Foothold provides a lifetime of help and support to engineers and their families, ensuring that they don’t have to face life’s challenges alone.
They are a benevolent fund with a very long history, founded by a community-minded group of engineers all the way back in 1890. Their first grant was made in 1900 and was for £20, the equivalent of around £2,500 today!
People turn to Foothold because they know they can respond quickly in their hour of need. Their support helps them with their physical, mental, and financial wellbeing at a time when things could become overwhelming.
They still make grants to this day, either one-off grants for specific costs and items, or regular grant payments for those affected by long-term financial challenges – one of the things that really sets them apart from many grant-making charities is that their support isn’t time limited.
This is because they know that sometimes life events (ill health, disability, bereavement, mental health crises etc) create a challenge so significant for an individual or a family that short-term support isn’t going to be enough.
They also have their award-winning Engineering Neurodiverse Future’s programme, which supports aspiring engineers who suspect they are neurodiverse but have yet to receive a full diagnosis. They help with assessment costs as well as financial support to help them thrive in their studies and get the best possible start to their new career.
Whilst there are several organisations focused on the engineering professional, their focus is on the person.
They know that a healthy and happy engineering sector means building resilience and providing the right information and tools for people to cope with life’s challenges, which is why they have a range of online, free to access support:
- Monthly wellbeing webinars (covering physical, mental and financial wellbeing topics).
- Wellbeing Hub (including online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy modules).
- Mental Health Check-In tool (anonymous and with tailored guidance depending on the results).
- Legal factsheets and the Foothold app (with AI chatbot - covering a wide range of legal issues).
- Differently Wired Hub (where people can find a variety of resources and information about neurodiversity).
Did you know
Foothold supported more than 1,500 people last year, and your support directly benefits engineers and their families when they need it most:
could pay for an initial counselling session.
could fund a monthly cost of living grant.
could fund bedding for a family moving into temporary accommodation.
could fund specialist disability equipment.
How to play
Each entry to the draw costs £1. Our draws are run every week of the year, usually on a Friday. You can either set up a subscription to provide your chosen charity with a regular and reliable income, every week of the year, or you can play as and when you want to, whatever suits you best!
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Choose how many weekly entries you want to play. It’s only £1 per play!
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Provide your payment details. Direct Debit or Debit Card.
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Sit back and wait to see if you have won. You can also check online after every draw!
Registered Charity Number: 208925 www.myfoothold.org
