Coronavirus: Melton community groups can apply for share of £1M pot

Leicestershire County Council has put aside the money to ensure that such organisations can continue to carry out their vital work, despite the inevitable impact the spread of Covatid-19 is having on their finances.

Applicants can ask for a maximum of £25,000 in aid from the initiative.

Nick Rushton, Leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: “Every day, the work of volunteers and groups keeps communities thriving.

“But unfortunately, the measures needed to curb coronavirus threaten their income and viability.

“That’s why we’ve launched this new fund.

“It’s never been more important for communities to band together and support each other.

“And it’s crucial that their work not only continues but groups are able to step up activities to support vulnerable people and those isolating.

“This fund enables people to stay safe by staying at home and ultimately, saves lives.

“I’d like to thank our volunteers and community groups for their fantastic work and encourage them to visit the website to find out more.”

Charities, constituted voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises can apply for a maximum of £25,000 for support with the following activities:

**Support for core running costs - for organisations who have experienced a loss of income due to services closing or operating at a reduced level and where this may lead to the permanent closure of the organisation;

**Extra staffing - capacity required to meet existing, current or increased demand for services, to support vulnerable people during the crisis;

**Adapting services - the need to rapidly adapt current service delivery models to maintain contact with service users;

**Equipment - funding for essential ICT, safety (such as PPE) or other essential equipment;

**Transport - funding for use of vehicles, transport, fuel etc. to enable visits to service users;

**Expenses - funding for increased expenses costs such as reimbursing travel costs for staff/volunteers who need to visit service users, if it safe to do so, in their home or in other locations;

**Other - anything else deemed acceptable in relation to the criteria for the fund.

Go online to www.leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/leicestershire-communities-fund or send an email to: [email protected] to find out more or to apply for a share of the fund.