More than £135,000 spent on local community groups in Lincolnshire during Covid 19

More than £135,000 spent on local community groups during Covid 19

Lincolnshire County Council’s community fund was set up on 9 April to support local community groups during Covid 19. To date, more than £135,000 has been awarded in grants to voluntary groups helping people across Lincolnshire.

Council Leader Martin Hill said, “This crisis has been challenging for everyone, but I’ve been so impressed by communities throughout the county who have come together to help others.

“From shopping, picking up prescriptions, and providing essential supplies, as well phoning those who were feeling lonely while self-isolating, there are so many ways people have shown their community spirit.

“The funds we’ve made available have been essential to cover costs for items such as PPE, providing food parcels and IT support to help keep people connected.

“Although the situation is currently improving, many individuals continue to need support, and community groups have also been hard hit without their usual fundraising activities.”

Each county councillor has £3,000 to donate to local good causes in their division.

Among several grants, Cllr Hill awarded £410 to Ropsley and District Parish Council, covering the villages of Ropsley, Great Humby, Little Humby, Braceby and Sapperton. The funding supported several projects including a printed newsletter keeping residents up to date with news and sources of support, plus a popular online Best Kept Garden scheme, which attracted over 100 entries. Prizes were presented by gardening expert John Stirland.

Nikki Gascoigne, clerk to the parish council says, “It has been a really lovely way for the community to share their love of gardening and to bring people together during lockdown. We had lots of comments and thanks from parishioners and even a message of support from Frances Tophill, from Love Your Garden and Gardener’s World.”

Cllr Hill awarded a further £300 to Sleaford New Life Community Larder covering North and South Kesteven. So far this year, the community larder team has dealt with 650 referral applications, requesting help with food. Over 50 volunteer drivers have made themselves available to deliver food packages to 270 unique households in Sleaford and 42 villages.

These include 27,030 meals (three meals a day for up to five days). As people have been self-isolating this has been an essential service, and the charity expects to see raised levels of need for the foreseeable future.

The charity Foxdale Equine Assisted Learning CIO has also benefited to the tune of £500. They normally provide therapeutic support to vulnerable clients who may be experiencing trauma, anxiety or bereavement, through direct contact with horses, and have continued to provide virtual support during Covid 19.

Grants have also been made to ensure community groups can continue once the pandemic is over. £300 went to Oasby Cricket Club to enable the club to bring its playing surface up to a suitable standard, while a further £500 has been granted to Dowsby Village Hall for much-needed repairs to a cracked ceiling.

Any groups in need of financial support during the Covid 19 crisis, should see www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/communityfund

Photo 1: a volunteer preparing food packs at Sleaford New Life Community Larder

Photo 2: Garden expert John Stirland presents a certificate to Rebecca Shopland, winner of the Best Garden Created by Kids category in the Ropsley online garden competition

Photo 3: Garden expert John Stirland presents a certificate to Clare Coffey and family for Best Use of Recyclables to Create a Garden

in the Ropsley online garden competition

Caroline Johnson:

Community Matters Fund

I know the last few months have been incredibly challenging for vulnerable people shielding in our community. I am immensely proud of the many local organisations and community groups that have stepped up during this time to help people in need, who have exemplified the solidarity we have within Lincolnshire. These organisations in turn need support to continue their good work and I was glad to nominate three of them - the Salted Orange Food Company, Lincolnshire Community Fund and TableZ Café - for Western Power Distribution’s ‘Community Matters Fund’, which is providing grants of up to £1500 to organisations that changed focus to help people during the pandemic. These organisations have done incredible work during this time to provide fresh meals and food parcels to vulnerable individuals shielding at home and I am happy to support them.

Western Power Distribution (WPD), the region’s electricity distribution network company, has

established a £500,000 fund to directly support community organisations help families and customers

who need extra care throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.

WPD’s ‘In This Together - Community Matters Fund’ is welcoming applications of up to £10,000 from

local authorities, parish/town councils and charities as well as applications for funding of up to £1,000

from community groups.

Phil Swift, WPD’s Chief Executive, said: “In this fast-moving situation, we’re stepping-up to help our

communities who are impacted by the consequences of the Coronavirus. We’re delighted to open our

£500k fund and we’re looking forward to hearing from local organisations with ideas of how our

financial support could aid them to deliver help at this time, from food drop-offs to befriending services

for those living in isolation. We welcome all community ideas.”

More details on how to apply for the ‘In This Together - Community Matters Fund’ can be found at

www.westernpower.co.uk/in-this-together

The electricity distribution company, which already supports its most vulnerable customers through a

Priority Services Register (PSR), is also encouraging those who have been identified as vulnerable

and advised to isolate for 12 weeks, to sign up too. The free service enables additional support to be

provided in the event of a power cut to those registered. Further details are available on WPD’s

website at www.westernpower.co.uk/PSR or by calling WPD on 0800 096 3080.

Phil added: “Our dedicated staff are continuing to work hard to ensure a safe, secure and reliable

electricity supply to all customers throughout the Coronavirus outbreak. As an essential service

provider, our teams are working hard to keep the lights on and the electricity flowing to homes and the

organisations we’re all relying on.

“We are committed to supporting our employees and our communities through this crisis. By

launching our fund, as well as continuing our work to support our most vulnerable customers through

our Priority Services scheme, we hope we can make a difference to those groups working at the

grassroots in our communities.

“To reinforce our commitment to supporting colleagues, customers and the community, WPD has also

joined forces with major businesses across the UK by signing up to the C-19 Business Pledge which

aims to harness the power of business as a force for good in tackling the Coronavirus pandemic.”