Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) has launched a new round of grant applications for Coronavirus relief funds, for charities, community groups and volunteer organisations based in the county.

This funding is being made available as part of the Vital for Berkshire – Coronavirus Fund, which aims to support groups that have been impacted by, or who are working to help people affected by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in Berkshire.

BCF will consider making grants of up to £10,000 per organisation, with the aims of:

1. Helping organisations to respond to immediate needs apparent in local communities, such as charities that directly support those who are suffering social and economic hardship as a result of the new lockdown restrictions
2. Helping to stabilise charities and groups providing essential services to local communities, by providing short-term core funds that keep them afloat
3. Helping groups to adapt to the crisis through service enhancement and adaptation, or the purchase of new equipment

Charities, community groups and other not-for-profit organisations based in Berkshire who are affected by, or supporting people affected by, the Coronavirus pandemic are invited to apply online. Priority will be given to those providing support to vulnerable and isolated populations, including older people, people with disabilities, those with mental health needs, people on low incomes, and families with young children.

Anita Herbert, Community Impact Manager at BCF, said: “It’s been a tough start to 2021, but at Berkshire Community Foundation we aim to continue supporting local charities and volunteer groups with everything we’ve got, to keep groups afloat and help them tackle disruption and hardship caused bythe pandemic. We look forward to understanding from local groups what existing issues may have been exacerbated by the new lockdown, and what new needs may be emerging from the community that we can better support.”

Interested groups can find out more, check eligibility, and apply via our website’s Available Funding page. Applications close at 10am on Monday, 8^th February 2021.

Berkshire Community Foundation works across Berkshire to raise, then distribute, money directly to vital local causes. In 2020 we made over £2.3m in grants through the Vital for Berkshire – Coronavirus Fund, supporting more than 200 charities and community groups in running over 330 projects to improve people’s lives during the pandemic.

Find out more: Read a case study about how Dingley’s Promise helped families through the first COVID-19 lockdown with funding support from BCF.

Do more: Donate to our Vital for Berkshire – Coronavirus Fund to help those most in need in Berkshire.