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Coronavirus Community Support Fund – open from 22 May 2020

The National Lottery Community Fund confirms that the Government’s new Coronavirus Community Support Fund will open for applications at 10am on Friday 22nd May.

This new funding stream makes available £200m in Government funding that will be aimed primarily at small to medium organisations in England.

The Fund has two key objectives:

  1. To increase community support to vulnerable people affected by the COVID-19 crisis, through the work of civil society organisations.
  2. To reduce temporary closures of essential charities and social enterprises, ensuring services for vulnerable people impacted by COVID-19 have the financial resources to operate, and so reduce the burden on public services.

Grants will allow organisations to meet service costs, where they are experiencing increased demand and/or short-term income disruption. Grants will also allow organisations to refocus services to address more immediate beneficiary needs in light of COVID-19.

Information on how to apply from 10am on Friday 22nd May is HERE.

They will distribute this much-needed financial support to communities across England, while also continuing to distribute money raised by National Lottery players. The entry point and process for both streams will be the same, making it easier for organisations to apply.

As part of the announcement, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

“Charities and social enterprises, with the support of volunteers, are the beating heart of our communities. Since the crisis hit, they have stepped up their response which has been vital to the national effort.

“We need our charities to help Britain bounce back, which is why we have pledged an unprecedented package of support to help them make a huge difference for vulnerable people across the country.”

– You can read the Government’s announcement here