Unsurprisingly, charities across the board in the UK are struggling to maintain essential donations during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Government has acted (8th April 2020) to help this vital sector maintain operations.
Funding Support
The Chancellor announced (8th April 2020) a much needed package of financial support for the charitable sector.measures. This is on top of prospective financial savings to be made across the charitable sector by furloughing staff under the Job Retention Scheme and provides the prospect of a more immediate cash infusion.
Whether the measure goes far enough to plug the drastic downturn in donations is open to question, but it is at least a welcome start and it will help save vital charitable services from being terminated in the imminent future. The Chancellor warned that the Government could not match every pound of spending that the UK's 170,000 odd charities would have received this year.
These are the essential details:
Vital services' charities that will receive this financial aid include:
Government says: "Tens of thousands of charities providing vital services will benefit from direct cash grants to ensure they can meet increased demand as a result of the virus as well as continuing their day-to-day activities supporting those in need." and
"Departments will now work at pace to identify priority recipients, with the aim for charities to receive money in the coming weeks."
For more details- HM Treasury announcement
The Charity Commission has issued the following guidance to help running charities during the COVID-19 outbreak:
Charity Tax Group- Coronavirus information hub for charity tax and finance professionals
Other Financial Support for Charities
In addition to the direct Government support announced on 8th April 2020, the private sector is also stepping into the donations gap created by Covid-19 and here are some examples:
National Lottery Community Fund- COVID-19 – how we are supporting our grant holders at this difficult time.
The SCC supports small charities to access the skills, tools and information they need to get going, and do what they do best.
SCC's guidance for organisations
Asda – has donated £5m to its partners FareShare and the Trussell Trust. This will provide over 4 million meals to families in poverty, as well as more than 3000 charities access to free food over the next 3 months. That’s fantastic of Asda, but the need is huge – support the Trussell Trust by donating here.
Arts Council England – emergency funding package and Support for funded organisations and individuals announced. A summary on the Arts Council Emergency Funds Written by Simma Gershenson Head of Development at Scene & Heard can be downloaded Here, with guidance notes for individuals Here and organisations Here.
Cavell Nurses Trust – additional funding for grants designed to help nursing and midwifery professionals support their living costs like rent and utility bills.
Comic Relief – some of the money raised through Sport Relief 2020 will go to organisations on the frontline. Support for grantees through adapting activities, reviewing timeframes, or re-budgeting remaining funds.
Co-op – £1.5 million of essential food products to FareShare’s 23 regional centres, and then supplied to a network of local community groups across the country.
Indigo Trust – has donated £1m to the Trussell Trust for food banks.
John Lewis & Waitrose – launched a £1m Community Support Fund to be distributed by Waitrose shops to local communities, and a support fund to aid staff facing additional costs as a result of the pandemic.
Leathersellers Company – prioritise applications from UK registered charities supporting the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless, provision of food and essential supplies, victims of domestic violence, nursing care to vulnerable patients.
Make A Difference Trust – small pockets of financial assistance to those in theatre experiencing unexpected financial hardship due to theatre closures as a direct result of Government advice aimed at containing the spread of Coronavirus.
Martin Lewis – has made £1m available to fund urgent coronavirus grants of £5k to £20k to small registered UK charities – community aid, financial advice help and more – to help with specific UK coronavirus-related poverty relief projects. His hope is to get the money is distributed within the next couple of weeks. Applications close midnight 25 March. Apply online.
Neighbourly – micro-grants of up to £400, to support good causes that are helping communities affected by the new Coronavirus outbreak.
The National Emergencies Trust – launching an to help those most effected by the outbreak. They collaborate with charities and other bodies to raise and distribute money and support victims at the time of a domestic disaster.
PRS For Music– PRS members globally – grants of up to £1000 each, depending on need.
Sport England: Community Emergency Fund – including those not currently supported by us, who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but who are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus. Organisations can apply for grants between £300 and £10,000.
Sport England: Sector Partner Fund – Active Partnerships and national governing bodies, on bespoke measures that may be needed for any instances of immediate financial distress.
Sport England: Sector Stimulation Fund – will be rolled out in coming weeks.
Standard Life Foundation – work directly related to crisis, addressing challenges & helping to contribute to social change which tackles financial problems and improves living standards.
Support for Theatre Professionals during Coronavirus – collection of funds and sources of advice or support for those in the theatre industry. Funds are available from institution specific funders and from those that support the wider industry.
Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust – coronavirus funding announced, no details yet. Works with young people
Tech Force 19 – innovators who can support the elderly, vulnerable and self-isolating during COVID-19 to apply for government funding of up to £25,000 to test their solution.
VocTech Now – part of Ufi’s response to support the vocational learning sector in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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