More than £75,000 has been awarded to frontline charities supporting their communities through the coronavirus crisis.
The grants are the first from the LCR Cares COVID-19 Community Fund, a new crowdfunding campaign set up by Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.
The campaign aims to raise £1million to help community and voluntary organisations cope with the impact of the virus, which has seen the UK placed into lockdown.
The fund was kickstarted with an initial £200,000 donation from Rotheram’s Combined Authority with a further £50,000 coming from the National Emergencies Trust.
Yesterday, the first grants were made to seventeen charities across the Liverpool City Region.
LCR Cares, set up in partnership with the Community Foundation for Merseyside, a registered charity, will continue to award grants weekly to support community organisations providing vital services like:
- Foodbanks
- Delivery of food and care to vulnerable people
- Telephone and online services offering friendship and support to reduce isolation and provide emotional and mental health support
And, as today's world-famous Grand National has been laid low by Coronavirus, the ECHO is asking readers to donate the cash they would have spent on a flutter on the horses, to this vital fund.
Metro Mayor Rotheram, said: “Less than a week after we kickstarted the LCR Cares Fund I’m delighted that we’re already giving out the first £75,000 of funding for organisations across all six of our local authorities.
“The fund will make a real difference to vulnerable people who are struggling during this pandemic, and thanks to the generosity of local people, it is already having an impact on organisations doing invaluable work.
“If you are able to, please give whatever you can to the LCR Cares Fund and help support these amazing organisations.”
As well as setting up LCR Cares, the Combined Authority is working closely with key partners through the formal Local Resilience Forum on a wide range of measures to tackle the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis.
Details on how to donate are on the Combined Authority’s website.
Search “LCRCares” or visit www.lcrcares.co.uk
