# £5 million Loneliness Covid-19 Fund open for applications

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/05/14/5m-loneliness-covid-19-fund-open-for-applications/
- Published: 2020-05-14T08:07:20+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Government is inviting national organisations working to tackle loneliness
to apply for a share of £5 million of funding to help those most at risk as a result
of Covid-19.**

The fund will make grants of between £500,000 and £1,000,000.

To be eligible, services must be able to demonstrate their ability to reach people
in ‘cold spots’ where informal neighbourly support and small local charities are
not able to fully meet needs around social connection. They must also serve the 
needs of groups particularly at risk of loneliness, including those noted in ONS
analysis and Community Life Survey and Active Lives Survey data, and continue, adapt
or expand existing provision where there is a track record of successful delivery.
And, they must also be services that cannot be provided without this additional 
funding.

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The deadline for applications is 12pm on **Friday 29 May**, with the expected outcomes
of the fund being effective, targeted relief for those most at risk of loneliness
as a result of Covid-19, and contributing to the evidence base on Covid-19 and loneliness.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

> “Coronavirus and social distancing has forced all of us to look loneliness in 
> the eye. So recognising the signs and tackling the stigma has never been more 
> important.
> “We are launching this plan now to help ensure no one needs to feel lonely in 
> the weeks ahead. It will help everyone understand the role they can play in looking
> after each other, and empower our expert charities and volunteers to reach more
> vulnerable people.”

[More information](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/5-million-loneliness-covid-19-grant-fund)
on the Loneliness Covid-19 Grant Fund and an application form is available on the.
Gov site.

The Government first announced a focus on loneliness in 2018 with the appointment
of then Minister for Sport & Civil Society Tracey Crouch as its first ‘[Loneliness Minister](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/01/17/tracey-crouch-announced-minister-loneliness-funding-promised-tackle-issue/)‘,
the publication of its Loneliness Strategy with almost 60 commitments to end loneliness,
and the announcement of [£20million of new funding](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/06/20/government-announces-new-20m-funding-tackle-loneliness/)
to help isolated people and those suffering from loneliness. This included the £
11.5 million Building Connections Fund – the first Government fund ever dedicated
to reducing loneliness.

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