Cheshire East Council has today (29 June) launched the Covid-19 community response and recovery fund.

The council and the newly launched Social Action Partnership have been helping local people to support one another by co-ordinating the fantastic work that is being done in communities across the borough in improving, developing and delivering services.

In recognition of the vital role played by the voluntary, community and faith sector in both the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the recovery, this time limited fund has been developed by the council to support local organisations through this pandemic.

The aim of the Covid-19 community response and recovery fund is to support these organisations to adapt to new ways of offering support to communities, both during and following the coronavirus pandemic, as well as maintain and continue to offer services as government restrictions are lifted.

Not-for-profit organisations will be able to apply for a grant up to a maximum of £5,000 for projects and services for both response and recovery-type applications. The response-type applications include additional staffing, DBS checks, volunteer expenses, meal delivery services, foodbank services and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Recovery-type applications include supporting employment, mental health support, hardship funds, financial advice, supporting connectivity and building community resilience.

Other applications might include bereavement support, domestic abuse support and IT solutions for service delivery.

Councillor Mick Warren, Cheshire East Council's cabinet member for communities, said: "The council is firmly committed and will continue to support the most vulnerable individuals and families affected by the outbreak of coronavirus, right across our borough.

"We recognised in the early stages of this pandemic, that the council doesn't always need to lead on supporting people but can also rely on those well-placed organisations in the voluntary, community and faith sector which can provide the much-needed essential support and help to those people most affected in our communities."

Funding will be allocated where organisations can demonstrate a required need and where clear outcomes can be achieved. The council aims to make funding decisions as quickly as possible on a rolling basis and will be providing this funding until the end of 2020.

For more details about this fund visit our community funds and grants website page.

The closing date for fund applications is Friday 4 December 2020.