An emergency fund has been set up in The Glenkens to help local charities and grassroots groups through the coronavirus crisis.
The £20,000 aid package is being made available from the Blackcraig Wind Farm Community Fund to organisations supporting vulnerable people locally.
Joint fund managers Foundation Scotland and Glenkens and District Community Trust recently announced the move.
GDT chairman Fiona Smith said: “These are difficult and uncertain times for us all.
“We wanted to do something to address the immediate needs of the community.
“We are aware that there are now a number of funds providing support to which groups can apply.
“However, we felt that we were well placed to complement these by providing support for immediate needs.
“We know our communities are reacting quickly to provide support and our Blackcraig Fund can do the same.”
The Covid-19 Emergency Fund can provide immediate cash support to constituted community groups and charities responding to the coronavirus pandemic in their local community.
Grants of over £500 will be focused on addressing immediate community needs.
The fund is designed to complement the array of support now available through nationally funded measures.
It will be run on a “hyper-local” basis in cooperation with other key local partners and agencies to ensure it is applied where need is greatest.
Foundation Scotland, which is administering the Fund on behalf of Blackcraig Wind Farm (Scotland) Ltd, is working to process funding bids swiftly.
The application process will be simple and straightforward with a target turnaround of 72 hours from application to payment.
Emma Goodlad of Foundation Scotland said: “It’s heartening to see GDT trustees keen to adapt their processes in the face of this awful situation facing all communities.
“Everyone is very keen to ensure that activity being provided by groups on the ground has the opportunity to apply to this emergency fund.”
Applications must be made online at www.foundationscotland.org.uk/programmes/blackcraig.
