The UK Government in collaboration with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) have launched a £3.25 million fund to support the operations of not-for-profit food redistributors to ensure that any surplus food can reach people in need or those considered most vulnerable. The COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant will be delivered in three phases. During phase 1 WRAP will be approaching a target list of small redistribution organisations who have applied previously to the fund to ascertain their immediate need for potential funding support. Phase 2 (which will be launched on the 9th April) will provide funding opportunities for small surplus food redistributors, and Wrap are also launching funding support aimed at medium to larger operators (phase 3). The grants can be used to fund both capital and revenue costs associated with redistribution activities such as access to surplus food through logistical collections; sorting, storing, freezing, labelling / repackaging food, and; onward distribution of food to charities or end beneficiaries. Click here

The Government has announced a £750 million emergency support package for charities across the UK to ensure they can continue their work during the coronavirus outbreak. The funding package consists of £360 million direct from government departments to charities such as hospices and victim support charities that are providing vital services and helping vulnerable people through the current crisis; and £370 million for smaller charities, including through a grant to the National Lottery Community Fund. The National Lottery Community Fund is currently discussing with Government on how best to distribute the funding. The Government also announced the Government will match fund whatever the public decides to donate to the BBC’s Big Night In charity appeal on 23 April, starting with a contribution of at least £20 million to the National Emergencies Trust appeal. Click here

The Young Women’s Trust has set up an Emergency Fund in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. Young women can’t apply for funding themselves, but can be referred to the fund by Women’s Aid, Women’s Resource Centre, or Women for Refugee Women. Find out more.

Barclays Bank has announced the establishment of the Barclays Foundation, which will provide a #COVID19 Community Aid Package of £100 million to charities working to support vulnerable people impacted by the pandemic. Find out more.

In light of the current Cornavirus crisis that now faces small charities providing vital services to the most vulnerable members of the community, their small grants programme invite applications from UK registered charities which are currently supporting the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless; provision of food and essential supplies; victims of domestic violence; and nursing care to vulnerable patients. The value of the grant awarded could be up to a maximum of £3,000. Click here

 

Giving Platform “Neighbourly” is launching a series of micro-grants of up to £400, to support good causes that are helping communities affected by the new Coronavirus outbreak.  Grants will be awarded to existing members of Neighbourly in UK and Ireland whose work will involve supporting members of the community suffering economically, socially or from ill health as a result of the outbreak. This may include, but not be limited to, elderly people, those on low incomes and people at risk of food insecurity. Grants are unrestricted and can go towards food provision, emergency supplies, practical support, running costs, transport and other essentials. Click here

 

Small and medium-sized registered charities working with disadvantaged children aged 0-3 years in England and Wales can apply for small, unrestricted grants to help them during the coronavirus pandemic. The Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust has changed the application guidelines and processes for the spring application round of its Early Years’ Preventative Work Fund to make one-off payments of £5,000 available to charities with an income of less than £750,000 which may need extra assistance. Charities applying must show a likelihood of increased demand for their services and/or a loss of anticipated income. The closing date for applications in this round is the 28th April 2020. Click here

We are regularly updating our advice on fundraising to ensure it accounts for the latest public health advice. Please share this advice with your teams and contact our enquiries team if you have any further questions.

You should keep up-to-date with official information provided by the government that may affect your fundraising and prepare to review or stop your activity at short notice. Further advice for charities is also available from:

Tesco Bags of Help has launched a new Fund in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. The new short-term fund is open to registered charities, voluntary and community organisations, schools, health bodies, Parish, Town and community councils, social enterprises, local authorities and social housing organisations across the UK. Grants of £500 are available to organisations that support vulnerable groups whose demand for services has been increased or disrupted, or who need to put new services in place. This might include stock for food banks, new home services for the elderly, increasing resources for children’s activities, and help for hospices, homeless charities and women’s refuges. The Fund is set up to support organisation need rather than fund specific projects and expects to make weekly awards. Applications can be made at any time. Click here

To support the essential role sight loss organisations play in providing vital services to blind and partially sighted people, Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) has suspended its normal grant funding activities and set up an emergency fund for sight loss organisations. £500,000 of essential support will be available to sight loss sector organisations which are providing critical services for the physical and emotional well-being of blind and partially sighted people in these uncertain times. Grants will be available of up to £10,000 pounds or the equivalent of two months’ running costs (whichever is less) for use over the next six months. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Click here