Charity provides aid worth £1m to support the vulnerable amid Covid-19

More than £1m in emergency grants has been allocated to voluntary and community groups across Nottinghamshire as part of a charity’s commitment to support the vulnerable during Covid-19.

The Nottinghamshire Community Foundation (NCF), an independent charity supported by Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, who is chair of the NCF Board, has handed out 157 grants averaging £6,000 during the past five months to local charities and community projects offering support to vulnerable adults and children throughout the pandemic.

The funding has been secured through The National Emergency Trust’s Coronavirus Appeal which has raised more than £92m nationally.

Locally, funding has been invested into several projects to help those most in need including small homeless charities and live-at-home schemes whereby people were unable to leave their homes due to vulnerability.

Funding, alongside support from Nottingham City Homes, ensured Stonebridge City Farm was able to transform their café kitchen into a Covid-safe facility to provide meals for people in need who would otherwise have been forced to use food banks.

Other projects included befriending schemes where funding was used to purchase IPads and laptops to ensure those self-isolating could keep in touch with their friends and families while not-for-profit organisation Each Amazing Breath received a grant to support its work building resilience within schools.

Nina Dauban, chief executive of Nottingham Community Foundation, said; “We’ve been heartened to see so many local groups galvanise to help during this difficult time. This includes core support for shopping, befriending and help in getting online.

“Other groups have refocused their support services to reach those most isolated and in need. The National Emergency Trust’s Coronavirus Appeal has raised over £92 million nationally and Community Foundations across the UK have been helping them reach our most disadvantaged communities.”

Paddy Tipping added: “NCF has played a vital role in our response to the pandemic, helping local organisations deliver help and aid to where it is needed most. Many of these organisations are unable to access other funding streams and vitally need support.

“The team has done a sterling job supporting our communities during these deeply unsettling times. Many of those they help have no other support network to rely on.”