The National Emergencies Trust has launched a £1.2m Local Action Fund with Crowdfunder UK to help voluntary and community organisations overcome the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The fund offers support to organisations including UK charities, CIC’s, churches and other religious organisations by helping them to counter financial challenges created by the pandemic, including the inability to fundraise in the usual ways, reductions in staff and volunteers, and increased demand on their services. Up to £10,000 in match-funding is available to either launch new local initiatives or to enable them to continue existing services. Eligible services include: health and wellbeing services; services addressing food poverty; and community response coordination. The deadline for applications is the 22nd October 2021. Funding to Help Voluntary & Community Organisations Impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic (UK)
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport is providing grants of between £15,000 to £50,000 to organisations that engage with those most affected by loneliness during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Loneliness Engagement Fund is open to organisations that have a track record of delivering effective communications and engagement activity at a national level; and who have a proven reach and track record of engaging with one or more of the following target groups:
- young people aged 16-24
- people with diagnosed mental health conditions
- people living alone
- people from lower income households
- people who are unemployed
- people with disabilities
Funding is to be used to help organisations to continue, adapt or expand existing activity that reaches groups at a higher risk of loneliness and supports the government’s loneliness objectives. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 13 October. To find out more and to apply, visit the website.


