# Grant-giving charities see requests for support rise 122% during pandemic - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/09/16/grant-giving-charities-see-requests-for-support-rise-122-during-pandemic/ - Published: 2020-09-16T10:16:44+01:00 - Author: Melanie May **Grant-giving charities have seen applications for financial and non-financial support more than double since lockdown began, according to the Association of Charitable Organisations (ACO).**   Its figures show that applications for support have increased by 122% since lockdown began on 23 March compared to the same period in 2019, with charities supporting individuals and families struggling financially throughout the pandemic by offering non-repayable grants to cover the costs of daily essentials, such as food, and helping pay for bills, household equipment and repairs, and rent arrears. ## Advertisement   Applications for grants have also included requests for help with childcare as schools closed, and study equipment, including laptops, internet access and computers. Several charities including supermarket employees’ charity [GroceryAid](https://aco.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=068b4ba1ff8f42a08fd6fa00b&id=b7b4a2856c&e=b66fc56565) have also launched a Schools Essentials Grant this year to help with the costs associated with returning to school in September, including school uniforms.   As well as money, grant-giving charities have also been offering mental health and wellbeing services, counselling and advice services, and distributing food vouchers.   [The Licensed Trade Charity](https://aco.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=068b4ba1ff8f42a08fd6fa00b&id=9fd3774117&e=b66fc56565), which provides support to those that work in pubs, bars and breweries, has provided food vouchers to 2,469 individuals.   Carolyn Jenkinson, its Head of Charity Services, said:   > “We started planning early so that we were able to respond to the changing and > increasing demand for our support and we put measures in place to scale up our > delivery.  We have good relationships with licensed trade operators and spoke > to them early to offer our services to put in place and deliver support funds > for their people.  Through those projects and an increase in our usual applications > we have delivered almost £1m of support in the form of shopping vouchers to help > licensed trade people get through one of the most difficult times our industry > has ever faced.”   53% of [ACO](https://www.aco.uk.net/) charities have now set up an emergency Covid- 19 fund to specifically help those suffering financially as a result of the pandemic, with 87% of the ACO’s member charities also anticipating a further increase in applications for support once the government’s furlough scheme ends.   ACO has now launched a new campaign, _‘[Here to Help’](https://aco.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=068b4ba1ff8f42a08fd6fa00b&id=395dd2adb0&e=b66fc56565)_, which aims to raise awareness of the assistance grant-giving charities can provide to those that have lost their jobs or are struggling due to Covid-19, and to reach key organisations that work closely with the public, including Citizens Advice, food banks and Job Centres.   As part of the campaign, the ACO has produced a short guide to financial support from grant-giving charities to inform individuals about the services available and how to find help.   Donal Watkin, ACO Chief Executive, said:   > “With most of our member charities seeing an increased demand for support as a > result of this pandemic, we believe it is vital we reach out to members of the > public that could be suffering at this time to let them know there are charities > here and ready to help. > “As we unfortunately anticipate further redundancies as the government’s Job Retention > Scheme comes to an end, we urge members of the public and those working closely > with them to think about whether a grant-giving charity could help. People know > the big-name charities, but often do not realise there are hundreds of charities > out there that could offer assistance. > “There are charities that help people, and their families, that have ever had > a certain job, that help people living in a certain region of the UK or those > that will help you if you fall into a certain group in society – such as being > a women, older person or child. Many do not know that retail staff, construction > workers, carers, hospitality staff, nurses and virtually any occupation you can > think of all have their own charity providing support to those that have fallen > on difficult times. We seek to change this.”   The research results are based on a survey carried out by the ACO in July with 30 respondents across its 120-strong membership base. * **[B&Q Foundation opens with grants of up to £5k available](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/10/06/bq-foundation-opens-grants-up-to5k-available/)**( 6 October 2020) * **[Pears Foundation grants £1 million to Trussell Trust for rollout of benefits advice programme](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/10/07/pears-foundation-grants-1m-to-trussell-trust-for-rollout-of-benefits-advice-programme/)**( 7 October 2020) * **[Persimmon Homes gives £1 million to groups supporting under-18s](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/10/12/persimmon-homes-gives-1m-groups-supporting-under-18s/)**( 12 October 2020) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)