Hillcrest HomesLightning Reach is an online application portal designed to help people in financial hardship find and apply for support from multiple providers. With over 2,500 grants and various types of support schemes across the UK, Lightning Reach can connect you to a wide range of assistance based on your circumstances, location, employment history, and other factors. Our platform is continuously expanding to include more support options to meet diverse needs.
Support from partner organisations
You can apply directly to the following partner organisations through the Lightning Reach portal:
Teaching Staff Trust - supporting people who have worked in the education sector for at least five years.
Electrical Industries Charity - supporting people who have worked in the electrical or energy sectors, including their families.
ABTA LifeLine - supporting people who have worked in the travel industry with an ABTA Member, ABTA itself or other organisations engaged in the sale of ABTA products, including their dependants.
Racing Welfare - supporting people who work or who have worked in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industries, including their dependants.
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund - supporting members of the RAF Family by providing practical, emotional, and financial support.
Royal British Legion - supporting members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families.
Lambeth Council - supporting Lambeth residents through Discretionary Housing Payments or Discretionary Council Tax Support Hardship Payments.
Royal Naval Benevolent Trust - supporting serving and former Royal Naval ratings and Royal Marines, other ranks, as well as their partners, children and some others connected to them.
St Giles and St George Education Charity - helping to improve the educational opportunities of local children and young people from birth to 25 years old in parts of Westminster and Camden.
Naval Children's Charity - supporting children up to and including the age of 25 whose parent(s) serve or have served in the Naval Service.
PA Housing - providing a range of support for their residents.
NewstrAid Benevolent Fund - supporting people and their immediate dependants who are facing hardship and who have been employed in the sale or distribution of newspapers and magazines in the UK.
Southern Housing - offering assistance for anyone living in a property managed by Southern Housing (including those previously managed by Optivo).
Charis - delivering the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme for residents living in park homes / static caravans / residential mobile homes.
Citizens Advice North & West Kent - helping those struggling with energy costs or needing energy advice.
SHINE - providing energy advice to Londoners and financial support to residents of Islington.
Torus Foundation - increasing well-being and reducing financial distress for Torus tenants living in financial hardship.
Waythrough - supports Waythrough service users with household and personal items costs.
The Royal Pinner Educational Trust - supports children of sales representatives with educational costs.
The Salespeople's Charity - provides support to B2B salespeople who are facing financial hardship.
Gingerbread - support and expert advice for single parents.
Link Housing - access to free and confidential welfare benefits advice and assistance for Link Housing tenants.
Hillcrest Homes - financial well-being and energy assistance for tenants of Hillcrest Homes, Hillcrest Enterprises, or a service user of Hillcrest Futures.
Support directly with providers
Lightning Reach can also help you find support from other organisations. Here are the types of support available:
Charitable Grants: Hundreds of charities offer grants that don't need to be repaid. Grants are based on various factors like circumstances, location, and work history.
Local Authority Support: Assistance with housing payments, council tax, emergencies, resettlement, free school meals, and home adaptations. Available across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Government Benefits and Support: Complete a benefits check via our partners, Inbest or Policy in Practice, to find out what benefits you may be entitled to. We also match to support from Social Security Scotland and the Welsh Government.
Household Bill Savings: Access social tariffs for services like internet, phone, and water if you're receiving benefits. Schemes to reduce monthly bills or help repay arrears are available across England and Wales.
Local Area Support: Find local organisations offering crisis support, home improvement schemes, educational support, money advice, food banks, and more.
Additional Support: Includes support from banks, money advice agencies, and selected non-financial assistance.
General resources
For benefits advice, cold weather help, and debt management, visit the Moneyhelper, Money Saving Expert, Turn2us, StepChange or Citizens Advice websites. Use the Inbest benefits calculator or contact Citizens Advice for help with benefits.
Crisis support
If you are in crisis or need emergency support, please visit our article on What to do in a crisis.
Note: For those who have applied to Ben, Buttle UK, or National Benevolent Charity directly for a grant, you may be invited to connect your bank accounts via the Lightning Reach portal as part of your application. You can also complete ID checks through the portal for applications to Turn2us or its partners.
Register now
To fill in your profile and find out if we have any partners that can help you, register here on the Lightning Reach portal.