Voluntary Action Rutland (VAR) have an Emergency Families Fund that has helped local residents buy school uniform, avoid and escape abusive situations and purchase emergency supplies.

The emergency families fund is a restricted fund, meaning that every penny both in and out of it is strictly restricted to use by local families, and is not used for any other expenses.

As well as encouraging people to donate to the cause, the team have highlighted how Rutland residents can use the fund in a crisis.

A VAR spokesperson explained: "When we receive a referral (which could be from schools, the Rutland County Council, social workers) of a family or local community members in a crisis, we can offer some support via our fund.

"We rely on donations, grants and fundraising to keep the fund topped up. Once it's gone it's gone, but we have had the fund operating for many years now, offering a life line to those who need some help."

You can donate to the Emergency Families Fund by clicking on the link on the VAR website.

You can also call the team on 01572 723300, where card payments can be taken over the phone, or send a cheque or bank payment.

The team added: "We'd love to always keep this fund going for our community. Last month in May alone, we helped three separate families.

"It has helped a lot of people flee from domestic violence, buy needed furniture or school uniforms for children, offer rest-bite to families going through cancer treatment, move homes and buy emergency supplies for newborn babies. The reasons are everything you can imagine in a crisis situation and every penny is accounted for and extremely valuable to us and the community."