Foundation Scotland has established a new Community Response, Recovery & Resilience Fund to support local charities and grassroots organisations across Scotland. The fund will help them respond to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and recover from its impact and is already providing grants.
Launched by the Duke of Cambridge, the National Emergencies Trust is a UK-wide fundraising appeal initiated which will distribute money through the network of community foundations across the UK.
‘Response’ is about providing emergency funding for local charities and grassroots organisations currently supporting some of Scotland’s most affected and vulnerable people and over 30 grants have reached communities in Scotland today. This includes funding to:
- Support for the Senior Centre in Castlemilk to provide soups, meals and snacks to over 400 elderly people and ensure they remain connected via phone calls and essential health awareness updates
- Enable the Rock Trust in Edinburgh working with young people moving on from homelessness to provide essential food, toiletry packages and mobile phone cards – ensuring vulnerable young people remain connected
- Equip volunteers at the South Islay Development Trust with essential safety equipment so they can safely continue to distribute hot meals for their vulnerable community members on their island
- Support Glasgow the Caring City to scale-up their successful Soap Aid campaign – coordinating with food delivery charities to ensure free hygiene packs reach as many people as possible
- Help Wellbeing Works in Dundee – who support community members facing mental health challenges – to supplement their phone support with advice and discussion materials – encouraging good health
- Equip the Concrete Garden in Possilpark for indoor play and activity packs – treasure hunts, exercising, crafts, storytelling, drawing and board games – plus grow your own window ledge kits – creative and educational for all
Chief Executive of Foundation Scotland, Giles Ruck, said: “In this time of national crisis, it is critical to get funds quickly to where its needed. The Response Fund is open and up and running.
“I’m pleased to see word is spreading fast and community charities are getting in touch – we had about 100 new applications over the weekend. We can provide immediate funding of between £1,000 and £5,000. We aim to turn around funding applications swiftly, and to keep our application process straightforward.”
Lord Dannatt, chair of the National Emergencies Trust, said: “We are delighted that there is growing support for the Trust and that we have been able to start getting money out to organisations who can help people within a week of launching – but we need much more.
“That’s why we are calling on everyone, even at this unsettling time to dig deep and make a contribution. That generosity will ensure that we get through this unprecedented time with our most vulnerable communities cared for and supported.”
https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/programmes/the-national-emergencies-trust-(net)/