The Government’s new £750 million charity grant package offers “important and welcome support” for the sector, a major body has claimed.
The Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) words come after the Government announced a multi-million-pound grant fund for not-for-profit organisations affected by Covid-19.
According to the report, £370 million will be earmarked for small and medium-sized charities who are “making a difference at the heart of local communities”. These include, for example, charities that are delivering food and medicines to vulnerable people or are providing financial advice. This fund will be delivered through the National Lottery Community Fund.
The remaining £360 million will be allocated to “key services”, such as hospices, St John Ambulance, Citizens Advice, and domestic abuse charities.
Commenting on the announcement, HM Treasury said: “Departments will now work at pace to identify priority recipients, with the aim for charities to receive money in the coming weeks. The application system for the National Lottery Community Fund grant pot is expected to be operational within a similar period of time.”
Welcoming the news, Sir John Low, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), said: “Charities at the front line and all those working to support our society need help to perform their vital function bringing people together at this time of enormous challenge. They will need this type of support now and into the future as we come out of this crisis.”
The not-for-profit grant fund forms part of a package of measures designed to support charities and businesses through the Covid-19 crisis. This also includes the employee furlough scheme, business rates cuts for most small commercial premises, and statutory deadline deferrals.
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