The Chancellor announced a £750 million support package for Charities on 8 April.
Of this support package, £360 million of direct cash grants will be allocated by Government departments to charities that provide key services and are supporting the vulnerable during the coronavirus crisis. This will include hospices, St Johns Ambulance, victims charities including domestic abuse charities, vulnerable children charities and Citizens Advice. Government departments are working to identify priority recipients, with the aim for charities to receive cash grants in the coming weeks.
£370 million of this funding pot will be available for small and medium-sized charities, including through a grant to the National Lottery Community Fund for those in England, to support organisations that are providing services and making a difference to their local communities during the coronavirus outbreak. £60 million of this is to be allocated to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and details of how these funds will be accessed are yet to be announced. The application process for the National Lottery Community Fund grants is expected to be operational within the coming weeks.
The National Lottery Community Fund is now open for applications and is aimed at small and medium sized charities and social enterprises: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/covid-19/learn-about-applying-for-emergency-funding-in-england
The Food Charity Grant Scheme is open for applications and the aim is to provide immediate support to keep food charities and front-line food aid charities open and supporting the vulnerable. Applications close on 6 July 2020: https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html (and please click on view current opportunities).
The Loneliness COVID-19 Grant Fund is also now open, with the aim of tackling loneliness and building social connections. Applications close on 29 May 2020: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/5-million-loneliness-covid-19-grant-fund
Further guidance for Charities can be found using the following gov.uk link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector?utm_source=068663df-d4f1-42de-8cc1-8d00f73cfbce&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
