Increase reach. Accelerate impact.
Co-developed by the sector, for the sector, the Lightning Reach portal is transforming the way support is delivered to people facing financial hardship.
Our one-stop portal helps our partners expand their reach by connecting them to people in need of their support. We leverage technology to save our partners time, accelerate their delivery and increase their impact.
“The Lightning Reach portal has the potential to bring huge benefits for the sector - particularly when it comes to simplifying processes for the people that we support.”
Steve, Head of Grants, Royal British Legion
The Lightning Reach portal
The new Lightning Reach portal uses cutting-edge technology to streamline the application process, minimise fraud, and help organisations collaborate across the sector.
Join up support
One-stop digital portal connecting people in need of financial support directly with a range of providers
Accelerate delivery
Leveraging open banking and ID verification to reduce administration and speed up processes
Increase impact
Helping organisations reach a more diverse range of people who need their support
Collaborate across sectors
Facilitating coordination across organisations, reducing duplication and streamlining the user experience
Partners
We work with a range of partners across the support landscape, including grantmaking charities, local authorities, utility providers, housing associations and advice/referral agencies.
Grant / hardship scheme providers
Lightning Reach helps charities, local authorities, housing associations and other organisations providing grants or hardship schemes to improve their support delivery.
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A simple digital application form that can be customised to suit your needs, including innovative technology such as Open Banking, Bespoke Questions, Document Upload and APIs to easily integrate with your database
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Save time with less manual processing and free up capacity to spend time on those with more complex needs
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Reach more people in need of your support
Referral agencies
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Help your clients identify multiple sources of support through our one-stop portal
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Empower clients who can self-serve to do so, and free up capacity to spend time on clients with more complex needs
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Apply on behalf of clients, track the impact of support applications and improve the feedback loop - new features coming soon
Corporates
Lightning Reach helps utility providers offering essential household services and financial institutions to support their vulnerable customers.
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Help your customers access a range of personalised support to improve their financial situation
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Reduce the time and costs spent on client queries
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Accept applications to your hardship funds through the portal, and save time on administrative processes
Impact to date
people helped to apply for support
30k+
94%
satisfaction rate
£2m+
facilitated in
financial support
Data from first year
Testimonials
“We’ve been using Lightning Reach for a month and it’s been revolutionary. As applications are now managed online – from application to verification – we can reduce the maximum wait from months to weeks. Not only does it make it quicker for us to distribute the money but it also reduces the administrative burden on our charity.”
Becky Ireland
Deputy Head of Welfare, Racing Welfare
FAQs
How can I be involved?
If you are an organisation providing grants or hardship schemes you can accept applications directly through the Lightning Reach portal. If you are a referral / support agency, you can signpost your clients to create a profile on the portal to find and apply for support they may be eligible for. Book a demo to find out more.
How much customisation available?
The portal has been designed using a modular approach, meaning you can select the features that are most relevant to your organisation’s needs. Modules include financial verification, ID verification, document upload. There is also the flexibility to build in additional questions over and above the core questions so you can capture information specific to your grant / hardship scheme.
What are the costs of being involved?
For organisations providing grants or hardship schemes (e.g. charities, local authorities) we operate on a subscription fee model to accept applications through the Lightning Reach portal, with a range of tiers to suit the needs of your organisation. Discounts and free trials are available for smaller organisations, get in touch to find out more. If you are a referral or support agency, it is free for you to signpost your clients to the portal. We can provide copy and custom trackable links for your website. Get in touch to find out more.
Social Innovation Council
The Social Innovation Council includes a group of organisations that provide support for individuals facing financial hardship.
This first-of-its-kind initiative brings together a key group of organisations to collaborate and exchange insights on a shared support platform.
Interested in being involved in the council? Register your interest here...