Mother Humber Memorial Fund

The Mother Humber Memorial Fund, a charitable trust rooted in early 20th-century Kingston upon Hull, exists to relieve poverty and distress among local residents facing acute financial hardship, predating the modern welfare state. Governed by unpaid trustees with deep Hull ties, including Hull City Council nominees, it embodies compassion, fairness, and hyper-localism by delivering practical, direct aid—never cash or debt relief—to vulnerable individuals and families, ensuring resources sustain basic living standards through payments straight to suppliers.

It prioritizes essential new household goods for Hull residents verified in crisis: white goods like fridges and cookers, basic furniture, clothing, bedding, and limited flooring (one room unless exceptional). These targeted interventions stabilize lives—e.g., a cooker for a homeless single parent or bedding for someone exiting temporary housing—focusing on durable, standard items to restore dignity and safety, drawn from frontline experiences.

Eligible applicants are exclusively recognised agencies (e.g., social services, Citizens Advice Bureau) referring Hull residents; no direct individual or unsolicited applications from charities or groups, with no income thresholds but a preference for small, grassroots entities serving the city. Trustees review manually at monthly meetings (second Tuesday), requiring submissions by the prior Wednesday via email with full financials, quotes, and support letters.

Grants typically range up to £500 for single items, excluding tumble dryers (fire risk), gas appliances, luxury/specialist goods, or multiples without justification. This makes it a distinctive last-resort lifeline: strictly Hull-bound, referral-gated, values-driven, and specialised in material essentials over general poverty aid, fostering self-sufficiency amid exhausted statutory support.