Iona Bain
A leading charity that has lobbied the government on behalf of young renters faces closure after a major donor cut its funding.
Generation Rent could close in just a month’s time after Nationwide Foundation, the charitable arm of Nationwide Building Society, withdrew its support, though to be worth around £166,000.
Figures within the housing industry had previously accused Nationwide of compromising its political neutrality by associating itself with the charity, which has found support for its proposed policies among Labour MPs.
Nationwide Foundation, which claims to operate independently from the Nationwide BS, pledged £725,000 towards the charity last September in a grant that was supposed to last three years.
Gen R says it now needs to raise £60,000 by the 31st August and is using a crowdfunding website, the People’s Republic, to hit its target. So far, the charity has raised £8358 through its appeal 9as of Monday 3rd August).
A donation of £100 will be rewarded with a print of the charity’s design for flats-in parliament (pictured above). Gen R is also offering tickets and backstage passes to a benefit gig due to be organised later this year in return for donations.
The charity, which was established in March 2014, has become the voice of disaffected young renters in the UK, helping to outlaw revenge evictions and cut landlord tax breaks.
The fundraising appeal can be found here: https://peoplesrepublic.co/p/generationrent
