A GRANT making charity has awarded £1million to help grassroots groups through the pandemic.
County Durham Community Foundation reached the milestone this week, after vowing to help Durham, Darlington and Tees Valley communities hard hit by Coronavirus.
Durham charity
Michelle Cooper, chief executive of the Foundation, said: “We have such mixed emotions about this moment. We exist to help communities in an impactful way, and we are really grateful we have been able to award over 200 grants in such a short time.
“But we feel for the groups we are supporting, and in turn, the people they are keeping afloat. There have been some wonderful moments of kindness and human spirit, but it’s going to take a long time for people to recover.
“I want to thank our supporters, the National Emergencies Trust and our team for getting this money where it needs to be. They have worked so hard.”
National Emergency
The National Emergencies Trust (NETs) launched an appeal as Coronavirus arrived in the UK and began to spread. Nearly ninety million pounds was raised, and community foundations were chosen to help distribute the funds.
A further £200,000 was raised by County Durham Community Foundation through a Crowdfunder appeal and private donations. The £1million has been awarded to groups offering food parcels, suicide prevention support, help with mental health, prescription collections, PPE, incontinence products for end-of-life cancer patients and safe transport to and from hospital for treatment.
BAME communities, the elderly, people who are homeless, children facing food poverty through missing school and disabled people have all been identified as key groups in need.
Middlesbrough groups
Linx Hemlington, based in Middelsbrough, which normally runs a thriving youth club and Detached work, is one of the groups awarded a grant.
The charity was awarded £5,000 by the Foundation to deliver food parcels and activity packs for families. Before then, Linx Hemlington had worked together with Neighbourly, Fare Share, Middlesbrough and Redcar Together, and Middlesbrough Council to meet need. Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston then put them in touch with the Foundation, who made the grant to keep the good work going.
Sara Mirsalehi, who has been with Linx for four years, said: “Without the funding, there is no magic. It has allowed us to deliver and serve our community.
“It’s been really amazing and we’re grateful to be in a position to help some of our families. When we drop food off and move back, they will come to the door and tell us what a difference it makes. One mum told us ‘you have no idea how excited my child was to see strawberries.’
“Middlesbrough often features in the press for the wrong reasons, however, during this crisis, we have seen a lot of communities working together, wanting to help and seeing what can be done.”
To find out more, go to www.cdcf.org.uk