Hardship Grants

The COSARAF Foundation Hardship Fund offers grants to individuals and families living in the UK who are experiencing significant financial hardship. Grants of up to £2,000 are available, though only in exceptional circumstances will individual grants exceed £500. The Foundation distributes both Zakat and Sadaqah funds, with Sadaqah available to people of all faiths and Zakat specifically for Muslim applicants. Applications must be made through a third-party social organisation acting as a referral partner, and the fund prioritizes the most financially excluded people, families over individuals, and those with caring responsibilities. The Hardship Fund supports essential needs including household items (white goods and furniture), basic living expenses (utilities and food), work or education-related expenses (interview clothes, school uniforms, laptops), rent and council tax arrears where there is risk of homelessness, and contributions to immigration-related costs that directly cause financial hardship. The referral partner must remain involved throughout the process and manage the disbursement of grants through a reimbursement system. Applications are assessed every six weeks with responses provided within eight weeks. Applicants must demonstrate they have exhausted all other sources of funding and are taking advantage of all local support services. Awards must be spent within 2 months, and all receipts must be submitted within 60 days. The fund does not provide emergency relief and operates on a regular assessment cycle.