Community Foundation distributes £2.2m in Covid-19 response

The Community Foundation for Lancashire has published a report detailed how the county raised £2.2m to deal with the Covid-19 and how those funds were used.

The foundation co-ordinated corporate donors, private individuals, public sector partnerships including the Lancashire Resilience Forum, public donations and funders such as the National Emergencies Trust to raise much-needed cash.

The Lancashire Responding COVID-19 Community Support Fund was launched on March 20, three days ahead of the start of the first lockdown. The first grants were distributed on April 3, and more than £1m had been issued by June 16.

More than 320,000 people were supported by the foundation's work, including helping to address food poverty, the impact on mental health and wellbeing, service provisions to the vulnerable, and unemployment and loss of income. As lockdown continued, domestic abuse and digital exclusion were added as high priorities.

The fund's organisers have also been keen to stress that the pandemic is ongoing, and so is the need for donations.

Rae Brooke, chief executive of the Community Foundation for Lancashire, said: In this unprecedented emergency situation, speed of response is crucial, and the Lancashire Responding COVID-19 Community Support Fund played a
significant role in helping charitable, and community groups across Lancashire continue to support those who need our help.

"Within days of the government implementing lockdown restrictions, working in partnership with the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF), we distributed the first emergency grants. The support of the National Emergencies Trust, LRF, alongside businesses, individual donors and the generosity of the wider public enabled us to go on to raise and distribute £2m. 

"It is a testament to the incredible community spirit of Lancashire. We know that the most vulnerable communities are likely to continue to face significant challenges in the coming months and years. Meeting the demand and need for more resources is a real concern and should be for all of us. We can be proud of what’s been achieved so far and look to build on that moving forward.”

A full and detailed breakdown of how the money was distributed can be read here.

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