning Breach offers a filter system that tailors available funds to your specific situation.
Then users can sift through what’s filtered.
“It was really straightforward actually. I didn’t have to wait too long,” she said.
“The requirements were basic: bank details, bank statements, and employment status.”
For Ellena, the Teaching Staff Trust was the best fit and it took her just moments to apply.
Within minutes she was told she could get the £200 cash grant.
“I was quite surprised to receive the money, as I really didn’t expect to,” she said.
It took just over a week and a half for her to receive the cash directly to her bank account.
It solved a lot of her issues all at once, while also not making her feel like she’d taken a handout.
Ellena said: “There’s a stigma attached to asking the government for assistance, but receiving funds from something completely separate like Lightning Reach really took the stigma away for me.
“The portal was very easy to use and access information. It made me feel secure, especially because it was connected to my bank (TSB).”
She added: “It makes you feel like you’re not alone and that other people are going through the same thing.
“This award has eased the burden of upcoming bills and will help alleviate my other costs. The support made a significant difference in reducing my mental health worries.”
What is Lightning Reach and how does it work?
TSB’s banking app connects customers to Lightening Reach which can quickly tell struggling households which grants or payments they may be entitled to.
The bank said more than £50,000 has been paid to customers since it started the scheme in April 2023.
Nicola Bannister, Customer Support Director, TSB, said: “Our partnership with Lightning Reach is proving vital to customers with money worries, by connecting them to the financial support they didn’t know existed.
“If you’re struggling with finances talk to your bank – as there may be help readily available to you.”
Lightning Reach officially launched in 2023, and has around 2,500 grants on its portal from an array of organisations, all available to qualifying applicants.
TSB says the average successful applicant receives £1,070 with £10million awarded through the portal so far.
The top types of support awarded through the portal are energy and utilities, food and essential items, furniture and appliances, clothing and housing costs.
Ellena isn’t the only one who has received hundreds of pounds of help through the portal.
Becci James stopped using her car because she couldn’t afford the fuel, but through Lightning Reach, she got £1,000 in extra cost-of-living payments for groceries.
Plus, Jessica Wheeler was struggling to afford even basic essentials for her baby boy before finding the scheme.
She managed to secure £1,240 in payments for baby essentials with the little-known scheme.
If you are not a TSB customer you can access Lightening Reach directly at lightningreach.org/application-portal.
You can also search for grants at Turn2us grants-search.turn2us.org.uk.
How to get support
Nicola also shared her tips if you find yourself struggling with finances.
Contact your bank: Speaking to your bank does not affect your credit rating and can be the first step to finding a better solution and getting financial help.
Check for unclaimed grants: Lightning Reach and other benefit calculators can make sure you’re not missing out on money you’re entitled to.
Set your budget: Rising bills and prices mean it’s important to know how much money is coming in and going out, so you don’t overspend.
Look for where you can make savings: Use your banking app to cancel outgoings like Direct Debits and subscriptions you no longer need.
Don’t delay: If you are worried it’s best to take action as soon as you can, rather than allowing the situation to get worse. Organisations like StepChange, Money Helper, the National Debtline or Citizens Advice can all provide free advice if you are struggling with debts.
Where to find financial help
There are several other grants and cash payments you can get if you’re struggling.
Household support fund
You might be able to get help with essential costs from your local council through a programme called the Household Support Fund (HSF).
The funding is designed to help people who are vulnerable or can’t afford to pay for necessities like energy bills, water bills, and food.
Some councils offer food vouchers to families during the school holidays, as well through the scheme.
Eligibility criteria vary by council, so you need to check your local authority’s website to see what’s available and how to apply.
Local welfare assistance schemes
Most councils also have local welfare assistance schemes designed to help families in severe financial hardship.
Again, the eligibility criteria vary by council, and how much you can get will depend on your specific circumstances.
Most councils say they will prioritise families who need urgent access to food.
The support you get could be money, vouchers, or referrals to other organisations such as food banks.
Energy grants from suppliers
Most major energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
Eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
If your energy company doesn’t have a scheme available, you could consider switching to one that does.
Fuel vouchers
If you’re having difficulty paying your energy bills and use a prepayment meter, or if you use alternative heating sources such as oil, LPG, coal, or wood, you may be eligible for a fuel voucher from your local council.
A fuel voucher gives you credit for your gas and electricity supply without having to pay in advance.
You’ll receive a code in a letter, text message or email which you can use to add the credit.
You can use a fuel voucher at a Post Office, a shop signed up to Payzone or a shop signed up to PayPoint. You’ll need to take the code and a form of ID.
Help paying your water bills
Many water companies provide free water-saving devices to households to help reduce their bills.
Contact your supplier to learn about available assistance and visit the SaveWaterSaveMoney website for more information. You can also check whether you qualify for a discounted water butt.
GetWaterFit says that the average saving per person is £104 a year.
Debt help
If you’re concerned about debt, don’t bury your head in the sand.
Citizens Advice says it’s important to work out a budget and keep an eye on your bank balance.
Try and pay off more than the minimum on credit cards each month, and pay your most expensive credit card first.
If you’ve got several debts and can’t pay them all, it’s important to prioritise.
Your rent, mortgage, council tax and energy bills should be paid first because the consequences can be more serious if you don’t pay.
Groups like Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline can help you manage your debt and negotiate with your creditors.
You should always have a look at what free options are available for managing debt before you turn to a private firm for support.
There’s also a specific government scheme to help manage debt called Breathing Space, which gives you the right to legal protection from creditors for up to 60 days.
The FCA said consumers can get free and impartial advice from the MoneyHelper website or by telephone on 0800 138 7777.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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