The National Emergencies Trust has announced a further £5m of funding will be distributed to front line charities today helping those most impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. This is possible thanks to the generosity of the UK public, major charitable trusts and corporate donations.
So far, around half of the £16m total pledged to the Coronavirus Appeal has been given out (£7.5m in total), following an initial allocation of almost £2.5m a week after the appeal launched. Further distributions will be made in the coming days, to continue to support the most vulnerable in society.
The money will be distributed through UK Community Foundations to 46 local community foundations across the country.
Major businesses and charitable trusts across the UK, as well as the British public, have generously donated to the appeal, including corporate donors such as BT, Tesco, HSBC, M&S and National Grid.
The appeal is responding to the needs of local communities across the UK and allocating money to community foundations based on local factors such as levels of deprivation and demographics in each region.
Local Distribution
A snapshot of some of the local groups already benefitting from the appeal include:
Horncastle Food Bank
Horncastle Food Bank in Lincolnshire which has seen a 300% increase in demand for food and hygiene parcels. The group has also stepped in to help combat child poverty, by providing food for those children no longer receiving free school meals and are now also distributing hot meals for vulnerable people currently in isolation.
ASD Helping Hands
ASD Helping Hands helps those caring for children and young adults with autism, supporting over 1,300 families in Norfolk. Since the outbreak, the organisation has launched a web and phone-based advice and listening service to continue to support the mental wellbeing of families during this stressful time.
Musical Memories
Social enterprise Musical Memories saw its 5th anniversary Big Sing concert for more than 150 older people in the community cancelled due to the outbreak. However, the social enterprise hasn’t been deterred and is now hosting live music online sessions every day for older people across rural Yorkshire to help fight loneliness and isolation. Funding will provide recording equipment to facilitate ever more creative and engaging remote concerts.
NET Coronavirus Appeal
The National Emergencies Trust’s Coronavirus Appeal was launched in partnership with the British Red Cross and with the support of the Duke of Cambridge.
Anyone can make a donation and further donations can be made by clicking the below button.
This week celebrity supporters including Miranda Hart, Joe Lycett and Kate Thornton have shared video messages on their social media urging the public to get behind the appeal.
John Herriman, CEO of the National Emergencies Trust, said: “It is fantastic that good causes across the UK are already seeing the benefits of the public’s support and the overwhelming generosity of our corporate donors. It’s vital that we are able to offer support to these groups as soon as we can.
“Our work may have started but there is still much more to do. We’re asking the public to get behind the appeal and make contribution if possible, or to spread the word to help raise awareness.
“Everyone who donates can be confident their money is reaching those in need quickly and making an instant difference to the most vulnerable in our communities at this difficult time. We need to come together more than ever and I’m heartened the British public are rising to the challenge.”
Rosemary Macdonald, Interim CEO of UK Community Foundations, said: “Working closely with our network of 46 community foundations, we’re seeing unprecedented demand for support from those in need across our society.
“We’re working to make sure that donations reach communities quickly and in response to particular needs, so that we are properly supporting the most vulnerable as best we can.”