Lancaster district community projects boosted by £80k Covid support
In the early days of the pandemic, the Urgent Response Fund (URF) was established by Lancaster District CVS, a charity that has supported the community for almost 50 years.
“Numbers are not in themselves enough to truly measure the impact on people’s lives but it is reassuring to know that our work is helping so many and we are thankful to those who donated to the Fund at a difficult time, ” said Yak Patel, LDCVS chief executive.
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Hide AdAmong the community centres supported by grants were Halton and the Marsh in Lancaster.
Marsh Community Centre received £1,050 to pay for food and toiletry bags for those experiencing food poverty, and activity bags for young
people.
“The children were obviously bored due to being isolated and the residents could not leave their homes because of isolating,” said Centre manager, Deborah Hargreaves.
“ It was also difficult for them to get food as there was a shortage and the supermarkets weren’t letting the families go in together. As there are a lot of single parent families, it was hard for them to get shopping.”
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Hide AdHalton Community Centre received £1,000 to support a new Saturday lockdown baby cafe following a similar successful cafe held on
Tuesdays.
The weekend timing meant those mothers who had returned to work could use the facility as well as other family members, especially dads and grandparents who’d had no opportunities to talk to other families in similar situations.
The Covid-safe cafe proved a lifeline for 32 families with babies aged six weeks-18 months.
“Mothers were desperate for support so the baby cafe did provide a lot of help for people,” said Maureen Richardson, manager.
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Hide AdHomeless people were also given a boost by the URF and a £2,000 grant helped set up and organise Let’s Be Friends, founded in Lancaster during the pandemic.
Run by people with experience of homelessness, it’s a befriending service for anyone homeless, under threat of homelessness or who has been recently rehoused.
Treasurer, Dusty Thomas said: “We could not have set up this group without funding from the URF. The Everybody In campaign was great but there was no long term support.”
Let’s Be Friends began with four volunteers and now has 23 who meet with homeless people regularly to help them with any problems. They work closely with the Citizens Advice Bureau and Lancaster City Council.
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Hide AdFemale asylum seekers and refugees weren’t forgotten by the Urgent Response Fund either.
Those forced to self-isolate were supported by East Meets West, who received £1,000. The group used the grant to provide items including phone and data top-ups, Zoom licences and taxi fares for essential journeys.
One group member said: “When I had Covid my friend from East Meets West was the first person I called to get
help.
“I was supported by her and East Meets West every day until I felt well again.”
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Hide AdLarge and small donors have continued to contribute towards the URF so it can respond to changing needs.
The URF now considers applications that support vulnerable people and communities to re-engage with activities and services as the Covid restrictions ease.
LDCVS wants to develop a Recovery Fund supporting Lancaster’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups and their service users in dealing with
the consequences of the pandemic.
“It is our intention to continue to provide funding which strengthens organisations and communities, building resilience which enables them to sustain themselves and respond to local needs,” said Yak.
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Hide AdlAny funders and supporters interested in helping this fund, should email [email protected] or telephone 01524 555900.
lFor further information about The Urgent Response Fund, email [email protected].