Colin has been a volunteer with Communities 1st for some two and a half years. Once a week he telephones Richard*, who is in his mid-seventies and lives alone. They chat for about an hour, as part of Communities 1st Telephone Befriending Programme. Colin explained to me that “At the start, I identified with Richard what we had in common and that’s what we talk about – football, blues, and rock music, particularly from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. We both know what we’re talking about. Sometimes we talk about world affairs. We clicked over our shared interests.”

The Charity Commission’s 2025 research highlights a stark truth: more people than ever before rely on charities for essentials like food, financial aid, and medical support. The figures are sobering - 9% of people received essential support in the past year, triple the proportion of just five years ago. Behind every statistic lies a family struggling to make ends meet, an older person isolated at home, a young carer under pressure.

“I owe Communities 1st such a lot,” Gabriela explained to me over a delicious cup of coffee at the Communities Thirst coffee point in the St Albans Civic Centre where she gives her time as a volunteer. Gabiela continued, “Communities 1st has helped me learn English, taught me new skills, and given me greater confidence. Without Communities 1st I would not be where I am today.”