Dover District Council is to launch a £50,000 Covid-19 Community Fund to support local charities and community groups that are providing essential services to the most vulnerable residents in the Dover district during the coronavirus lockdown. Applications will open on the DDC website early next week.
Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of Dover District Council, said: “Our Covid-19 Community Fund will give local charities and community groups quick and easy access to funding to sustain their amazing work on the ground as they work tirelessly to support vulnerable people at this unprecedented time.
“Covid-19 is presenting many new challenges, especially for the most vulnerable in our community. And yet, we’ve seen the community rising to the challenge with emergency services, local authorities, community groups, and individual volunteers coming together to help those most in need. We can do this by working together.
“We’re hoping that our £50,000 contribution to the Fund could be the start of a much bigger fundraising effort, supported by other corporate funders and a crowd-funding campaign.”
The DDC Covid-19 Community Fund offers grants between £200 and £2,500 for projects that help vulnerable residents with basic essentials during the Covid-19 lockdown. This includes:
- Food shopping and delivery
- Collecting and delivering prescriptions and medicines
- Dog walking
- Befriending and buddy schemes
- Physical and mental health and wellbeing
The fund is primarily designed to cover the running costs of projects, such as volunteer staff, utilities, or costs associated with setting up in a new, accessible location to deliver the service. Some capital costs, such as new equipment, will also be considered.
Support for the most vulnerable residents has stepped up a gear throughout this week as the UK entered its second full week of lockdown. This has included the launch of Kent Together, Kent County Council’s 24-hour hotline (03000 41 92 92). The Dover District Community Hub has been in operation seven days a week since last weekend (01304 821199).
Posted on 03 April 2020