Reaching People Member Charity Link – a Leicester-based charity supporting people in financial hardship and crisis – has a range of activities planned throughout 2026 to mark its 150th birthday.
Since 1876, Charity Link has been helping to improve the health, wellbeing and dignity of people in need in Leicester. Offering support during the Spanish Flu epidemic, two World Wars, recessions, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis, Charity Link has been providing support. Today, Charity Link supplies essential items, including clothing, beds, white goods, and medical and mobility equipment, to disadvantaged individuals and families across Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire. It helps around 5,000 people each year, a third of whom are children and young people.
‘Partnership’ has always been the heart of Charity Link’s work, and the charity receives referrals from 250 charities and community organisations to ensure it can get help to those who need it, when they need it. To provide a sustainable income stream, the charity also runs a Trust Administration Service, which provides governance and clerkship support to other not-for-profit organisations, and a social enterprise, The Goods Depot, that (in addition to providing essential items to Charity Link clients), gives a cost-effective retail offering to businesses and organisations.
As part of its milestone year, Charity Link is hosting a range of special activities, including a Birthday Ball on 5th June, its annual Leicestershire 3 Peaks Challenge in September and a ‘Supporter Thank You’ event in November. It is also asking individuals and organisations to be part of its ‘150 Club’ by pledging to raise £150 during the year.
Sue McEniff, CEO of Charity Link, says: “Whilst Charity Link has made – and continues to make – a massive impact, like most in the voluntary sector, we are facing extremely challenging times with rising overheads and a drop in donations. We hope our special birthday year will encourage interest in our work and support to ensure we can continue our vital work for years to come. The huge difference we make is only possible thanks to the many referral partners and organisations we work with to reach people in need across our community.
“We’d love to hear from anyone interested in finding out more about our work and how we may be able to work together to make an even greater impact in the future.”
Read more about Charity Link’s long history in its special birthday publications, along with details of its birthday activities, at www.charity-link.org/150 or by emailing hello@charity-link.org
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