# More funding opportunities to help with Covid’s impact

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/11/12/more-funding-opportunities-help-covids-impact/
- Published: 2020-11-12T09:45:58+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**More funding for NHS charities, help for small youth organisations, and a new 
match funding scheme from Power to Change for community businesses**

 

 

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[⌊NHS Charities Together⌉⌊NHS Charities Together⌉[

 

#### NHS Charities Together allocates further £12m in urgent funding

 

In response to the increase in Covid infections and hospital admissions, NHS Charities
Together has allocated an additional £12m in urgent funding to support NHS staff,
volunteers and patients.

 

Second wave Covid grants worth £50,000 are available immediately to all NHS charities
in areas dealing with a surge in cases and hospital admissions.

 

Each NHS charity will direct the grant towards whatever will make the biggest difference
for the staff, volunteers and patients they support, such as providing hot meals
and a place to rest for staff working long hours and specialised psychological support
for staff struggling with stress, trauma and separation from their loved ones.

 

Ellie Orton, CEO of [NHS Charities Together](http://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk),
said:

 

> “We put aside this money back in the summer, hoping we wouldn’t have to draw on
> it. Sadly, with the increasing levels of infections and rising hospital admissions,
> now is the time to get it out to NHS charities so they can use it to provide even
> more support to NHS staff, volunteers and patients caught in the middle of this
> second wave.
> “We owe a huge thanks to everyone who has so far donated to or fundraised for 
> the appeal. They are the reason we are able to get this funding out there where
> it is most needed. It is astonishing and humbling that the public and organisations
> have now donated over £140 million to the appeal.”

 

An initial £30m of the money raised by the appeal was used to meet the immediate
and urgent needs of staff, volunteers and patients as they tackled the initial Covid
wave back in the spring and summer.

 

Two subsequent rounds of funding are focused on supporting local NHS charities to
widen the scope of the support they are providing, to help vital partnerships outside
hospitals, such as hospices, community healthcare and social care, making sure those
vital support services and organisations are resourced to provide the care to patients,
volunteers and staff.

 

They are also providing additional support where it is most needed by NHS staff,
volunteers and patients in their area, with a focus on support for people who are
disproportionately affected by the Covid crisis, such as patients and staff from
BAME communities and high-risk groups like those living with disabilities.

 

In the longer term the money raised will also fund programmes to help staff and 
families recover fully once the crisis has abated, reducing the long-term impact
on them and the people they care about.

 

 

 

[⌊teenager⌉⌊teenager⌉[

 

#### UK Youth Announces £2m Covid Relief Fund

 

UK Youth has secured £2m in funding to support small youth organisations who have
not had access to the crisis funding they require to survive the pandemic.

 

The [UK Youth Fund – Covid Relief](https://funding.ukyouth.org/) is funded through
the DCMS Community Match Challenge scheme, with funding from the Department for 
Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), Pears Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation
as part of the Government’s £750m charities package.

 

The grants are available to organisations that have lost funding, face the threat
of closure, or had to reduce delivery or services supporting young people, and will
directly support young people. Awarded organisations can use the funds to cover 
staff salaries, project running costs, organisational development and goods and 
equipment which supports delivery.

 

Organisations that are based and deliver work in England, with a turnover of less
than £250,000, are eligible to apply for grants of up to £50,0000. The application
process will be open until midday on 25 November.

 

UK Youth is particularly keen to hear from organisations that support young people
who are most affected by systemic oppression and discrimination.

 

Lindsay Marsden, Director of Partnerships & Fundraising at UK Youth, said: 

 

> “We are overjoyed to launch the UK Youth Fund – Covid Relief, thanks to DCMS, 
> Pears Foundation and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. This is a pivotal step in reaching
> our ambitions to channel millions of pounds of investment to the youth sector 
> over the coming years.
> “The impact of the pandemic has had a devastating impact on young people and the
> safe spaces which support them. The role of youth organisations has never been
> more needed.
> “We know that Covid is having, and will continue to have, an acute impact on the
> sector, especially after 10 years of de-funding and lack of investment. We are
> hearing how many organisations are fighting for survival whilst still trying to
> support the young people who need their help the most. We hope this is just a 
> start.”

 

Organisations can find out how to apply and read FAQs [**here**](https://funding.ukyouth.org/).

 

 

 

[⌊Power to Change Sutton Community Farm⌉⌊Power to Change Sutton Community Farm⌉[

 

#### Match-funding scheme to help communities rebuild goes live

 

Power to Change has launched [Community Business ReBoost fund](http://www.powertochange.org.uk/get-support/programmes/community-business-reboost-fund/).
A match-funding programme, it is designed to help local communities recover, adapt
and rebuild resilience through the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Delivered in partnership with The Community Shares Unit – a joint initiative between
Co-operatives UK and Locality – Community Business ReBoost will support community
businesses to plan and prepare a community share offer, to help them build business
resilience and continue to deliver their key services and protect their assets.

 

These matched-funding grants aim to incentivise local people to invest in their 
local community businesses and assets through community shares. For every pound 
raised through community shares, Power to Change will match it up to £25,000. Development
grants up to £5,000 are also available to help businesses to prepare a share offer.

 

Power to Change is particularly targeting existing community businesses that are
community benefit societies, co-operatives societies or charitable community benefit
societies. However, established community businesses willing to convert to a society
model to launch a community share offer can also be supported.

 

Support available:

 

 * Development grants – up to £5,000 for community businesses to prepare a community
   share offer. The grant can fund: financial planning, governance support, marketing
   costs and achieving the Community Shares Standard Mark
 * Match equity investment – typically matching pound for pound up to £25,000 invested
   by the Booster Programme, providing that the minimum share offer target is achieved.

 

Vidhya Alakeson, CEO at Power to Change, said:

 

> “Engaging with local people is vital to the success and resilience of any community
> business. A community share offer is a very effective way for community businesses
> to not only to secure financial backing but also wider support from the local 
> community. As we head into a second national lockdown, ReBoost matched investment
> offers organisations a real opportunity to tap into people’s interest in supporting
> and getting more involved in their local area, which has increased throughout 
> the pandemic.”

 

Providing more information, there is a [webinar tomorrow](https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pS1DrxY0Q-qq6CwyIqAGbw),
Friday 13 November, at 10am.